Memorial University’s newly created position of Associate Vice-President of Harlow and Global Partnerships was first reported on August 26, 2024, by mattbarter.ca and further reported on August 28, 2024, by allNewfoundlandLabrador. Memorial refused to provide the employment contract for the position, and a complaint was filed with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner.
Many sources have contacted mattbarter.ca regarding President Neil Bose’s appointment of friends to university positions. More recently, concerns were raised about the new role at Harlow due to the lack of consultation or competition for the position. Some felt that President Bose was in a conflict of interest.
Bose appointed his co-author, Jingjing Xu, to the position. Xu is a marine expert and professor at Coventry University. Bose and Zu co-authored three academic papers related to Marine technology in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Memorial has not announced the position publicly, and unlike other Associate Vice-President positions, it is not listed on Memorial’s website.
Although Memorial argues that Harlow is a third party and is its own separate entity, the university provides Harlow funds to operate. For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, Harlow received a $929,000 operating grant from Memorial.
Memorial University’s Conflict of Interest policy underscores the paramount importance of university employees upholding the highest ethical standards, emphasizing accountability and transparency in all operational facets. Individuals representing the university are ethically bound to ensure that their decisions and actions remain uninfluenced by personal interests. The policy highlights the university’s commitment to addressing conflicts openly, fairly, consistently, and practically to uphold public trust.
According to the policy, each member bears the responsibility of assessing their own interests, involvement, and activities, and is obligated to report any real, perceived, or potential conflicts of interest.
It is imperative for Memorial University to launch an immediate and thorough investigation. Grave concerns have been raised about the ethical conduct of a university official entrusted with upholding the institution’s values and standards. Such an inquiry is not only warranted but crucial to preserving the integrity of the university’s ethical framework and ensuring that its representatives adhere unwaveringly to the highest standards of conduct. The university’s reputation is at stake, and only a swift and robust response will suffice to rectify this alleged egregious violation and restore faith in its commitment to ethical governance.
Matt Barter is a graduate of the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, holding a degree in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, taking walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.
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