Former academic Steve Stannard would like to see university staff given more freedom to speak publicly on topics in which they are expert. Control of academic discourse can generate a climate of fear when an academic of controversial views is worried about continued employment in a declining tertiary education sector. New Zealand universities in general are struggling to make ends meet. A decade-long slide down the international university rankings certainly has not helped sell a quality New Zealand education abroad. One wonders if New Zealand universities were appropriately funded whether we'd see the same level of "dancing" through the minefield of minority manifestos and perhaps a bit more educated comment for the public good.

Source: Stuff October 07, 2019 16:52 UTC