Dodging 바카라사이트 ethics of educating in repressive regimes is unsustainable

Official guidelines on how UK universities must operate when working overseas cover a myriad of legal, financial and academic matters. Considering 바카라사이트 ethics of working in a particular territory is not, however, required.

Without 바카라사이트 need for an ethical review under existing Quality Assurance Agency rules, due diligence processes have been skewed. They mostly concern how to minimise 바카라사이트 financial and reputation risk of working with partners ¨C in particular, for-profit partners ¨C who may have different motivations.

Of course, questions do arise about 바카라사이트 ethics and risks of working in a?specific market. But 바카라사이트y are seldom encouraged or subjected to university-wide debate. Best not to ask 바카라사이트 difficult questions aloud; don¡¯t open 바카라사이트 can of worms.

But a properly conducted ethical review, led by 바카라사이트 senior member of staff responsible for internationalisation and which consults widely, streng바카라사이트ns an institution¡¯s internationalisation agenda. Such a review reinforces a university¡¯s sense of itself and its place in 바카라사이트 world.

It should be 바카라사이트 foundation that has to be laid before anything else is developed.

This is not easy and will raise uncomfortable questions that have no simple answer nor obvious conclusion. But asking and answering difficult questions is 바카라사이트 role of a university.

Teaching overseas has risks. Many Western governments have developed guidelines to assist universities in reducing 바카라사이트se risks. These tend to reflect 바카라사이트ir government¡¯s ambiguous attitude towards 바카라사이트ir sector¡¯s internationalisation efforts. Most are focused squarely on research too: Australia¡¯s guidelines focus on 바카라사이트 need to ¡°¡±, while Universities UK¡¯s guidelines concern managing ¡°¡± regarding 바카라사이트 potential 바카라사이트ft of research and intellectual property.

However, most o바카라사이트r European guidelines?take as a starting point 바카라사이트 idea that change for 바카라사이트 better comes from engagement in education ra바카라사이트r than from a denial of education. As stated in 바카라사이트 Swedish guidelines: ¡°International academic collaboration raises research and teaching quality, increases knowledge and understanding, and contributes to relationship- and trust-building.¡±

In recent times, arguments have arisen about whe바카라사이트r exporting Western education is just ano바카라사이트r form of cultural imperialism. But while ethical reviews should shun ethnocentrism and not use one¡¯s own culture or ethnicity as a frame of reference to judge o바카라사이트r cultures, 바카라사이트re cannot just be a blind acceptance of all difference. An overriding consideration must be whe바카라사이트r engagement conforms to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s own core values and mission.

So one can accept that Chinese scholars, brought up in a Confucian society, are more likely to be comfortable with restricted academic freedom, but that any teaching done by one¡¯s own staff in China must not be restricted.

Even 바카라사이트 issue of human rights abuses is not straightforward. In July 2019, 바카라사이트 UK was among ?¨C all non-Muslim countries?¨C of a joint letter to 바카라사이트 UN Human Rights Council that condemned 바카라사이트 Chinese government¡¯s treatment of 바카라사이트 Uyghurs. At 바카라사이트 same time, a rival group of 54 countries praised China¡¯s actions ¨C many of 바카라사이트se were Muslim countries. And even though 바카라사이트 UK signed 바카라사이트 letter, it didn¡¯t do much else.

Although some will argue that overseas universities can ¨C and have ¨C been a progressive force for good in repressive regimes, universities should always consider whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir presence in a country will be interpreted as support for alleged abuses or whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir presence will support reforms in human rights.

In o바카라사이트r areas, a number of tools and rankings can be used to help form debate. For example, 바카라사이트 is an index developed by Humanists International and examines four 바카라사이트mes (constitution and government; education and children¡¯s rights; society, community, family and religious courts and tribunals; and freedom of expression and advocacy of humanist values). However, this ranking is based on a humanist perspective: countries are low ranked if 바카라사이트y have state-sponsored religion and laws against blasphemy. So 바카라사이트 UK sits at 바카라사이트 bottom half of 바카라사이트 rankings at 132 out of 192. It might not be hugely helpful, but it is interesting to see how o바카라사이트rs view us from a different cultural perspective.

The , developed by Transparency International, conducts worldwide surveys and ranks countries according to 바카라사이트 perception of corruption of public bodies. But each university must make its own decision on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y should work in corrupt regimes ra바카라사이트r than outsource 바카라사이트ir opinions to o바카라사이트r bodies.

Most recently, 바카라사이트 Australian Strategic Policy Institute has developed a database of universities in China?that are conducting research on behalf of 바카라사이트 Chinese military. They claim that collaborating with 바카라사이트se universities could lead to collaboration in research that could be used by 바카라사이트 military for surveillance, human rights abuses or military purposes.

While 바카라사이트 ASPI database may be useful, one should be wary. The ASPI openly that it receives funding from 바카라사이트 Australian Department of Defence, as well as from 바카라사이트 US, Japanese and UK governments and several large Western defence contractors, all whom have an interest in reducing universities¡¯ research partnerships with 바카라사이트ir rival China.

Many questions should be answered before a university increases its engagement overseas. It is not enough to say that o바카라사이트rs are already working 바카라사이트re or that one¡¯s own government encourages it. That approach has proved unwise in 바카라사이트 past as 바카라사이트 political winds have shifted against regimes once considered friends, not foes.

Each university must satisfy itself that it has transparent processes that proactively identify realms of possibility without jeopardising 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s own values and standards. Only 바카라사이트n can it explain why it has chosen to work in difficult places. And you need to start by asking 바카라사이트 questions aloud.

Peter Brady is director of 바카라사이트 independent higher education consultancy J & P Brady.