Victoria University has paid more than $75,000 to settle a case with Thomas D’Souza, a former student.
Mr D’Souza took the university to court in 2013 for allegedly misrepresenting an engineering degree course as accredited by the Institute of Engineers, Australia.
He had claimed $104,084 for misrepresentation and a breach of contract over the grading and honours system. Victoria University settled the matter for $75,000 plus the legal costs in November before it came for hearing in Melbourne’s County Court.
Mr D’Souza enrolled in four-year degree course of Bachelors of Engineering Building Surveying in 2002 at the university, believing the University Boucher that said it was accredited by the Institute of Engineers, Australia. But, he found out it was not when he was in the second year of the course.
He says the university said they were making efforts to get the course accredited, but when they failed to get it accredited, the students were not informed.
Mr D’Souza says one year of his life was wasted because he completed a degree that was not accredited.
“I completed the unaccredited course. I had to do extra subjects which then meant I completed the requirements for Bachelor of Engineering.
“This wasted a year of my life,” he said.
On being queried, a Victoria University spokeswoman told Fairfax Media that the matter with Mr D’Souza had been resolved. She said the course of Bachelor of Engineering (Building Surveying) was discontinued about ten years ago.
Mr D’Souza says he had to work and raise money to take the university to the court, which wasn’t possible while he was studying.
“When courses change over their life cycle, the University’s legislation required the changes to not disadvantage students. When I was disadvantaged and the university’s internal resolution couldn’t afford justice, the only means of recourse I had was to go to the County Court,” he said.
He says the university tried to impose a condition on him that he wouldn’t speak to the media, which he refused to accept.
“The university tried to silence me- just like child sex abuse cases. It appears the university is keen to not have the new students know about how it misrepresented my course.
“I want other students to know about these problems. Students do not know who the proper accrediting body is, they don’t know who to call and check. The accrediting bodies also don’t want to receive a telephone call from every engineering student,” Tomas told SBS.
He says the universities exploit the students’ inability to go to the court due to financial reasons.
“The issues with public universities should also be able to be heard at VCAT if a student is unhappy with the way the matters are handled.
“Presently students can’t get a fair review procedure. Natural justice needs to be more than lip service. To be affordable justice what I had to do was go out and work, collect money over a number of years and then come back to sue the university.”
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