Professor Zhang Ming has sparked controversy about academic freedom and the excessive power of university administrators after complaining on his blog about his demotion at People's University in Beijing.

Zhang, former head of the university's political science department, announced he was demoted on his blog on March 16 saying it was a result of friction with administrative officials. Within 10 days his blog had attracted more than 70,000 hits and more than 1,000 comments.

He attracted even more attention after he gave two on-line interviews with leading Chinese websites.

The 50-year-old professor said at a meeting last May, only a month after he had been elected department head, he recommended a candidate for a new post but was interrupted twice by his dean of the School of International Studies Li Jingzhi that administers the department of political sciences.

"I was very angry at that time and told Li to listen when I spoke," Zhang said, adding that Li thought he was showing disrespect.

On his blog, Zhang also said administrative officials at Chinese universities have control over academic affairs.

The school relieved Zhang of his duties at department head in mid-March without providing a reason or giver Zhang a chance. Zhang said he believes the school will also try to fire him as a professor.

After Zhang wrote about his demotion, Li Jingzhi posted four open letters on the Internet in defence of the school's decision. Li wrote that Zhang is arrogant and won't accept dissenting opinion.

Li told Xinhua that stripping Zhang of his post was within the school's authority and it had adhered to procedures. "Zhang's words and deeds proved he was not suitable for the post," said Li.

Li's on-line letters have apparently backfired. Many netizens lashed out at them and hailed Zhang as a "fighter against power" and labeled him a "hero of People's University".

Other netizens said Zhang was only playing up to the public and that he was causing chaos at the university.

Zhang is the latest scholar to shine a light on in-fighting in China's higher education institutions. The resignation of famous artist Chen Danqing from Qinghua University brought public queries on the recruitment system, and world-class mathematician Qiu Chengtong warned that some people had forged resumes to get employed in Beijing University.

With the debate on Zhang's demotion still simmering, academics are sharing their own stories about run-ins with powerful administrative officials.

Troubles caused by "the bureaucracy at universities is very often seen and felt by teachers but seldom comes to light since most teachers have learned to be obedient," said professor Xiong Bingqi with Shanghai Jiaotong University.

Tang Anguo, director of High Education Institute of East China Normal University, said the rapid development of universities over the past decade has given administrative officials a lot of power. A rigidly stratified university will compromise academic freedom, Tang said.

The domination of China's universities by administrative officials is hindering the development of the country's institutes of higher learning, said Shi Yinhong, head of the academic committee of the School of International Studies of the People's University. He said scholars and officials should try to achieve a balance of power.

Editor: Wing