The timing of the “secret deal” between the University of Wollongong and Ramsay Centre to deliver a controversial new degree already rejected by one other institution “raised suspicions”.
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But Georgine Clarsen, the National Tertiary Education Union branch president at UOW, said her colleagues were stunned to only hear about the deal through media.
On Monday UOW became the first Australian university to sign a deal with the John Howard-headed centre to offer a Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation.
“Staff and students of the University of Wollongong have been blindsided by the Vice-Chancellor’s [Paul Wellings] Ramsay announcement, many having only learned about it in the media today,” Ms Clarsen said.
“Given the great controversy surrounding the proposal to establish the Ramsay Centre at other institutions, colleagues are shocked they have not been consulted prior to the decision being made.
“Extensive internal collegial processes are available to the Vice-Chancellor for this purpose. Other colleagues have noted the disregard for the extensive existing expertise of UOW staff in the areas of the proposed degree.”
The degree created controversy earlier this year when the Australian National University pulled out of negotiations out of concerns about academic freedom.
Many UOW academics and former students also took to Twitter and other social media platforms on Monday to express their “outrage” at UOW’s decision.
“Very sad to see that my alma mater, @UOW, has put the almighty dollar ahead of its academic integrity and the reputation of its arts department, which always punched far above its weight. #saynotoramsay,” tweeted Paul Gifford.
UOW Aboriginal Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Marleen Longbottom wrote “I wish to have it known; I am deeply disturbed & do not support this partnership. Our team is striving to work & partner w/ Aboriginal ppl [sic] & communities this will be detrimental to future collaborations here & internationally”.
Even Greens spokesperson for Education and former academic, Senator Mehreen Faruqi condemned the deal, during her visit to Wollongong.
“Today’s news is a blow to academic freedom in Australia,” she said.
“As a former academic, I can unequivocally say that allowing any organisation to influence curriculum, let alone one as shady as this centre, is a huge mistake.
“We must push back hard against this idea of cultural supremacy and stand strongly for academic freedom and critical thinking.
“The University of Wollongong can still do the right thing and reject the Ramsay Centre’s money and the ideology that comes with it.”
NTEU national president Dr Alison Barnes called on UOW management to release the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reached with the Ramsay Centre.
“Open governance is at the core of academic freedom and for this reason, the details must be made public. A secret agreement that excludes staff, students and unions from negotiations runs contrary to the spirit of transparency,” she said.
“University of Wollongong receives public funds and therefore has a responsibility to make the details of the Ramsay agreement public.”
A UOW spokesperson said the degree was designed to teach students how to think, not what to think.
“UOW’s approach of establishing a dedicated school with academics recruited specifically to deliver this program means there will be no impact on existing staff; no impact on academic freedom by staff being asked to teach this program against personal objections; and no impact on other existing programs or courses.
“The range of academic views concerning the BA (Western Civilisation) have been well aired, but as UOW developed the curriculum and the innovative teaching methods planned for its delivery, the university is confident that it will give students the opportunity to critically evaluate these important texts and become the sort of intellectually fearless, broad minded graduates for which UOW is renowned.”
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Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
