Universidades cedió a la presión por Balsillie financiados por grupo de reflexión sobre la libertad académica, dice informe
MICHAEL VALPY
From Friday's Globe and Mail
Published Friday, Oct. 29, 2010 3:00AM EDT
Last updated Monday, Nov. 01, 2010 3:26PM EDT
Fue un choque en la intersección de dinero privado y la educación pública, con un gran elenco de nombres de personajes: BlackBerry titán Jim Basillie, el gobernador general David Johnston y Ramesh Thakur, un ex diplomático de las Naciones reconocido como uno de los estudiosos más importantes del mundo en la paz y la seguridad de los estudios.Más relacionado con esta historia
* Volumen de negocios en la escuela Balsillie plantea cuestiones de la libertad académica
incursión decepcionante * Balsillie en los asuntos mundiales
La historia del Dr. Thakur se recuperó de su trabajo como director de inauguración de la Escuela Balsillie de Asuntos Internacionales en Waterloo, Ontario. ha dado lugar a reclamaciones de violación de la libertad académica y las demandas que el Dr. Thakur recibir disculpas de Wilfrid Laurier University, la Universidad de Waterloo, llevó en su momento por el Sr. Johnston, y el sector privado de reflexión creado por el Sr. Balsillie, el Centro para la Innovación Gobernanza Internacional (CIGI).
Una investigación académica sobre el despido del Dr. Thakur, hecha pública el jueves, llegó a la conclusión de que las dos universidades - que en conjunto dirigir la escuela Balsillie - lo indujeron a error sobre su compromiso con su dirección y abrochado bajo la presión de CIGI ", posiblemente en forma de una amenaza para la a pie de múltiples compromisos ... "
El Sr. Balsillie en 2007 prometió $ 33 millones para las dos universidades y el CIGI de un esfuerzo de colaboración que resulta en la escuela Balsillie. Pero una parte del acuerdo que le permitió decidir a su discreción de no participar en un proyecto de colaboración durante la vida útil de 10 años del acuerdo de los donantes. Además, podría rescindir el contrato después de 10 años si no estaba de acuerdo con lo que las universidades estaban haciendo.
El informe de la investigación, escrito por el profesor Len Findlay, de la Universidad de Saskatchewan, vice-presidente de la Humanidad y Ciencias Sociales de la Federación de Canadá, dijo el Dr. Thakur fue tratado como una estrella académica hasta el momento se resistió a CIGI intención de "sentarse a lamesa "en la escuela cuando los asuntos académicos - por ejemplo, qué cursos se enseña - se discutieron. Dr. Thakur examinó el contenido académico de la escuela a la provincia de las universidades, no de la organización privada del Sr. Balsillie es.
Las dos universidades en un comunicado que "enérgicamente" en desacuerdo con el informe del Prof. Findlay, uno de los principales expertos de Canadá sobre la libertad académica.
El informe, encargado por la Asociación Canadiense de Profesores Universitarios, concluyó que "el Dr.Thakur tenía todo el derecho a esperar apoyo de los presidentes de la Universidad de Washington [el Sr.Johnston] y WLU [Max Blouw] y sus designados, cuando la voz de alarma sobre las propuestas CIGI para la asociación tripartita en la BSIA.
"En la medida en que su libertad académica dependía de la protección de la autonomía institucional, se hizo cada vez más vulnerables a las amenazas desde el exterior y la complicidad en el interior. Dr. Thakur fue tratado injustamente en los meses previos a su destitución como director de la BSIA ".
Neve Peric, vicepresidente CIGI-presidente de operaciones, dijo que "el Sr. Balsillie no hace comentarios sobre asuntos que no estuvo involucrado en, incluido el despido del Dr. Thakur. "Un portavoz de la Casa de Gobierno, dijo," el Sr. Johnston no dar entrevistas ".
En su declaración, las dos universidades, dice el informe CAUT se basa "en una interpretación errónea e incompleta de las circunstancias y las razones de las decisiones." Dijeron que la privacidad y asuntos legales limitada la información que podría ser compartido, pero se refiere a una carta Decano de la Universidad de Washington de las Artes al Dr. Ken Coates Thakur dijo que una revisión de su trabajo ha puesto de manifiesto la gestión descuidada de la escuela, malas comunicaciones y los comentarios negativos de algunos de los académicos superiores de la escuela.
