Private interests have interfered with the hiring and firing practices of the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Waterloo, according to a recently released report by the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT).
The report concludes that the former director of the Balsillie School of International Affairs (BSIA), Ramesh Thakur, was unjustly fired after objecting to pressure by the school’s principal private partner, Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI).
CAUT executive director James Turk said the investigation took place to determine whether Thakur was being fired.
“[Thakur] was brought in because of his credibility. Two universities made him director and his two-year contract was extended to a five-year agreement running to 2013 and then a few months later wanted to fire him. It didn’t make sense,” Turk said.
The University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University had a partnership set up with the BSIA and CIGI, Blackberry entrepreneur Jim Balsillie’s private think tank.
The report alleges that the two schools dismissed Thakur, director of the BSIA, because he defended academic autonomy.
When the CIGI board wanted a stronger role within the governance of the school, Thakur refused, citing threats to academic integrity. He was fired several months later, according to the report.
While Wilfrid Laurier University did not comment, they issued a statement indicating that the BSIA partners “strenuously disagree” with the CAUT report’s findings and interpretation of the events. They state that the report is based on a flawed and incomplete interpretation of the circumstances and rationale for the decision.
The CAUT report calls on the universities and CIGI to publicly apologize to Thakur for his dismissal.
“Every university gets to guard autonomy based on educational choices for what is best for the university, not on the wishes of politicians or private think tanks. [Thakur] defended the principle that is the heart of university life in this country,” Turk said.
According to the report, CIGI has concluded that they need a clearer, more direct and more active role in the school’s activities and operations, including the selection, appointment, termination and reporting obligations of the director.
Turk said private think tanks have tried in the past to influence administration. “It’s not a surprise private think tanks want influence, but administration should not be caving into this,” he said.
In 1997, Toronto’s University of Trinity College was involved in a similar dispute after one of its donors wanted to be more involved with the programs, according to Turk.
“Wilfrid Laurier and Waterloo’s image has been seriously tarnished by behaving in this way,” Turk said.
The University of Waterloo could not comment.