GEORGE TOWN – Bullying and politicking are known to be rampant in the corporate world, but many may not be aware that these issues plague academia, too.
Researchers were among those who shared with The Vibes their experience working at colleges and universities, where they suffered backstabbing and humiliation at the hands of their superiors.
“I was working on a big project that involved offering my expertise and research for a statewide project. I already had grants backed by big companies when the director of my department changed. That was when everything went south,” said a researcher, who declined to be named.
The researcher said the director wanted to look at all of the current projects.
“I was shocked when he told me that the project I presented was not my area of expertise, and he would handle it from there.”
It was later revealed that the researcher’s project had been hijacked, and the grants, cancelled.
“He (director) even went to the extent of calling the companies listed in my research to tarnish my name.”
The absence of regulations allows department heads to veto any research with nothing more than a signed letter.
“Even if you complain to the top, which would be the vice-chancellor, they can’t do anything,” said the researcher.
Another academic said her department director deems those under him non-experts, and prevents them from speaking to the media about research developments.
“He hates it when the media reaches out to us for the latest developments in our field.
“I once sought his permission to speak to a journalist regarding a project I was working on to help civil society, and the next thing I knew, I got an email from him saying not to speak to the media.
“I would be in hot water if he knew I was talking to you.”
Another issue is directors taking on projects that are only of interest to them, without a second thought for others’ expertise, she said.
“I was working very hard on a project on the environment. But when a project of my expertise came along, he just dismissed it, saying no one specialises in this field, when I do.
“Instead, I was asked to research something that he was studying. I declined as I lacked the knowledge and experience for it.
“I paid dearly for this, as I was practically sidelined after that.”
She said the lack of local public grants left her with no choice but to apply for international ones to continue her research, which could potentially save lives.
Another researcher said their work was left out in the cold following a change of directors.
“They bully us to do what they are experts in, even though we may not have any experience in it.
“I was bad-mouthed by a deputy director to the point that he came to me and said I was ‘invisible’ in academia.”
The researcher said this is among the reasons why many academics opt to continue their work abroad.
“I believe we must not give excuses for bullies anymore. Many of us experience such bullying, but only complain to each other without taking steps to make the issue known.
“No one voices it out, so more people suffer in silence. And when they do, academia suffers.” – The Vibes, January 23, 2021
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