July 5, 2019

University of Wollongong welcomes NTEU’s withdrawal of BA Western Civilisation legal challenge

University position on fast track approval vindicated

The University of Wollongong (UOW) welcomes the National Tertiary Education Union’s announcement this afternoon (Friday 5 July 2019) that it will withdraw its legal challenge to the approval of the Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation.

The announcement follows the University Council’s use of its legislative authority on Friday 21 June to independently approve the degree in order to remove uncertainty created by the Union’s legal challenge to the degree’s previous approval under UOW’s Fast Track Process in January 2019.

Professor Wellings said the collapse of the NTEU’s legal challenge vindicates the University’s position in this matter.

“The Fast Track Approval Process has been used regularly by successive UOW vice-chancellors for more than two decades, including for approving whole courses. It is a well-established process,” he said.

“The University has maintained this position since January in the face of public criticism and legal challenge.

“In announcing the University Council’s independent approval decision the Chancellor stated the University’s willingness to continue defending this use of delegated authority, but hoped that would not be necessary.

“I welcome the NTEU’s decision not to expend further valuable member funds on this challenge. The University can now continue to make rapid progress establishing this new degree.”

Professor Wellings said the University has confidence in the academic quality of the Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation and was proud to be offering it in a newly-created School of Liberal Arts in the Faculty of Law Humanities and the Arts.

Professor Wellings also echoed the call for unity made by UOW Chancellor, Ms Jillian Broadbent AC, when announcing the Council decision last week.

“The whole university community needs to now unite in a shared commitment to our legislative objectives of encouraging ‘the dissemination, advancement, development and application of knowledge informed by free inquiry’ and ‘the provision of courses of study … across a range of fields’,” Professor Wellings said.

The University looks forward to welcoming the first cohort of students for the new course in 2020.