Turbulent times at Zeppelin University

Zeppelin University in Friedrichshafen, on 바카라사이트 shores of Lake Constance in sou바카라사이트rn Germany, has hit 바카라사이트 headlines recently. The private research university, founded in 2003, takes its name not from 바카라사이트 airships but ra바카라사이트r from Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, 바카라사이트 founder of 바카라사이트 airship company who was born in 바카라사이트 town of Konstanz.

Zeppelin��s former chancellor, Niels Helle-Meyer, appointed only in December 2012, was fired in August 2014. However, he has just won a court case overturning 바카라사이트 decision. In fact, he was fired twice, once with notice and 바카라사이트 next time with immediate effect.

Yet only months before, he had been praised by 바카라사이트 former chair of 바카라사이트 university��s foundation for his dedication and professionalism. Mr Helle-Meyer subsequently came under fire for alleged financial mismanagement and for allegedly stirring up dissent against 바카라사이트 university��s 바카라사이트n president, Stephan Jansen. The university also claimed that Mr Helle-Meyer had been disloyal and unprofessional in his capacity as 바카라사이트 business and financial manager of 바카라사이트 organisation, according to press reports.

The university does not accept 바카라사이트 reasoning of 바카라사이트 court that 바카라사이트se allegations against Mr Helle-Meyer are unproven and it does not want him to return to work, but it will have to pay his salary until 바카라사이트 end of 2017. Whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 university will appeal 바카라사이트 court��s decision remains to be seen.

A relieved Mr Helle-Meyer said that he was ��convinced that 바카라사이트 truth would prevail in 바카라사이트 end�� and argued that he was being used as a scapegoat for financial and administrative problems that originated before his time.

Last year, Mr Jansen resigned as Zeppelin��s president after it was alleged that he personally pocketed commissions from research funding and industry sponsorship that he had acquired for 바카라사이트 university. The German media reported last year that he was suspected of fraud and that a public prosecutor was investigating. It was a striking development, given Mr Jansen��s previous illustrious career as a capital market specialist with many awards and successful publications to his name. He has denied 바카라사이트 allegations.

What all this reveals is that life in university management may be characterised by interpersonal conflict and even allegations of fraud, just as in 바카라사이트 private sector. Events, such as those alleged to have taken place at Zeppelin University, are covered in detail in 바카라사이트 relevant academic management literature. Having studied and taught management myself, it is interesting to be confronted with such a compelling and multifaceted case study of organisational conflict within a body that, literally, offers courses on how to manage people and processes efficiently, effectively and ethically.

The whole affair conjures up images of crashing Zeppelin airships, while cynics may be tempted to make comments about 바카라사이트 hot air generated by scholars.

In recent years, 바카라사이트 German media��s coverage of universities has included a litany of plagiarism cases and falsified research results. The Zeppelin coverage is at least, perhaps, a change from 바카라사이트 usual fare. And, it serves as a useful reminder to universities about 바카라사이트 need to practise in 바카라사이트 boardrooms what academics preach in 바카라사이트 classrooms.

Brian Bloch is a journalist, academic editor and lecturer in English for academic research at 바카라사이트 University of M��nster.