news
campusreview.com.au
Ramsay
syllabus
revealed
Details of controversial Western civilisation
degree have been published.
T
he Ramsay Centre’s Western civilisation degree, currently
homed at the University of Wollongong, has released
its syllabus. It covers ancient Greece, Rome, the Middle
Ages and Early Renaissance, and the 18th, 19th and 20th
centuries through to today, via the lenses of history, art, literature,
philosophy, architecture, religion, science and politics.
From Aristotle, to Darwin, to Kafka, the degree promises to
“engage students in an intellectual conversation with some of
the greatest thinkers down the ages”, while also entering “into
respectful dialogue with non-Western perspectives” when it begins
next year.
The course’s outline developer, Senior Professor Daniel Hutto,
said he and his team borrowed from the syllabuses of Columbia
College, St John’s College, St Olaf College, Zaytuna College and
Yale-NUS College to craft the Ramsay degree. He also consulted
with a range of academics, both locally and internationally.
Much of the controversy surrounding the degree – apart from
claims of Western supremacy – relate to Ramsay personnel
seeking to control its operation and content. UOW has now
publicly attempted to assuage this fear by releasing its MOU with
the centre. Among other things, it details that all degree staff –
academic and administrative – will be appointed by UOW.
The executive dean of UOW’s Faculty of Law, Humanities and
Arts, Professor Theo Farrell, sought to reiterate this policy.
“Visits [by Ramsay executives] will be for observation and social
functions – not for any formal teaching evaluation – so they will
not impede UOW’s academic independence,” he said.
The MOU does not dictate exclusivity. This may, however, be the
end result: at least USYD, ANU and recently UQ have decided not
to partner with the Ramsay Centre. ■
O-Week warning
‘Respectful relationships’
training devised for students.
U
niversity students are being
reminded of the importance of
consent ahead of Orientation
Week celebrations.
Professor Margaret Gardner, chair of
Universities Australia (UA), said while
O-Week is a time for new friendships and
fun experiences before getting into study
for the year, all students deserve to be safe.
“I want to be very clear once again,”
Gardner said. “To any student who thinks it’s
okay to have sex without the other person’s
consent, think again – it’s not.”
Students will soon trial a ‘next
generation’ respectful relationships
module as part of a new national
approach to the issue.
The online education program –
developed through a partnership between
UA, violence prevention organisation Our
Watch and the Victorian government’s
Office for Women – draws on insights
from violence prevention and online
learning experts.
It’s part of a broader approach to prevent
violence called the Respect and Equality
Program.
UA’s chief executive Catriona Jackson
said as no single program on its own
can bring about change, the training will
work in concert with a “comprehensive
university sector-led program to enhance
counselling services, reporting policies,
training for staff and wider violence
prevention efforts”.
“Working in partnership with prevention
experts, we can tackle the society-wide
drivers of violence against women and
highlight a shared resolve on safety and
respect for all students,” Jackson said.
Our Watch chief executive Patty Kinnersly
said: “It is the responsibility of the whole
community to prevent violence against
women, and this can only be achieved
using a whole-of-community approach,
that includes our tertiary education sector.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe and
respected wherever they work or study. We
look forward to using this evidence-based
approach to tackle the issues of disrespect
and violence against women.” ■
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