Loading The UOW course will be closer to the centre's vision than the one proposed by Sydney; it will preserve the term 'civilisation'; be a full degree rather than a major; and focus on European art and architecture as well as books. With the Wollongong deal sealed, the centre has funding left for courses at one or two more institutions. Sydney and the University of Queensland (UQ) remain interested, but there are others, too, said Ramsay chief executive Simon Haines. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video "It just so happens that UOW is first cab off the rank," he said. "That doesn't prejudice any other negotiations. We are still talking to a number of universities."

UOW is not a Group of Eight university – the group of Australia's eight leading research-intensive universities. In the 2018 Times Higher Education Rankings, UOW was ranked in the 176-200 band for arts and humanities. Sydney University was 59th overall, while the University of Queensland was 69th. But Professor Haines said the centre was "absolutely thrilled" with its UOW partnership. "They've been very open-minded about this whole thing; they completely understand the nature of the degree we have in mind," he said. "We never said we would only talk to metropolitan universities. We are still talking to sandstones, [and] Group of Eight. We are very happy with this partner. Leaders of the future come from all over the country." The Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation announced its plans to fund a degree at "two or three" universities last year, prompting about a dozen NSW and ACT-based institutions to register expressions of interest. It has since invited applications from across the country. The Australian National University was the first to begin talks but pulled out, accusing the centre of encroaching on its academic freedom by asking to sit in on lessons and demanding veto power over curriculum.

The University of Wollongong will be home to the Ramsay Centre's Western Civilisation course. Credit:Lisa Wachsmuth Sydney University began talking to the centre soon after, but many of its academics remain staunchly opposed to any partnership, saying the study of Western civilisation was "European supremacism writ large". After months of debate, Sydney recently handed its proposed memorandum of understanding – under which Ramsay would have no voting rights and the course would be a major called Western tradition – to the centre's board, which includes former prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott. It is still awaiting the board's decision. UOW Vice Chancellor Paul Wellings said he had no concerns about academic freedom being compromised.

"[It's] been a reasonably robust conversation," he said. "We learned from the experience of those universities. "Whether some academics or representatives from some unions think we have done enough I think will be a point of debate, but we are sure we have [dealt with] issues that were problems elsewhere." Professor Haines said Ramsay's role would be "normal and non-controversial". A Ramsay academic – perhaps Professor Haines himself – would sit on staff hiring and scholarship committees. "We will have no determining voice, we will not have a veto right," he said. "We will just sit on the panel along with the other university people; we will have a voice like anybody else. We will just express our view."

The Ramsay Centre said it has been talking to UOW for a year. However, UOW has kept the discussions quiet. In response to the Herald's query in June, the university said it was "not in negotiations with the Ramsay Centre at this time". Loading The degree proposed by the Ramsay Centre uses the Socratic method of teaching, in which small groups of students, facilitated by an academic, explore their material in depth, discussing and debating its themes. The curriculum is yet to be finalised but will likely include artworks and architecture as well as important Western texts in philosophy, theology, history, literature and science. The UOW will find the new School of Liberal Arts a home within its existing buildings on campus. Western Civilisation will be a three-year degree, but students will have the option of an honours year and studying it as part of a double degree.