12 August 2022: Our newly minted 2022 Ramsay Postgraduate Scholars came together for a special multi-day orientation in Sydney last month, designed to acquaint them with the Ramsay Centre and each other, as well as provide them with some valuable professional development and learning opportunities.
Approximately 22 of the 31 scholars attended, with some scholars unavailable as their overseas studies had already commenced. The participating scholars were joined by representatives of the Ramsay Centre Board and Executive, as well as some of the 2021 Ramsay Postgraduate Scholars, who wanted to show their support for the new intake by sharing their perspectives and experiences.
In the first session scholars shared their academic ambitions and personal goals, revealing many shared interests and synergies across a multitude of academic disciplines.
A complementary session was then led by three members of the Ramsay Centre Board – Queenwood School for Girls Principal Elizabeth Stone, businessman Dr Michael Easson AM, and former ALP executive and union leader Joe de Bruyn AO – who offered personal reflections on life, postgraduate study, and careers.
Sessions relating more specifically to the study of western civilisation included two lectures, the first delivered by Centre CEO Professor Simon Haines on What is the West?, the second by our Academic Director Professor Diana Glenn on Italian poet and writer Dante Alighieri.
‘The Art of Timeless Cities’ session, presented by M.J.Suttie Architects, provided a flying introduction to principles underlying great cities and buildings in the Western Tradition, and incorporated a foray into the streets to introduce the scholars to the joys of sketching classical city architecture.
To assist with professional development, external consultant Chloé Oestreich ran a session on ‘Presenting with Confidence, Communicating with Impact’, demonstrating different approaches to skills integral to success in both studies and careers.
A highlight of the orientation was a celebratory dinner in which 2021 scholar Chelsea Wallis addressed the 2022 cohort, offering her reflections on her scholarship and Oxford-based study.
Emeritus Professor Steven Schwartz AM, a former vice-chancellor of several universities, delivered the keynote speech at the dinner, addressing the scholars on the value of the humanities. Professor Schwartz remarked that “we all owe a debt to the humanities – the debt has been accumulating for thousands of years. It is not calculated in dollars and cents, but in ideas.”
2022 Ramsay Postgraduate Scholar Genia Hill, who will undertake a DPhil in Geography and the Environment at Oxford, praised the orientation, saying it presented a special opportunity for the new scholars.
“I got to know 22 of the 31 2022 Ramsay Centre Postgraduate Scholarship recipients, as well as several of the Ramsay Centre Board Members, and also had the opportunity to learn about Dante, classical architecture, leadership skills (and much more!). My cohort is studying fascinating subjects ranging from Quantum Physics to History, Philosophy, Medicine, and Policy. It was incredible to learn from them and to make some friends in advance of next year’s adventure.”
The 2022 recipients of our Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship were announced last month. These outstanding, young Australians – committed to advancing a richer, deeper understanding of our civilisation through study at the world’s best overseas universities – will be supported with funding of up to AUD$90,000 p.a. for one, two and in select cases three years of coursework and/or research.
For more information on our postgraduate scholarships go to: https://www.ramsaycentre.org/scholarships-courses/postgraduate-scholarships/
Media contact: Sarah Switzer 0407 816 098/ sarah.switzer@ramsaycentre.org
For more information on the centre please visit our website: www.ramsaycentre.org