Prof. Findlay, en su informe, dijo que una revisión en ese momento no estaba justificada.
Dr. Thakur, en una entrevista telefónica desde Nairobi, donde asistía a una reunión del consejo del Instituto de Estudios de Seguridad, dijo que se sentía exonerado por el informe del Prof. Findlay. También dijo que es salir de Canadá y tomar un trabajo en la Universidad Nacional Australiana en Canberra.
Y él recordaba audiencia Janice Stein, director de la Universidad de Toronto, Munk Escuela de Asuntos Globales, hable acerca de cómo su fundador, Barrick Gold, Peter Munk magnate de la minería, mantuvo una respetuosa distancia de la escuela. Él estaba interesado en su trabajo, dijo, pero nunca interfirió.
"Yo tenía envidia", dijo el Dr. Thakur. "Si hubiera sido evidente para mí que la escuela era una filial de propiedad total de CIGI, yo nunca hubiera tomado el trabajo.
"Creo que es el camino hacia el futuro. Como las autoridades públicas recortar el gasto, las universidades se ven obligadas a más y más asociaciones público-privadas-de los donantes, y conseguir el equilibrio adecuado será muy importante. "
James Turk, director ejecutivo de la ACPU, dijo: "El hecho de que un donante puede querer influir en la toma de decisiones académicas no es sorprendente. El hecho de que las universidades no se ponía de pie firmemente en contra de ella es sorprendente. "
http://www.theglobeandmail.Universities bowed to pressure by Balsillie-funded think tank over academic freedom, report says
It was a clash at the intersection of private money and public education, with a big-name cast of characters: BlackBerry titan Jim Basillie, Governor General David Johnston and Ramesh Thakur, a former United Nations diplomat renowned as one of the world’s leading scholars on peace and security studies.
An academic inquiry into Dr. Thakur’s dismissal, made public Thursday, concluded that the two universities – which jointly run the Balsillie school – misled him about their commitment to his directorship and buckled under pressure from CIGI, “possibly in the form of a threat to walk away from multiple commitments…”
Mr. Balsillie in 2007 pledged $33-million to the two universities and CIGI for a collaborative effort resulting in the Balsillie school. But one section of the agreement allowed him to decide at his own discretion not to participate in a collaborative project during the 10-year life of the donor agreement. In addition, he could terminate the agreement after 10 years if he didn’t agree with what the universities were doing.
The inquiry report, written by professor Len Findlay of the University of Saskatchewan, vice-president of the Humanity and Social Sciences Federation of Canada, said Dr. Thakur was treated as an academic star until the moment he resisted CIGI’s intention to “sit at the table” in the school when academic matters – such as what courses would be taught – were discussed. Dr. Thakur considered the academic content of the school to be the province of the universities, not of Mr. Balsillie’s private organization.
The two universities said in a statement that they “strenuously” disagree with the report by Prof. Findlay, one of Canada’s leading experts on academic freedom.
The report, commissioned by the Canadian Association of University Teachers, concluded that “Dr. Thakur had every right to expect support from the presidents of UW [Mr. Johnston] and WLU [Max Blouw] and their designates when he sounded the alarm on CIGI’s proposals for tripartite partnership on the BSIA.
“Insofar as his academic freedom depended on protections of institutional autonomy, it became increasingly vulnerable to threats from the outside and complicity on the inside. Dr. Thakur was unfairly treated in the months leading up to his dismissal as director of the BSIA.”
Neve Peric, CIGI vice-president of operations, said “Mr. Balsillie does not comment on matters he was not involved in, including Dr. Thakur’s dismissal.” A spokeswoman at Government House said, “Mr. Johnston will not give interviews.”
In their statement, the two universities said the CAUT report is based “on a flawed and incomplete interpretation of the circumstances and rationale for the decisions.” They said privacy and legal matters limited the information that could be shared, but it referred to a letter from UW Dean of Arts Ken Coates to Dr. Thakur saying that a review of his work had revealed sloppy management of the school, bad communications and negative comments from some of the school’s senior scholars.
Prof. Findlay, in his report, said a review at that time was unjustified.
