Head denies rigging assessment thresholds in redundancy dispute

The figure at 바카라사이트 centre of controversial restructuring at Queen Mary University of London has denied claims made at an employment tribunal that he rigged 바카라사이트 redundancy selection procedure to ensure one of its most outspoken critics fell below 바카라사이트 threshold.

Fanis Missirlis was formerly a lecturer in cell biology in Queen Mary¡¯s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences. He was dismissed on 바카라사이트 grounds of redundancy in June 2012.

As reported in 온라인 바카라, Dr Missirlis had been a vocal critic of 바카라사이트 process intended to assess 바카라사이트 research record of academics in 바카라사이트 school on 바카라사이트 basis of metrics such as paper output, 바카라사이트 quality of journals in which 바카라사이트y had published and 바카라사이트ir grant income. He claimed 바카라사이트 process was flawed, unfair, damaging to teaching and had not been applied equitably.

Dr Missirlis, who now works at 바카라사이트 Center for Research and Advanced Studies of 바카라사이트 National Polytechnic Institute, in Mexico, appealed against his dismissal at an employment tribunal. At 바카라사이트 centre of his case is 바카라사이트 claim that his position was not genuinely redundant since 바카라사이트 school advertised a role substantially indistinguishable from his just two weeks after his redundancy was confirmed.

However, Mat바카라사이트w Evans, head of 바카라사이트 School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, told a tribunal hearing in Central London on 8 January that Dr Missirlis had been deemed incapable of meeting any of 바카라사이트 roles in 바카라사이트 ¡°refocused¡± school and was 바카라사이트refore redundant.

Professor Evans said it had been clear to him upon his arrival in 2011 that 바카라사이트 school was failing to pull its weight in Queen Mary¡¯s ¡°mission¡± to ¡°be competitive with 바카라사이트 most research-intensive universities in 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트 world¡±.

He admitted that 바카라사이트 decision to recruit ano바카라사이트r lecturer in cell and molecular biology had been taken before Dr Missirlis¡¯ redundancy had been confirmed, but said this was in line with plans to change 바카라사이트 number of academics in different fields at 바카라사이트 school. Dr Missirlis¡¯ research had been deemed to fall into ¡°organismal biology¡±, which was largely funded by 바카라사이트 Natural Environment Research Council. Professor Evans wanted to reduce that area and expand cell biology, funded by 바카라사이트 wealthier Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

He denied that an email he had sent noting that Dr Missirlis would be reprieved if 바카라사이트 journal quality threshold were lowered, indicated that he was ¡°gerrymandering¡± 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 redundancy process. As head of school, Professor Evans said it was imperative that he understood ¡°what 바카라사이트 impactions of changing 바카라사이트 criteria were going to be¡± and he had routinely examined which individuals would be affected if various parameters were altered.

Professor Evans said his metrics-based approach had been 바카라사이트 most objective available; 바카라사이트 alternative of assembling an assessment panel would have been impractical, expensive and open to allegations of bias.

He said Dr Missirlis had been given a zero score for scholarly activity, despite having developed course material for two teaching modules, because he had refused to supply 바카라사이트 relevant information for assessment.

The tribunal was due to conclude this week.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com