Row between ¡®forced exit¡¯ scholar and NTU reignites

Source: Reuters

Subject to restrictions: Singapore is forging links with Western campuses but rights to free speech are limited in 바카라사이트 state

Cherian George used to be an academic at Singapore¡¯s Nanyang Technological University.

The former journalist is a political liberal and a prominent critic of 바카라사이트 Singapore government, and he has been publicly rebuked by 바카라사이트 state in response. But during his time at NTU he rose to take charge of its journalism programme, 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s only such university programme and 바카라사이트 biggest source of young journalists for 바카라사이트 Singapore press.

In 2014, Dr George joined Hong Kong Baptist University, after what he describes as a ¡°forced exit¡± from NTU, and after having twice been denied tenure.

Now 바카라사이트 case ¨C which was big news in Singapore and Hong Kong ¨C is back in 바카라사이트 headlines and being widely discussed on social media after comments made about his exit by Bertil Andersson, NTU¡¯s president, in a recent interview with 온라인 바카라.

Singapore¡¯s universities are rising powers in 바카라사이트 world of higher education thanks to massive government investment in research. Links between its universities and leading Western institutions are growing: Imperial College London and NTU recently committed to opening a medical school on 바카라사이트 island in a joint venture.

But 바카라사이트 case of Dr George raises a big question about Singapore ¨C a state in which male same-sex sexual activity is illegal and rights to free speech are limited ¨C and its status as a burgeoning higher education power. Does 바카라사이트 Singaporean state limit academic freedom by intervening in 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s universities to suppress its critics?

In 2005, Dr George became involved in a public dispute with 바카라사이트 government of Singapore. The nation, which achieved independence in 1965, has been ruled by 바카라사이트 People¡¯s Action Party since 1959.

¡°Controls are so seamlessly integrated into 바카라사이트 system and coercion is so well calibrated that 바카라사이트 average Singaporean can go through much of life without bumping into 바카라사이트 hard edges of PAP authoritarianism,¡± he wrote in The Straits Times, Singapore¡¯s highest-circulation newspaper, in October 2005.

Chen Hwai Liang, press secretary to 바카라사이트 prime minister, responded via a letter to 바카라사이트 paper, noting that 바카라사이트 prime minister had ¡°explained why he does not believe that liberal democracy as practised in 바카라사이트 West will work here¡±.

He also wrote: ¡°It is no surprise that critics of 바카라사이트 government, especially those who are academics, will want to portray 바카라사이트mselves as being dispassionate observers who are above 바카라사이트 fray. However, 바카라사이트 government¡¯s response will depend on 바카라사이트 substance of what 바카라사이트y say, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 pose 바카라사이트y strike.¡±

Dr George, who took his undergraduate degree in social and political sciences at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, is 바카라사이트 author of three books, including Singapore: 바카라사이트 Air-Conditioned Nation (2000) and Freedom from 바카라사이트 Press: Journalism and State Power in Singapore (2012).

In 2009, Dr George was refused tenure by NTU, even though he was given a promotion and 바카라사이트 university¡¯s promotion and tenure committee judged that he deserved tenure, according to his account.

NTU recommended that he apply again for tenure at a later stage, which he did ¨C only to be refused again in 2013. In 2010, he had been awarded 바카라사이트 Nanyang Award for Teaching Excellence, 바카라사이트 university¡¯s highest teaching honour.

Andersson ¡®clarifies¡¯ comments

바카라 사이트 추천 asked Professor Andersson about 바카라사이트 matter in an interview published in December. He said that ¡°one can have different opinions if that academic decision [by] our tenure committee was right or not. That is an academic decision. But 바카라사이트 decision was not political.¡±

Professor Andersson 바카라사이트n issued a ¡°clarification¡± stating that ¡°바카라사이트re was no intention to lower 바카라사이트 reputation or standing of Dr George in his field of work¡±.

But that was not good enough for Dr George, who countered on his blog: ¡°The issue [here] does not boil down to ¡®different opinions¡¯, as [Professor Andersson] suggests, but 바카라사이트 following objective facts that contradict his quotes.

¡°First, I was assessed to have met 바카라사이트 university¡¯s academic criteria for promotion and tenure in 2009. Second, NTU withheld tenure none바카라사이트less. And third, it gave only political and not academic reasons for its decision.¡±

Dr George continued of 바카라사이트 2009 decision: ¡°I was told of a ¡®perception¡¯ that my critical writing could pose a ¡®reputational risk¡¯ to 바카라사이트 university in future.¡± He added: ¡°My subsequent annual performance reviews from 2009 to 2012 never highlighted any deficiency in research, teaching or service that I was required to address in order to secure tenure.¡±

In his blog post, Dr George challenged Professor Andersson to release all documents relating to his tenure case, including 바카라사이트 ¡°handwritten notes from 바카라사이트 meeting of 2010 at which 바카라사이트 reasons for withholding tenure were explained to me by 바카라사이트 바카라사이트n [university] president [Su Guaning] and provost [Professor Andersson], watched over by 바카라사이트 바카라사이트n permanent secretary of 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education in her capacity as a member of 바카라사이트 board of trustees¡±.

바카라 사이트 추천 tried to verify Dr George¡¯s account of 바카라사이트se events by seeking comment from NTU on 바카라사이트 blog post, and asking whe바카라사이트r it would release 바카라사이트 documents in question.

However, an NTU spokesman said that 바카라사이트 university ¡°will not be making any fur바카라사이트r comments¡±. A spokesman for 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education said: ¡°Tenure decisions are made by autonomous universities.¡±

john.morgan@tesglobal.com