Australia, Dec. 26 -- New South Wales Land and Environment Court issued text of the following judgement on Dec. 13:

1. Mr Ghazi Alnajdi ("the complainant") is of Saudi Arabian Nationality who was granted a Subclass 500 visa to travel to Australia and undertake studies in March 2000. In or around December 2021, the complainant was offered enrolment in a PhD course at The University of Sydney ("the university"), with a commencement date of March 2022. The complainant commenced his course and studies in March 2022 at the university.

2. The Complainant lives with a mental and physical health diagnoses, namely Type 1 diabetes, depression and anxiety. All of which are documented in a Disability Services Plan with the university.

3. The Complaint contends that the university required him to complete his course of study within 14 research periods. He submits that the Associate Dean can approve an extension of the latest date if exceptional circumstances are established. No such extension was granted to him.

4. On 20 October 2023, the complainant contends that he attended a Progress Evaluation Meeting with the university at which he was required to show good cause as to why he should be permitted to continue his candidature. This was because the university had formed a view that the complainant was no making satisfactory progress in his course.

5. On 24 November 2023 the complainant contends that he provided a response to the university, "in which he referred to, among other things, the need for additional support to complete his degree for reasons relating to his disabilities, which had been exacerbated due to the death of his mother."

6. On 6 December 2023 the complainant contends that the university "determined that the Applicant had not shown good cause as to why he should be permitted to continue his candidature for reasons including failure to make sufficient progress in his degree. The reasons given indicated a lack of satisfaction on the Respondent's part as to the Applicant's ability to complete this thesis on time, in accordance the HDR Rule requiring full time students to complete their PhD within 14 research periods."

7. On 26 August 2024, the university cancelled the complainants enrolment in the course.

*Rest of the document can be viewed at: (https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/193b855c8fc8f6554d52e217)

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.