Rebel Oxford dons have thrown out radical plans to hand power over running the ancient university to outsiders from the world of business and politics.
A postal ballot of the nearly 4,000 members of Oxford's Congregation resulted in defeat for the proposals from controversial vice-chancellor John Hood.
But Dr Hood, who has been under intense pressure over his reforms, stressed that he wanted to continue as the university's vice-chancellor, despite losing the vote.
Dr Hood said he recently wrote to every member of the Congregation, the so-called "parliament of dons", stressing that he wanted to rebuild relations and "put aside division".
He added: "It is on this basis that, as vice-chancellor of Oxford, I shall continue to work unstintingly as the servant of a university with a great past and a great future."
Dr Hood, a New Zealander, is the first outsider to lead Oxford in the university's history.
His modernising agenda has divided dons, with allegations of dirty tricks on both sides.
He wanted more expert lay members on a new university council to bring objectivity and business expertise to the way Oxford is run.
But Dr Hood's critics believed the reforms would place too much power in the hands of individuals who have little understanding of Oxford's academic needs and who would merely follow the orders of the vice-chancellor.
After Tuesday's result was announced, Dr Hood said: "In all the challenges we face as a university, we shall fare best if we are able to work collegially on the basis of mutual trust and respect. That is a central task for any vice-chancellor."
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