Singapore : One of Singapore's largest public universities has rejected an appeal by an Indian-origin associate professor of journalism for tenure, triggering a row.Nanyang Technological University decided to turn down the appeal of Cherian George, associate professor in its Wee Kim Wee School of Communication, despite opposition, media reported. 47-year old Dr Cherian George joined Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in 2004 and teaches courses on media at the university's Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information.But the decision by the university to not give him a fresh tenure means the associate professor George would have to leave the school within a year, 'The Straits Times' reported.
Four of the university's most senior faculty members, including two ex-deans — Ang Peng Hua and Eddie Kuo — have written to the university, saying that denial of tenure to George would cause "serious damage to our academic reputation and professional integrity" and NTU's ability to attract top communication scholars, according to the Straits Times.A former journalist, George had won a teaching excellence award from NTU in 2010, and has published several books.George has been denied tenure twice within three years.
