ANU pitched its proposed western civilisation study centre to the uni community yesterday, with arts and social science dean Rae Frances addressing a community meeting. Ramsay Foundation chair John Howard has nominated ANU to teach a degree in wester civ and it is the only preferred provider to date. All up the foundation is said to have $30m to spend with one, or more, university partners.

The meeting was calm and considered with supporters of the idea speaking up but overall the questioning was on the critical end of quizzical, with people asking just what a western civ degree would teach, why it is needed and where it would fit in the ANU programme.

Professor Frances did well with the case she had but with the university aiming to have the programme set, 12 staff hired and scholarships awarded for the 2019 academic year she will not have a lot of time for the continuing consultations people at the meeting wanted. ANU VC Brian Schmidt is expected to put the university’s terms to the Ramsay Foundation in coming weeks.