Networked Knowledge - Media Report

This version of the report has been prepared by: Dr Robert N Moles
Underlining where it occurs is for editorial emphasis]

List of Australian, UK and USA miscarriage of justice cases
Article on Australian miscarriage of justice cases
Article on UK miscarriage of justice cases
Article on USA miscarriage of justice cases

9 June 2008 Doug Robertson of The Advertiser reported “Uni out to get me, banned academic says”.

“I am being viciously vilified for my earlier criticism of the university management and the structure of faculty management - Professor Maciej Henneberg

He said the professor at the centre of an internal investigation over misconduct at the University of Adelaide says he is a victim of vilification. Professor Maciej Henneberg yesterday said he had refuted the university’s claims of misconduct in 2006 and 2007 after he criticised management. The University of Adelaide has suspended Professor Henneberg and laboratory manager John Cecchin indefinitely, while it investigates the disappearance of $400,000. The university is understood to have become aware of the issue late last year.

Head of anatomical sciences, Professor Henneberg said a campaign of vilification toward him started after he publicly criticised what he called “the commercialisation of universities”.

Professor Henneberg said he “quickly and confidently” refuted the earlier allegations. “I can’t speak about the (current) allegations but I am being viciously vilified for my earlier criticism of the university management and the structure of faculty management,” he said. “Since the changes I have opposed occurred in 2006, every year there was an allegation of misconduct against me which I proved to be untrue.”

University spokesman David Ellis would not comment on Professor Henneberg’s claims but stressed the university had not released the names of those suspended. A statement last week confirmed two employees had been stood down while the university conducted an inquiry. “The university is conducting an internal, ongoing investigation (so) it’s inappropriate to comment,” Mr Ellis said. “We have released a statement and we are not saying anything other than the statement.”

Professor Henneberg, co author of The Hobbit Trap, has been a long-time critic of management structures at the university. His opinion twice has been published in the highly-regarded The Oxford University Magazine. In 2006, he wrote: “The current trend ... is towards applying a commercial organisation model to an educational academic institution.

“Short-term profit is the most important indicator of success.”

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