University of Queensland reveals ‘constructive’ talks with Ramsay

An expression of interest for a Ramsay-funded course at UQ was submitted in October but kept confidential.

University of Queensland vice-chancellor Peter Hoj. Picture: Claudia Baxter

University of Queensland vice-chancellor Peter Hoj has described as a “transformational opportunity’’ a potential Ramsay Centre-funded Western civilisation course in an email to the institution’s staff last night.

The UQ academics were told that a 35-page formal expression of interest for a Ramsay-funded course at the university was submitted in October and kept confidential at the centre’s request.

In questions and answers UQ posted online last night, it was ­revealed senior UQ academics, ­including Professor Hoj, met the Ramsay Centre board last month.

“The meeting was constructive, with both parties in agreement that a partnership on the appropriate terms for both UQ and the Ramsay Centre was desirable and achievable,” the online post said.

Professor Hoj, in the email sent to UQ staff last night, provided the assurance that UQ would “only move forward with the partnership if it can be managed in a way that does not compromise our ­existing independence”.

The expression of interest document was attached to the email.

The Ramsay Centre has already concluded an agreement with Wollongong University in NSW, and Wollongong academic leaders have been holding meetings to explain the proposed curriculum to staff, some of whom have expressed dismay at the seeming secrecy of the deal, which is worth more than $50 million over eight years.

The University of Sydney has also been considering a Ramsay proposal, but many of its academics remain vehemently opposed to a Ramsay-funded course.

In his email, Professor Hoj noted that the Australian National University had last year withdrawn from negotiations with the Ramsay Centre because of fears the university’s academic freedoms would be compromised.

However, UQ staff should know, he wrote, that “the principle of the university’s independence with regard to academic decisions has been a consistent position we have adopted in discussions with the Ramsay Centre’s CEO Professor Simon Haines”. The point was “recognised and understood” when UQ leaders met the Ramsay board of directors, chaired by former prime minister John Howard, he added.

Professor Hoj also addressed potential concerns that a course on “Western civilisation” would be inherently racist with an underlying assumption that only the West was civilised.

“I understand why concerns about this language have been ­expressed; there is no doubting the historical fact that violent colonisation was undertaken by countries that believed themselves to be ‘civilised’ while at the same time dehumanising colonial subjects,” he wrote.

However, he added, “the ­humanities have been built on great books, yet few courses take this approach today — often ­because teaching them is ­resource-intensive”. Yet many scholars ­believed future leaders would be better able to deal with disruption, having studied original works by Shakespeare, Plato, Voltaire, ­George Orwell, all of whom ­appeared in UQ’s proposed course guides, he wrote.

UQ staff were asked for feedback on the proposed partnership. “Now that we have entered a new phase in our discussions, UQ recognises that it is both prudent and valuable to give genuine consideration to the views of all staff who choose to take up this opportunity, especially given the high level of public interest that has been evident,” the online posting said.