Central Queensland University - Criticism

Criticism

In 2006, CQUniversity came under criticism by international students at the Melbourne campus describing themselves as "Cash cow" students after a majority of them failed a tax and accounting postgraduate subject. They complained of inadequate facilities and an inability to dispute their grading. The claims were disputed by the university who suggested that the subject was "tough". Former Victorian premier John Cain is quoted as saying that the Melbourne CQUniversity campus lacks the appropriate facilities expected in a tertiary institution, as it is run by a private company.

CQUniversity was criticised in 2011 by a group of doctors and scientists, including Australian Medical Association (AMA) President Steve Hambledon, for the university's decision to offer courses in chiropractics. In a letter to the university, the group writes, "Your chiropractic students may well be exposed to excellent courses in anatomy and some basic sciences. However the inclusion of subluxation theory as evidence-based reality is unacceptable." The university has since stated that its chiropractic program is fully accredited by Australia's peak chiropractic training body and that the group's criticisms were unfounded. Former Australian Medical Association president Dr Kerryn Phelps spoke out against the group's criticisms, saying alternative medicine courses should be celebrated rather than being taken out of universities, to encourage a more efficient dialogue between traditional and alternative practices. Monash University professor of medicine Paul Komesaroff also commented that the group had exceeded "the boundaries of reasonable debate" and were exploiting their positions in the community and engaging in censorship.