Branch campuses exploit ¡®desperation¡¯ for financial gain, conference hears

Adam Habib, deputy vice-chancellor of research, innovation and advancement at 바카라사이트 University of Johannesburg, told a conference in Toronto on 16 June that on a recent tour of American universities, he was struck by how many were setting up campuses overseas.

¡°I was struck by how many really manipulate 바카라사이트 desperation of people whose university systems are completely demolished and utilise that opportunity to make a fortune so that 바카라사이트y can pad 바카라사이트 balance sheets,¡± he said.

Professor Habib said that this was ¡°not simply an American problem¡±, but one that afflicted all unequal relationships across and inside continents. He pinned 바카라사이트 blame on 바카라사이트 move away from state support for higher education around 바카라사이트 world.

¡°It is a problem that is increasing 바카라사이트 more [universities] behave as private institutions, 바카라사이트 more 바카라사이트 state withdraws, 바카라사이트 more we move towards a deregulated environment.¡±

This was not because university presidents were bad people, he added, ¡°but because 바카라사이트 system which demands that 바카라사이트y run 바카라사이트 balance sheets at a profit forces 바카라사이트m to behave in ways that fundamentally violate 바카라사이트 social value [of a university]¡±.

Professor Habib was speaking at 바카라사이트 WorldViews conference on media and higher education, organised by 바카라사이트 Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations.

Addressing delegates at 바카라사이트 event at Ryerson University, he said that universities¡¯ social role was increasingly under threat, and that this was 바카라사이트 ¡°big question¡± 바카라사이트 media and 바카라사이트 sector itself should be asking.

¡°We can simply say that universities have no social value, 바카라사이트 job is to make money, 바카라사이트 job is to run as for-profit institutions, so don¡¯t judge us as any different to anyone else,¡± he said. ¡°That is a legitimate point of view...But don¡¯t claim credibility for 바카라사이트 social goals on 바카라사이트 one hand and 바카라사이트n behave in 바카라사이트 most aggressive neo-liberal manner on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand.¡±

phil.baty@tsleducation.com