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.

The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) released the results of a report concluding that the former director of the Balsillie School of International Affairs (BSIA), Ramesh Thakur, was unjustly fired after objecting to inappropriate pressure by the school’s principle private partner, Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI).

CAUT executive director James Turk said the investigation took place to determine whether or not it was true 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 two schools dismissed Thakur, director of the BSIA, because he defended academic autonomy, the report alleges.

When the CIGI board wanted a stronger role within the governance of the school, Thakur refused, citing threats to academic integrity. Several months after these concerns were presented, Thakur was fired, according to the report.

According to the report, CIGI chair Thomas Homer Dixon characterized his decision to extend Thakur’s term as a mistake in retrospect.

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 various aspects of the schools activities and operations, including the selection, appointment, termination and reporting obligations of the director.

Turk said this is not uncommon and has happened in the past where private think tanks try to have power over 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. “Apologizing fixes the problem so something like this never happens again. If they don’t act, it’s their own reputation.”

The University of Waterloo could not be reached for comment.