An integral aspect of asset management is measuring the overall investment performance of the endowment portfolio. The efficient management of relationships between the sponsoring institution and their appointed asset managers is critical. Once managers are appointed, monitoring their performance assists in ensuring that the endowment's investment objectives are met. As institutions in Oxford and Cambridge do not rely on external, independent evaluation of their performance or of their managers, the overall question of performance measurement in the context of total return investing remains a major concern. Given the orientation towards property, lack of consultants in the investment process, institutional fragmentation and lack of a common model, the whole issue of performance measurement remains controversial.
Keywords: Oxford, Cambridge, asset management, investment performance, endowment