August 6, 2019

Agreement finalised for BA in Western Civilisation

Statement from Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Wellings, CBE

The University of Wollongong (UOW) has signed a funding agreement with the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation for the Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation and associated scholarship program, due to commence in 2020.

Completion of this agreement builds on the Memorandum of Understanding that set the foundations for a partnership between UOW and the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation in December 2018.

This important step formalises the partnership, providing certainty for students and staff as applications open for this transformative new degree and generous scholarship program, and as academics and professional staff are recruited to positions in the School of Liberal Arts in the Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts.

The agreement, worth approximately $50 million over 8 years, provides at least 150 undergraduate scholarships and funds several positions for outstanding academics.

The agreement articulates both parties’ commitment to academic freedom, and confirms that all staff whose appointments are funded by it will be UOW employees, with the same rights, protections and responsibilities as other UOW staff.

UOW is very proud and honoured to be the recipient of the largest gift to humanities education in Australia and to be part of offering one of the most generous scholarships currently available in Australian higher education - all made possible by the generosity of the late Mr Paul Ramsay AO.

This agreement will enable UOW to offer a unique, high-quality Liberal Arts education designed to produce broad-minded, intellectually fearless and critical thinking graduates equipped to become future leaders.

BA in Western Civilisation students will consider contemporary issues as they engage with some of the greatest works of thought and art ever produced, and learn to understand and respect interactions between Western and non-Western traditions of thought and art. 

Ramsay Scholars will also experience great works first-hand via an international academic study tour and have opportunities to attend events that will challenge their thinking and develop professional networks.

Applications for the Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation and UOW Ramsay Scholarships are open until August 31.

More information is available at https://www.uow.edu.au/law-humanities-the-arts/schools-entities/liberal-arts/