PRESS RELEASE
EMBARGOED: for publication on 31st September 2006
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London School of Economics and Political Science
LSE is delighted to announce the launch of the Tony Blair School of Government (TBSG). Welcoming the news the Director of the LSE said: "This exciting and prestigious development comes after the recent inauguration at LSE of the Enron Foundation for Business Accounting and its move into medical sciences with the Harold Shipman Institute of Geriatric Medicine. It confirms our position as a world class leader and global player at the cutting edge of a wide range of high value-added academic disciplines."
TBSG will have the advantage of three endowed chairs at its launch: the Peter Goldsmith Chair of the International Law of War; the Rupert Murdoch Chair of Corporate Media Responsibility; and the John Bolton Chair of United Nations Studies. Applications for these posts are not invited, as they will be filled by modern methods.
Courses to be offered by the TBSG (fees set by market demand) include -
BSc War on Terror
This undergraduate program is guaranteed to exclude any study of the history of Western imperialism, exploitation and corporate interests, and also to avoid analysis of non-violent critical voices from the Muslim world. Options include: the role of torture in international relations (year 2) and extra-legal detention studies (year 3). Set text: "The Collected Speeches of George W. Bush"
MA in Refugee Studies
Entry requirements: first degree (optional); experience in the security services (essential). The focus of the course will be on techniques for excluding asylum seekers from advanced countries, including deterrence through pauperization of those claiming asylum and threats of repatriation to unsafe environments. Research options are available on forced removals, detention of children and razor wire evaluation. Guest lecturer Mr David Blunkett. Students wishing to study the legal background, including the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, are very strongly advised to go elsewhere
Endowments for the new school demonstrate strong international support for this academic initiative, and donors bring access to an unrivalled pool of knowledge and field experience. They include Halliburton and Bechtel in the United States, with their deep understanding of post-conflict social engineering; DHL in Germany, recently identified as leaders in the field of health service economics; and in the UK both Amey, who have so successfully demonstrated the tranferability of railway engineering techniques to the field of secondary education, and Octagon, who have showed their mastery of health service accounting in the refinancing of the Norwich and Norfolk PFI deal.
The new school will have the power to confer "honorary" degrees.
A representative of the University and College Union speaking for teaching and research staff of the LSE said: "We strongly believe that the creation of this school is a [censored] day for the LSE and will [censored] its reputation in the academic world".
ENDS
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