A prominent academic at UCD in Dublin has announced that he is resigning from his role over the college's stance on the crisis in Ukraine.
UCD politics professor Ben Tonra said he is resigning his role with UCD’s College of Social Sciences and Law as its vice principal for internationalization and global engagement.
Taking to social media this afternoon, Mr Tonra wrote: “With immediate effect I am resigning my role as the UCD College of Social Sciences and Law’s Vice Principal for Internationalization and Global Engagement at UCD Dublin.
"Based on the statements and response of the University’s leadership to the invasion of Ukraine and the role of the Confucius Institute on campus, it is clear to me that I do not share the values underpinning UCD’s global engagement strategy."
Mr Tonra said that he will continue his teaching and research as Full Professor of International Relations at the UCD School of Politics and International Relations and the UCD College of Social Sciences and Law.
He took the step in the wake of a college statement that did not condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine and also cited the role of the Confucius Institute on campus.
The institution was created in 2006 and aims to increase ties between countries and China by allowing students to learn the Chinese language and culture.
In a statement released on Monday night regarding the war in Ukraine, UCD said: "University College Dublin joins the Irish Government and wider society in its concern with the situation in Ukraine, and in particular with the violation of international law and the unnecessary and tragic human suffering and loss of life."
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