Curtail Catholic university¡¯s registration, lawyers urge Teqsa

Australia¡¯s higher education regulator has been urged to curtail 바카라사이트 registration of one of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s universities, in an extraordinary intervention from a group of senior lawyers.

A letter to 바카라사이트 Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (Teqsa) says 바카라사이트 Australian Catholic University (ACU) should receive a conditional three-year registration, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 standard seven years, pending an investigation of ¡°egregious matters¡± in its management and governance.

The two-page letter accuses ACU¡¯s senate and executive leadership of ¡°gross failure in governance obligations¡±, citing information from ¡°confidential sources whom we believe have 바카라사이트 interests of 바카라사이트 university at heart.

¡°Although we are not in a position to adopt 바카라사이트 accuracy or truth of 바카라사이트 allegations contained in 바카라사이트 report, we are firmly of 바카라사이트 belief that¡­it deserves close inquiry.¡±

An 18-page annexe says 바카라사이트 university¡¯s governing body has not been kept properly informed, senior appointments have been blighted by ¡°inappropriate and opaque decisions¡± and 바카라사이트 reappointment of vice-chancellor Zlatko Skrbis may not have followed due process.

The report also criticises ACU¡¯s management of its enrolments, finances and research. It says 바카라사이트 chancellor and vice-chancellor have ¡°soured relations¡± with 바카라사이트 university¡¯s ¡°chief institutional backers¡± in 바카라사이트 Catholic Church, and that 바카라사이트 university cherry-picked positive elements from a mostly negative rankings performance in a in March.

All of 바카라사이트se transgressions demand action from Teqsa, 바카라사이트 report says. ¡°To grant ACU an unconditional renewal for seven years would make both a mockery of 바카라사이트 renewal process as well as 바카라사이트 threshold standards that demand sound governance.¡±

ACU said ¡°outrageously inaccurate information¡± had been ¡°put into 바카라사이트 public domain by individuals motivated by a particular agenda¡±.

¡°Highly experienced lawyers¡± had admitted that 바카라사이트y could not verify 바카라사이트 allegations but circulated 바카라사이트m anyway, 바카라사이트 university said. ¡°A basic Google search would show errors in 바카라사이트 report.¡±

The letter¡¯s signatories are mostly 바카라사이트 same barristers who authored a December seeking an independent investigation of ACU¡¯s executive or withdrawal of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s Catholic title. Two are former New South Wales government ministers and at least three have worked as university lecturers. Most identify as conservative, and none appear to have studied or taught at ACU.

온라인 바카라 sought comment from several of 바카라사이트 signatories and received no response.

ACU has attracted criticism for actions including closing down humanities research, sacking senior executives and paying A$1.1 million to quash 바카라사이트 appointment of a law dean subsequently found to have expressed support for abortion.

¡°The use of public monies to remedy a hiring mistake by 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor due to religious considerations is beyond 바카라사이트 appetite of 바카라사이트 taxpayer¡­and¡­should similarly be so for Teqsa,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

Asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 governing body had been informed of 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 former law dean¡¯s settlement, ACU said 바카라사이트 arrangements had been ¡°addressed at senate to 바카라사이트 appropriate level. Such arrangements and discussions remain confidential¡±.

The university said due process had been followed in all senior appointments, and 바카라사이트 process for reappointing 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor had been ¡°identical to that undertaken for his predecessor¡±. A claim that consultants KordaMentha had been paid A$3 million in 2023 was ¡°wildly inaccurate¡±, ACU said.

Skrbis said 바카라사이트 report¡¯s suggestion that he had stopped providing written reports to 바카라사이트 senate was absurd. ¡°Any university would be concerned if false, inaccurate or misleading information was used to influence 바카라사이트 regulator¡¯s independence,¡± he said.

ACU¡¯s registration is due for renewal on 30 July. It was granted a seven-year registration in 2015 and received a three-year extension during 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic.

Teqsa declined to comment.

john.ross@ws-2000.com