{"id":9702,"date":"2013-11-20T19:18:21","date_gmt":"2013-11-21T03:18:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/workplace\/?p=9702"},"modified":"2013-11-20T19:18:21","modified_gmt":"2013-11-21T03:18:21","slug":"canadian-universities-sacrifice-principles-in-pursuing-collaborations-bced-bcpoli-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/workplace\/2013\/11\/canadian-universities-sacrifice-principles-in-pursuing-collaborations-bced-bcpoli-education\/","title":{"rendered":"Canadian universities sacrifice principles in pursuing collaborations #bced #bcpoli #education"},"content":{"rendered":"

CAUT<\/a>, November 20, 2013– In their drive to attract new revenues by collaborating with corporations, donors, and governments, Canadian universities are entering into agreements that place unacceptable limits on academic freedom and sacrifice fundamental academic principles, according to a report released today by the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT).<\/p>\n

Open for Business: On What Terms<\/em><\/a>\u00a0examines twelve research and program collaboration agreements between universities, corporations, donors and governments to determine if universities have protected their academic integrity.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur findings should raise alarm bells on campuses across the country,\u201d said CAUT executive director James Turk. \u201cIn the majority of the agreements we reviewed, universities have agreed to terms that violate basic academic values.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Turk, seven of the twelve agreements provide no specific protection for academic freedom, and only one requires the disclosure of conflicts of interest. Only five of the agreements give academic staff the unrestricted right to publish their research findings and just half provide that the university maintains control over academic matters affecting staff and students.<\/p>\n

\u201cUniversities have allowed private donor and corporate partners to take on roles that should be played by academic staff,\u201d stated Turk. \u201cThey have signed agreements that side-step traditional university decision-making processes and undermine academic freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n

The report concludes by recommending a set of guiding principles for university collaborations to better protect academic integrity and the public interest.<\/p>\n

\u201cCollaborations can be beneficial to faculty, students, institutions, and the public, but only if they are set up properly,\u201d Turk added.\u00a0 \u201cUniversities owe it to the academic community and to the public to do more to safeguard the independence and integrity of teaching and research.\u201d<\/p>\n

The research and program collaborations examined in the report were:<\/p>\n