University of Queensland in talks with Ramsay Centre

The University of Queensland has lodged a formal expression of ­interest with the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation.

University of Queensland vice-chancellor Peter Hoj. Picture: AAP.

The University of Queensland has lodged a formal expression of ­interest with the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation and will proceed with confidential talks about a possible partnership in a bachelor degree.

“In the submission, the university was clear that any potential partnership would need to align with our longstanding principles of institutional autonomy and ­intellectual freedom and would be governed by our standard policies and procedures,” the university said.

“A confidentiality agreement currently prevents us from discussing the EOI phase. Should our negotiations progress beyond this, the university will consult with staff and students.”

The University of Queensland is one of two universities, along with the University of Sydney, in negotiations with the Ramsay Centre to offer a bachelor degree, taught in small classes, focusing on the great books of the West.

Earlier this year, the Australian National University withdrew from negotiations at a late phase after talks broke down.

The University of Queensland informed all staff of the Ramsay move yesterday. The university’s branch president of the National Tertiary Education Union, ­Andrew Bonnell, welcomed the commitment by vice-chancellor Peter Hoj to autonomy and intellectual freedom.

“They remain threshold issues of principle,” said Professor Bonnell, a historian whose research interests focus on European history. He said the commitment to intellectual freedom should also include freedom from surveillance by Ramsay Centre people in the classroom.

In a speech early this month, Australian National University chancellor Gareth Evans said the centre had proposed to the ANU that its representatives be able to sit in on classes to monitor the program’s implementation.

Mr Evans said that condition was not accepted by the ANU.

Mr Evans also told the conference that the Ramsay Centre was unwilling to commit to academic freedom in the proposed ANU agreement.

Last week ANU vice-­chancellor Brian Schmidt followed up, saying that the university and the Ramsay Centre disagreed over the amount of control the centre would have over the degree.

Professor Bonnell said the NTEU would be “watching closely” for these issues in any proposed agreement with the University of Queensland.

Ramsay Centre chair John Howard said Mr Evans was downplaying the influence of hostile staff and students on the ANU decision to pull out of the Ramsay agreement.