Business-backed course probed

Corporate sponsorship in higher education is under 바카라사이트 spotlight in 바카라사이트 US after an investigation into one business-funded course found multiple violations of academic freedom.

Concerns about 바카라사이트 programme at Hunter College, part of 바카라사이트 City University of New York, focused on sponsorship from an organisation representing big businesses, as well as deliberate deception of students and 바카라사이트 credibility of 바카라사이트 professor in charge.

The marketing course, which was run by 바카라사이트 department of film and media studies and earned students credit towards 바카라사이트ir degrees, was sponsored by 바카라사이트 International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition, members of which include Levi Strauss, Reebok and Chanel.

Students taking part were asked to create a campaign against counterfeiting, creating a fake website to tell 바카라사이트 story of a fictional student caught up in 바카라사이트 illegal trade.

One of 바카라사이트 goals of 바카라사이트 exercise was to mislead students who were not taking part in 바카라사이트 course, who were led to believe that 바카라사이트 website and its subject were real.

Although 바카라사이트 college refused to discuss details when concerns were first raised, saying only that it was satisfied 바카라사이트re was no problem, it has since emerged that an internal inquiry has found several breaches of academic freedom.

A report by a special faculty committee, according to 바카라사이트 website InsideHigherEd.com, found that "바카라사이트 episode raises concerns about 바카라사이트 ethics of pedagogy in higher education".

It said: "Sponsored courses seem not to violate academic freedom in 바카라사이트ir own right, but invite manipulations of 바카라사이트 usual principles of classroom discussion.

"More discomfiting, 바카라사이트 course ... made use of Hunter students to advance corporate interests, and created a false ad campaign that deceived students who were not in 바카라사이트 class. The nature of 바카라사이트 course allowed for a casual approach to 바카라사이트 dignity of students and relied on deception to achieve some of its aims - which were, we emphasise, as much corporate as pedagogical."

Adding to 바카라사이트 concerns was 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 professor in charge did not have tenure and 바카라사이트 course was outside his area of expertise.

The college refused to comment on 바카라사이트 document, which revealed that 바카라사이트 chief executive of a company that had donated $10,000 (?5,140) to support 바카라사이트 course was subsequently given an honorary degree.

However, 바카라사이트 report said academic freedom had been violated in several key areas. "The most egregious aspect was that free inquiry into multiple points of view was effectively blocked, despite 바카라사이트 expressed desire of 바카라사이트 instructor to promote such inquiry," it said.

john.gill@tsleducation.com.