07 September 2023: The University of Wollongong (UOW) hosted a special dinner event last week to celebrate four years of partnership with the Ramsay Centre, and to reflect on the achievements of its BA in Western Civilisation degree program.
UOW Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Patricia M. Davidson and Deputy-Chancellor Mr Warwick Shanks hosted the event, attended by senior Ramsay Centre representatives, including Director and former Prime Minister, the Hon John Howard OM AC and Ramsay Centre CEO Professor Simon Haines. The dinner was also attended by more than 100 BA in Western Civilisation degree students, from four different year cohorts, as well as their teachers, executive deans, and the Head of UOW’s School of Liberal Arts, Senior Professor Daniel D. Hutto.
The Ramsay Centre and UOW entered a partnership in 2019. Worth approximately $50 million over eight years, the partnership enables UOW to offer its BA in Western Civilisation degree program, to offer at least 150 undergraduate scholarships over that period, and to hire world-class educators. Each UOW Ramsay Scholarship is worth up to $32,000 p.a. for up to five years, with scholars taught in small class groups, and receiving academic mentoring.
Professor Davidson said the evening presented an opportunity to celebrate a partnership “that continues to foster scholarship, creativity and innovation in the humanities.”
“We are very grateful tonight because of the generosity of the late Paul Ramsay, whose legacy of philanthropy has brought together this transformative opportunity for our students. His gift has enabled a robust and creative liberal arts program… the Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation degree offers a distinctive approach to teaching supported by world-class academics who provide a stellar learning experience for our wonderful students here tonight.”
Professor Davidson spoke of Ramsay Scholar graduates “going forth in the world to make a difference”, making special mention of Seamus King, now studying medicine, and Carly Lavings, Wollongong City Council’s Volunteer of the Year.
Seamus King, who MCed the evening, said the degree taught him to read and write well, to see the merits of alternative perspectives, and to effectively articulate – all of which proved invaluable skills for a medical career, even if they are not usually emphasised in medical courses. He said he was also grateful for less obvious capacities the degree had taught him, such as the ability to “trust in and follow my confusion” as it leads him to search for a higher level of detail and motivates him to search for extra premises and hidden assumptions in any argument.
Billed as a course for the ‘intellectually fearless’, UOW’s Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation is designed to help students ‘discover the enduring insights of the greatest thinkers, poets and artists of Western civilisation’ and ‘become part of a conversation about ideas that have changed the world as we know it.’
In a display of what they gained from their studies, a selection of students participated in a panel discussion on the meaning of a quote by American novelist, essayist, poet, and playwright James Baldwin. The quote for discussion was: ‘You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read.’
Mr Howard paid tribute to Centre benefactor Paul Ramsay’s sense of optimism and hope for the future. He said the scholars’ study of Western civilisation would have made him very happy because he had wanted Australians, particularly young Australians, to understand our cultural and religious roots and the rich legacy they have inherited, with the contribution of Indigenous people at its core.
Professor Haines praised the course and partnership, reminding scholars of the benefits of joining a community of Ramsay Scholars, with opportunities for further scholarships, and to attend public lectures, and future alumni events.
For more information on UOW’s Bachelor of Western Civilisation degree go to: https://www.uow.edu.au/the-arts-social-sciences-humanities/schools-entities/liberal-arts/courses-study-options/
Media contact: Sarah Switzer 0407 816 098/ sarah.switzer@ramsaycentre.org
For more information on the centre please visit our website: www.ramsaycentre.org