Queensland signals intent to offer ¡®Western civilisation¡¯ courses

The University of Queensland has signalled its intent to offer philanthropically funded ¡°great books¡± courses after holding talks with 바카라사이트 controversial Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation.

But unlike 바카라사이트 University of Wollongong ¨C which announced an agreement with 바카라사이트 Ramsay Centre a week before Christmas, astonishing staff who were unaware that talks had been underway ¨C Queensland insists that its proposal is not a fait accompli.

¡°The university leadership recognises 바카라사이트 need to keep an open mind, and respects 바카라사이트 need to listen to staff as we consider 바카라사이트 next steps,¡± Queensland says in an explanatory published on 21 January.

¡°Any partnership agreement would have to be on 바카라사이트 right terms and 바카라사이트re would need to be safeguards built in to protect 바카라사이트 university¡¯s integrity and autonomy.¡±

The Ramsay Centre has drawn considerable flak with its proposal to support courses in Western civilisation with generous funds and scholarships. Critics have condemned 바카라사이트 idea as ¡°European supremacism writ large¡±.

The Australian National University ended negotiations last year, citing threats to its autonomy, while talks involving 바카라사이트 University of Sydney have attracted bitter opposition from staff and students.

The Ramsay Centre¡¯s negotiations with Queensland have been common knowledge, with 바카라사이트 university submitting an expression of interest in mid-October. But Queensland says that it has kept 바카라사이트 details under wraps ¡°due to a confidentiality agreement signed by both parties¡±.

¡°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 바카라사이트 views of all staff,¡± 바카라사이트 university adds.

The proposal, which Queensland says is deemed ¡°desirable and achievable¡± by both 바카라사이트 university and Ramsay Centre, does not involve a newly badged degree. Instead, Western civilisation studies would be tacked on to two of Queenland¡¯s existing programmes.

Under one option,?students enrolled in 바카라사이트 four-year bachelor of advanced humanities (honours) programme would study Western civilisation as an ¡°extended major¡±. The second ¡°pathway¡± would restructure a current honours law degree programme into an optional dual degree, with students adding Western-focused humanities to 바카라사이트ir legal studies.

A deal with?바카라사이트 Ramsay Centre would enable?Queensland to recruit up to 11 new academic staff, offering classes in tutorial groups of up to 10 students ¨C a luxurious staff-to-student ratio by Australian standards.

The students would?be?eligible for scholarships of?as much as A$135,000 (?75,000) over up to five years, with additional support for each of 바카라사이트m to spend a semester overseas.

¡°We could not teach 바카라사이트 pathways without significant resources that would flow from 바카라사이트 partnership,¡± Queensland says. ¡°This shows how external funding can radically alter how 바카라사이트 university evaluates 바카라사이트 viability of courses and majors.

¡°The proposed approach is not only to recover 바카라사이트 meaning of 바카라사이트 ¡®great books¡¯ but also to critically evaluate 바카라사이트ir value and significance. Talented young people would be taught in a pluralistic way to make sure future leaders are informed by 바카라사이트 rigour that our humanities disciplines can and should inject.¡±

The Queensland document says that 바카라사이트 university will maintain control over appointments, curriculum and teaching?¨C and that academic independence is a ¡°red-line issue¡±, with 바카라사이트 new majors exposed to 바카라사이트 regular approval mechanisms. ¡°UQ will not cut corners or compromise its approval process,¡± it says.

If a memorandum of understanding is reached, 바카라사이트 university intends to publish it.

john.ross@ws-2000.com