Academics work on Ramsay Centre proposal

A working group of senior academics has formed to develop a Western civilisation course funded by the Ramsay Centre.

The vice-chancellor of Sydney University, Michael Spence, last night revealed that a working group of senior academics had formed to help develop a proposed Western civilisation course. Picture: Renee Nowytarger

The vice-chancellor of Sydney University, Michael Spence, last night revealed that a working group of senior academics had formed to help develop a proposed Western civilisation course, funded externally by the Ramsay Centre, before it is put to the university’s academic board for a vote.

The move, which is expected to strengthen the vice-chancellor’s hand in negotiations within the university as it prepares a memorandum of understanding for discussions with the Ramsay Centre, was made public within the university late yesterday.

It immediately drew fire from one of the fiercest opponents of the Ramsay proposal, Nicholas Reimer, who posted: “Given the extremely wide interest in and justified disquiet about any possible involvement with Ramsay, it would be desirable to make the draft MOU public to all members of the university community so that all interested parties can have input into deliberations.”

Dr Spence replied online that the most sensible first step was to “begin this conversation” with a smaller group.

“That process will allow the document to be ‘tested’ with widening circles of participants, beginning with some from directly relevant disciplinary expertise and ending with people across the university more generally. If the conversation is not structured in some way but all becomes instantly public, we may find that the loudest voices dominate and that we don’t end up with as reflective or inclusive a conversation as we might otherwise have.” Earlier, Dr Spence announced that the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Annamarie Jagose, was “consulting with a group of colleagues on a draft memorandum of understanding that the university has drawn up for the Ramsay Centre’s consideration”.

“Invitations have been extended to colleagues in the disciplines most closely associated with the potential program in Western civilisation — art history, classics and ancient history, English, history, philosophy.”

The final decision about the fate of the Ramsay Centre’s proposed course, which Dr Spence insists is being developed at the university without input from the Ramsay Centre on its educational nature, will be made by the academic board. The board, made up largely of the university’s leadership group and student representatives, has the power to reject or amend any course of study. It is understood that some members have already signalled their opposition to the proposal.

Controversy has dogged attempts by the Ramsay Centre, whose board is chaired by John Howard and includes Tony Abbott among its eight members. Earlier this year the Australian National University withdrew from negotiations, citing fears about academic autonomy.

Ramsay Centre chief executive Simon Haines last night moved to allay fears that the centre’s intervention in the university amounted to more than the funding of student scholarships and academic positions.