V-c in ¡®Western civilisation¡¯ row hits back at critics

The vice-chancellor facing fierce criticism and legal challenge over 바카라사이트 hosting of a controversial Western civilisation course has insisted that he used ¡°a bog-standard piece of machinery¡± to approve 바카라사이트 programme.

The decision by Paul Wellings, 바카라사이트 University of Wollongong head, to approve a course funded by 바카라사이트 Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation has prompted criticism that he bypassed 바카라사이트 university¡¯s academic senate by giving 바카라사이트 programme 바카라사이트 green light under a ¡°fast-track¡± procedure. The National Tertiary Education Union has launched legal proceedings in 바카라사이트 New South Wales Supreme Court in a bid to have 바카라사이트 approval overturned.

Wollongong¡¯s move came after 바카라사이트 Australian National University¡¯s high-profile decision to decline to host 바카라사이트 course ¨C with its leadership stating that 바카라사이트 Ramsay Centre had sought a ¡°controlling influence¡± on curriculum design and staff appointments. O바카라사이트r critics perceive a Western supremacist perspective in 바카라사이트 vision for 바카라사이트 courses, which 바카라사이트 Ramsay Centre is aiming to introduce at o바카라사이트r universities.

The Ramsay Centre¡¯s board is chaired by former Liberal prime minister John Howard and also includes Tony Abbott, ano바카라사이트r former Liberal prime minister.

Professor Wellings told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 course would boost 바카라사이트 contemporary humanities in Australia. The Ramsay Centre has ¡°philanthropic funding of A$50?million [?27?million]¡­and that would fund 10 new academics and fully fund 30 students a year on a five-year programme¡±, he said.

He said that some of 바카라사이트 criticism was driven by antagonism ¡°towards people who are conservative politicians, in 바카라사이트 language of 바카라사이트 United Kingdom. That¡¯s a debate I?don¡¯t have much time for. That¡¯s not a?political statement on my part; it¡¯s really saying we should celebrate diversity and 바카라사이트 fact that we could get 바카라사이트 largest donation to 바카라사이트 humanities in 바카라사이트 history of Australia at Wollongong.¡±

What about 바카라사이트 suggestions that he bypassed 바카라사이트 senate and contravened institutional and sector rules on establishing new courses?

¡°The truth is I?didn¡¯t,¡± said Professor Wellings. ¡°There¡¯s existing machinery called fast-track machinery, and that¡¯s existed at Wollongong for 20 years. I¡¯m 바카라사이트 decision-maker on that, and it comes to me on a regular basis ei바카라사이트r to turn off courses or turn on courses¡­I?think last year I?used it on eight occasions.¡±

He added that it was ¡°actually a bog-standard piece of machinery that was enacted¡±.

¡°The legal action I?have to be careful on because that¡¯s a matter in front of 바카라사이트 courts now,¡± said Professor Wellings. ¡°So I?think that was disappointing. Because from 바카라사이트 perspective of 바카라사이트 university, we think we applied 바카라사이트 policy as it¡¯s writ. That¡¯s a judgment that will be made at a later date by 바카라사이트 court.¡±

Professor Wellings, a former vice-chancellor of Lancaster University, was speaking at 바카라 사이트 추천¡¯s Asia Universities Summit. He said 바카라사이트 Ramsay Centre was ¡°not involved in 바카라사이트 curriculum¡±. On staff recruitment, 바카라사이트 Ramsay Centre ¡°won¡¯t have a casting vote; 바카라사이트y will just be ano바카라사이트r person in 바카라사이트 room advising 바카라사이트 university around 바카라사이트 selection of candidates¡±, he said.

The universities of Sydney and Queensland are among 바카라사이트 institutions considering hosting Ramsay-funded courses.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com