Peace and Conflict Studies Associate Prof Dr SungYong Lee featured in July’s university alumni magazine.
The profile, which features prominently, describes Dr Lee as having "won one of Otago [University]’s prestigious teaching awards".
However, he has now lost his job amid a turbulent time for the university, which has included voluntary redundancies and "management of change" processes.
In 2022, Assoc Prof Lee won a University of Otago Award for Excellence in Teaching, which came with $5000 to support professional and academic development.
A former Peace and Conflict Studies student, who did not want to be named, said it was "disappointing"for the magazine to feature Dr Lee.
"His profile is still being advertised to attract students," he said.
"I think this is disingenuous and borders on false advertisement.
"The university needs to be called out for this, and they need to own their responsibility for the ongoing redundancies they are leading."
In the same issue, acting vice-chancellor Prof Helen Nicholson penned an editorial.
"The university requires ongoing operating cost savings of $60 million a year to be financially sustainable — that is, permanent cost savings from our current operating budget," her editorial said.
Prof Nicholson’s editorial said there will be permanent savings from budgets, including staff cuts where necessary.
"I value your support through these difficult times and know that my colleagues here feel the same."
A Tertiary Education Union spokesman said Assoc Prof Lee’s appearance in the magazine was "ironic".
"At the same time, Assoc Prof Lee’s appearance in the magazine is testament to the amazing work and research the department does, and further confirmation that it should not be lost," he said.
Assoc Prof Lee has been contacted for comment.
The university is looking to make savings to its budget, and is going through a variety of "management of change" proposals.
Among those departments affected is Peace and Conflict Studies.
Pro-vice-chancellor for humanities Prof Jessica Palmer said the initial proposal included a reduction in permanent staff from three full-time equivalents (FTE) to 1.0FTE.
Asked specifically about Assoc Prof Lee, Prof Palmer said the university could not comment on the individual employment arrangements of any staff member.
Prof Palmer said the centre was unable to operate in a financially sustainable way in its present format.
"In response to submissions received concerning the centre’s viability with this level of staffing, the final staffing was increased," Prof Palmer said.
"The centre will be staffed at 2.0FTE consisting of the existing chair of Peace and Conflict Studies position (1.0FTE) and a new chair role with expertise in Māori/Moriori and indigenous peace theory and practice (1.0FTE)."
Prof Palmer said 2.0 FTE current permanent staff in the centre would be made redundant, with affected staff positions to be disestablished in March next year.
Earlier this year, 107 university staff accepted voluntary redundancies.
Of the 107 accepted, 36 came from health science, 14 from science, eight from commerce, 10 from humanities, 22 from operations and 17 from academic, external engagement, financial services and research divisions.