Dr. Thakur, in a telephone interview Thursday from Nairobi where he was attending a board meeting of the Institute for Security Studies, said he felt exonerated by Prof. Findlay’s report. He also said he is leaving Canada and taking a job at the Australian National University in Canberra.
And he reminisced about hearing Janice Stein, director of University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs, talk about how her funder, Barrick gold-mining magnate Peter Munk, kept a respectful distance from the school. He was interested in her work, she said, but never interfered.
“I was envious,” Dr. Thakur said. “Had it been clear to me that the school was a wholly owned subsidiary of CIGI, I would never have taken the job.
“I think it’s the way of the future. As public authorities cut back on spending, universities are being forced into more and more private-donor partnerships, and getting the balance right will be critically important.”
James Turk, executive director of CAUT, said, “The fact that a donor may want to influence academic decision-making is not surprising. The fact that universities would not stand up strongly against it is surprising.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.
More related to this story
- Turnover at Balsillie school raises questions of academic freedom
- Balsillie's disappointing foray into global affairs
An academic inquiry into Dr. Thakur’s dismissal, made public Thursday, concluded that the two universities – which jointly run the Balsillie school – misled him about their commitment to his directorship and buckled under pressure from CIGI, “possibly in the form of a threat to walk away from multiple commitments…”
Mr. Balsillie in 2007 pledged $33-million to the two universities and CIGI for a collaborative effort resulting in the Balsillie school. But one section of the agreement allowed him to decide at his own discretion not to participate in a collaborative project during the 10-year life of the donor agreement. In addition, he could terminate the agreement after 10 years if he didn’t agree with what the universities were doing.
The inquiry report, written by professor Len Findlay of the University of Saskatchewan, vice-president of the Humanity and Social Sciences Federation of Canada, said Dr. Thakur was treated as an academic star until the moment he resisted CIGI’s intention to “sit at the table” in the school when academic matters – such as what courses would be taught – were discussed. Dr. Thakur considered the academic content of the school to be the province of the universities, not of Mr. Balsillie’s private organization.
The two universities said in a statement that they “strenuously” disagree with the report by Prof. Findlay, one of Canada’s leading experts on academic freedom.
The report, commissioned by the Canadian Association of University Teachers, concluded that “Dr. Thakur had every right to expect support from the presidents of UW [Mr. Johnston] and WLU [Max Blouw] and their designates when he sounded the alarm on CIGI’s proposals for tripartite partnership on the BSIA.
“Insofar as his academic freedom depended on protections of institutional autonomy, it became increasingly vulnerable to threats from the outside and complicity on the inside. Dr. Thakur was unfairly treated in the months leading up to his dismissal as director of the BSIA.”
Neve Peric, CIGI vice-president of operations, said “Mr. Balsillie does not comment on matters he was not involved in, including Dr. Thakur’s dismissal.” A spokeswoman at Government House said, “Mr. Johnston will not give interviews.”
In their statement, the two universities said the CAUT report is based “on a flawed and incomplete interpretation of the circumstances and rationale for the decisions.” They said privacy and legal matters limited the information that could be shared, but it referred to a letter from UW Dean of Arts Ken Coates to Dr. Thakur saying that a review of his work had revealed sloppy management of the school, bad communications and negative comments from some of the school’s senior scholars.
Prof. Findlay, in his report, said a review at that time was unjustified.
Dr. Thakur, in a telephone interview Thursday from Nairobi where he was attending a board meeting of the Institute for Security Studies, said he felt exonerated by Prof. Findlay’s report. He also said he is leaving Canada and taking a job at the Australian National University in Canberra.
And he reminisced about hearing Janice Stein, director of University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs, talk about how her funder, Barrick gold-mining magnate Peter Munk, kept a respectful distance from the school. He was interested in her work, she said, but never interfered.
“I was envious,” Dr. Thakur said. “Had it been clear to me that the school was a wholly owned subsidiary of CIGI, I would never have taken the job.
“I think it’s the way of the future. As public authorities cut back on spending, universities are being forced into more and more private-donor partnerships, and getting the balance right will be critically important.”
James Turk, executive director of CAUT, said, “The fact that a donor may want to influence academic decision-making is not surprising. The fact that universities would not stand up strongly against it is surprising.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.
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