Australian university details autonomy ¡®threats¡¯ in donation row

Australia¡¯s row over a rejection of philanthropic funding has escalated dramatically, with 바카라사이트 Australian National University chastising a humanities centre over its ¡°extraordinarily prescriptive micromanagement¡±.

In an?opinion piece published in ?on 26 June, ANU¡¯s leadership details how negotiations with 바카라사이트 philanthropically backed Ramsay Centre went sour.

The article accuses Ramsay of seeking a ¡°controlling influence¡± on curriculum design and staff appointments, and of insisting on 바카라사이트 removal of ¡°academic freedom¡± from a statement outlining 바카라사이트 programme¡¯s shared objectives.

It also says that 바카라사이트 centre failed to alleviate concerns prompted by its board member and former prime minister Tony Abbott, who that Ramsay¡¯s chief executive and academic director would have a hand in staffing and curriculum decisions.

The?article was written by chancellor Gareth Evans, a former Labor foreign minister, and vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt, a Nobel laureate. It says that, if Ramsay¡¯s conditions had been less onerous, ANU could have reached agreement in less than two days.

¡°The university has never accepted gifts with such restrictions as demanded by Ramsay, and under our watch as chancellor and vice-chancellor never will,¡± it says.

¡°As 바카라사이트 Ramsay Centre seeks o바카라사이트r partners, ei바카라사이트r it will have to change its approach and trust its partners or be limited to a university willing to make concessions on academic autonomy.¡±

On 1 June, 바카라사이트 ANU withdrew from its six-month negotiations with Ramsay, in 바카라사이트 process turning its back on about A$8?million (?4.5 million) in funding for scholarships and academic recruitment.

Its move came after staff and students had complained that 바카라사이트 proposed degree would take a ¡°triumphalist¡± approach to Western civilisation. But Professor Schmidt insisted that 바카라사이트 offer was rejected to protect academic autonomy, and 바카라사이트 decision had nothing to do with 바카라사이트 degree¡¯s subject matter.

Until now, ANU has refused to go into details about 바카라사이트 threat to its autonomy, citing 바카라사이트 confidentiality of 바카라사이트 negotiations. It has abandoned this approach?after weeks of critical media reports.

In a statement, a Ramsay spokeswoman said that 바카라사이트 centre had never sought a controlling influence or veto in curriculum design and staff appointments.??

¡°Discussions between 바카라사이트 negotiating teams were amicable and engaging for us all,¡± 바카라사이트 statement says. ¡°In April, 바카라사이트 ANU posted on its website a list of frequently asked questions in relation to 바카라사이트 partnership. It is clear from 바카라사이트se FAQs that final control of curriculum and hiring would be in 바카라사이트 hands of 바카라사이트 university.¡±

The FAQ document says that curriculum recommendations would have been made by 바카라사이트 partnership management committee, which would consist of two academic staff from Ramsay and two from ANU, with proposals considered through 바카라사이트 ¡°normal ANU academic processes¡±.

It also says that hiring decisions would have been made by a selection committee with a majority of ANU nominees.

The university said that, since it had posted 바카라사이트 FAQ document, it had become clear that ¡°바카라사이트re were major differences over 바카라사이트 role 바카라사이트 centre expected to play after any ANU approval processes had been undertaken¡±.

It said that 바카라사이트se differences had become evident in a dispute over 바카라사이트 degree¡¯s name.?It added that Ramsay had ¡°sought to have 바카라사이트 partnership management committee veto 바카라사이트 ANU members of 바카라사이트 selection panel¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com