Australian students launch petition to reinstate Indian-origin professor Jay Shaw

MELBOURNE: Students at a leading Australian university have launched a petition campaign to reinstate a well-known Indian-origin Professor whose contract has not been renewed.

Jay Shaw, 74, of Victoria University who will end his tenure at the varsity in November has been seeking to continue to teach even for free.

History, philosophy, political science and international relations associate professor Shaw had been on fixed-term teaching contracts for the past four years.

According to Stuff online, Shaw said he was forced into retirement and did not want to leave and was willing to teach for free.

"I was told they couldn't renew my contract and I had to leave at the end of the year. I told them I was willing to teach without any pay, but I got a negative reply," Shaw said.

He said that the petition campaign launched in support for him could help reinstate him.

"(Shaw) is a treasure for students that cherish philosophy, education and more importantly a comparative approach that sees all philosophy as equally important," Alexander Janet, who initiated the petition, said.

A university spokeswoman refused to comment on the details of Shaw's employment, citing privacy reasons but confirmed that the tenure was finishing this year, the report said.

The date for a person to retire from Victoria University was always reached by mutual agreement, she said.