Teacher quality questioned

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32838, 11 February 1972, Page 3

Teacher quality questioned

(New Zealand Press Association) PALMERSTON NORTH, February 10. Few people teaching business subjects in New Zealand universities could command similar positions in leading overseas business schools, said Professor G. Fogelberg at the Institute of Management conference.

Professor Fogelberg, professor of business administration at Victoria University, said that compared with many North American business colleges, business education in New Zealand universities was still in the fledgling stage. Far too many people in New Zealand universities had drifted into an academic career without proper training, he said. The Ph.D. was regarded as an essential prerequisite to this career—unfortunately, the number of Ph.D. holders in business administration in this county could be counted on one hand.

Professor Fogelberg said his comments should not be construed to mean there was no place for the man of practical experience in the academic worlds. A balanced academic team must include

such men. However, there was distinct danger that many men of practical experience were attracted to an academic career because they had not achieved outstanding success in their previous careers. Also, the man of practical experience was likely to be out of touch with developments in his major field of interest when he embarked on an academic career. A man who completed a master’s degree 15 years ago would find the accumulation of the knowledge in his subject to be enormous. Professor Fogelberg said that the universities would continue to play an active role in New Zealand management training. But properly qualified staff must be employed or the business community would lose confidence in university courses.