University of Melbourne academics have voted against a university-backed plan to use $35million from the controversial Liberal-linked Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation for student scholarships, leaving the money in limbo.
The scholarships, which would fund 30 students a year to study humanities subjects, come at a time when the cost of many arts degrees has surged to more than $50,000.
But the conservative Ramsay Centre’s promotion of “Western culture” has raised hackles among university staff.
The university is still backing the scheme, but it is unclear what can come of the money without the support of the academic board, which has the power to vote on specifics of the scholarship such as the eligibility criteria but not the overall gift.
“The explicit promotion of ‘Western civilisation’ excludes and denigrates other cultures, whether intentionally or not,” said University of Melbourne history professor Zoe Laidlaw, who studies the link between philanthropy and colonialism and is one of the academics who voted against the proposal.
She said if the university proceeded with the scholarship plan, “it will undermine its capacity to live up to its core values of anti-racism and truth-telling” as well as “its public commitment to addressing the harm caused by its colonial past”.
“Philanthropy… is not neutral.”
The vote does not mean the money is off the table.
It cleared the university council’s gift procedures, and university leadership is still planning to allow students to be able to apply for the scholarships later this year.
A sub-committee of the academic board will now consider the proposal, which could result in a further vote of the full board.
The board voted against the proposal despite receiving a four-page explanation of the checks and balances including that the scholarship selection panel would include only one Ramsay Centre representative and three university academics.
The Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation, which is chaired by former university chancellor Allan Myers and includes former prime minister Tony Abbott on its board, has been controversial in the higher education sector over its ‘bachelor of Western civilisation’ courses at several other universities.
The university has previously said it is deeply committed to anti-racism and truth-telling. “Nothing about this announcement changes or compromises that commitment,” it said in May.
The scholarship proposal split the academic board 39-37, with several academics arguing the money was much-needed and recognised the valuable contribution of humanities at a time when the price of many arts degrees has increased to more than $50,000 due to the Job-ready Graduates scheme.
Sara Wills, a pro vice-chancellor at the university who voted for the proposal, said there were rigorous processes surrounding the scholarship that meant it did not compromise academic freedom.
She wants students to understand the complex and multicultural histories that have influenced their area of study, including in western history.
“There will be people at the Ramsay Centre who have views that are different from us, and we should accept that we live in a world where there are views that are different from us we may not agree with,” she said.
“Really good scholarship looks beyond simple polarities.
“How do we, with integrity, take this gift and do good with it? And that’s really been my intention; to say, at the end of the day, we did not see or think that it had undue influence.”
Still, some university staff take issue with how the money has been accepted and believe academics should have a greater say in gifts to the university.
“The initial discussions about this partnership took place behind closed doors,” said National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) branch president at the university, David Gonzalez.
“Programs that give external organisations privileged influence or access to our students deserve transparent consultation with the people who will ultimately be responsible for delivering them.”
A University of Melbourne spokesperson said the university had gratefully acknowledged the donation and the specific scholarship arrangements were now being progressed through the standard governance processes.
The university plans for five annual intakes of 30 students, with five scholarships each year for under-represented groups. As well as the stipend, it offers attendance at an international summer school, an annual regional leadership program, and a community service and volunteering program.
“All philanthropic donations proposed to the University of Melbourne undergo significant and rigorous assessment at the appropriate levels before proceeding,” the spokesperson said.
“The university has received other gifts of similar scale previously, and these are managed in accordance with the appropriate processes.”
The university says the separation of duties – with the university council and gift committee approving donations and the academic board approving the rules and conditions of the scholarship – is a common way to make sure financial and reputation risks, as well as academic standards, are “separately and robustly reviewed”.
However, Joo-Cheong Tham, Melbourne Law School professor and NTEU Victorian assistant secretary, said the academic board should have involvement in decisions over gifts, such as providing independent advice to the university council before the money is accepted.
He said the current process gave the impression of a “fait accompli”.
“The governance structures are not fit for purpose,” Tham said.
A spokesperson for the Ramsay Centre declined to comment on the vote, saying the administration of the scholarship was a matter for the university.
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Jackson Graham is an education reporter at The Age. He was previously an explainer reporter.Connect via email.From our partners
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