Close Menu
Honi Soit
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • A meditation on God and the impossible pursuit of answers
    • Week 11 Editorial
    • Losing My Religion: Elegies from an Atheist who desperately wants to believe in God
    • The Islamic Spirituality of Romanticising your Life
    • Loss, to which I return often.
    • My Name is Anonymous and I’m an Alcoholic
    • Modern Chaos
    • Time Machines: The Architecture on Campus
    • About
    • Print Edition
    • Student Journalism Conference 2025
    • Writing Comp
    • Advertise
    • Locations
    • Contact
    Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) TikTok
    Honi SoitHoni Soit
    Wednesday, May 14
    • News
    • Analysis
    • Culture
    • Opinion
    • University
    • Features
    • Perspective
    • Investigation
    • Reviews
    • Comedy
    • Student Journalism Conference 2025
    Honi Soit
    Home»News

    USyd and Ramsay Centre edge closer to agreement over western civilisation course

    The controversial programme is championed by former prime ministers Tony Abbott and John Howard and was rejected by the ANU earlier this year
    By Janek DrevikovskyAugust 30, 2018 News 2 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    The University of Sydney is drafting its side of an agreement to establish the Ramsay Centre’s controversial proposed course on western civilisation, according to the Australian Financial Review. The agreement, or memorandum of understanding (MoU), is being reviewed by the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and will be discussed at the next FASS board meeting.

    The Ramsay Centre, a conservative institute with Liberal Party ties, is offering $25 million to set up the course, which will teach the history and culture of the western world.

    Earlier this year, the Australian National University rejected a similar proposal from the Ramsay Centre, citing concerns that the institute wanted “unprecedented” control over reading lists, curricula and staffing decisions.  

    Talks over the course began with USyd in June, and a draft outline was prepared, overseen by Professor of Philosophy Peter Anstey. According to Anstey, the course will not be evaluative or comparative. This description echoes remarks made by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who described the programme as not “about” Western civilisation but “for” it.

    Honi understands that Vice Chancellor Michael Spence will send an email to staff on Friday, inviting submissions on the MoU from academics in FASS, the faculty that will house the western civilisation course.

    According to the AFR, Spence will seek contributions, in particular from those working in fields closely linked to the programme—namely Art History, Classics and Ancient History, English, History and Philosophy.

    Given the ANU’s experience, USyd is likely to insist on full academic control over the course.

    The Ramsay Centre and its programme remain controversial with students and staff. Roughly 200 USyd staff have signed a letter by the National Tertiary Education Union, which urges the University to reject any agreements with the institute. And student activists continue to protest against the proposed course.

    More to come.

    John Howard liberal party lnp michael spence Ramsay Centre ramsay centre for western civilisation Tony Abbott usyd

    Keep Reading

    Remember Me

    Genuine Help or a Band-aid Fix? An Assessment of Early Feedback Tasks

    Time Machines: The Architecture on Campus

    Where is the outrage?: National protest against gender-based violence

    Another Election? Why the USU Election Matters

    HackWatch: Who Wants to be a Board Director?

    Just In

    A meditation on God and the impossible pursuit of answers

    May 14, 2025

    Week 11 Editorial

    May 13, 2025

    Losing My Religion: Elegies from an Atheist who desperately wants to believe in God

    May 13, 2025

    The Islamic Spirituality of Romanticising your Life

    May 13, 2025
    Editor's Picks

    A meditation on God and the impossible pursuit of answers

    May 14, 2025

    We Will Be Remembered As More Than Administrative Errors

    May 7, 2025

    NSW universities in the red as plague of cuts hit students & staff

    April 30, 2025

    Your Compliance Will Not Save You

    April 16, 2025
    Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) TikTok

    From the mines

    • News
    • Analysis
    • Higher Education
    • Culture
    • Features
    • Investigation
    • Comedy
    • Editorials
    • Letters
    • Misc

     

    • Opinion
    • Perspective
    • Profiles
    • Reviews
    • Science
    • Social
    • Sport
    • SRC Reports
    • Tech

    Admin

    • About
    • Editors
    • Send an Anonymous Tip
    • Write/Produce/Create For Us
    • Print Edition
    • Locations
    • Archive
    • Advertise in Honi Soit
    • Contact Us

    We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. The University of Sydney – where we write, publish and distribute Honi Soit – is on the sovereign land of these people. As students and journalists, we recognise our complicity in the ongoing colonisation of Indigenous land. In recognition of our privilege, we vow to not only include, but to prioritise and centre the experiences of Indigenous people, and to be reflective when we fail to be a counterpoint to the racism that plagues the mainstream media.

    © 2025 Honi Soit
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms
    • Accessibility

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.