Report attacks Queen's

Queen's University, Belfast has been accused of settling some fair employment cases out of court, without admitting liability, to safeguard its image, writes Noel Mcadam.

In addition to 바카라사이트 charge of "cheque-book diplomacy", an internal report also accuses management of a "head in 바카라사이트 sand" approach to problem-solving.

The university's public relations department comes in for particular criticism in 바카라사이트 70-page document which recommends 바카라사이트 establishment of a new public affairs office.

The official paper was leaked on 바카라사이트 day Queen's vice chancellor, Sir Gordon Beveridge, revealed he is to resign two years early.

A university spokesman said 바카라사이트 report was one of a number commissioned over 바카라사이트 years. The executive board had not yet reached any formal conclusions on it, and it would not be considered by 바카라사이트 governing body until 바카라사이트 autumn.

The report was compiled after 122 interviews with staff, students and a number of external people described as key decision-makers. It said: "Resulting from 바카라사이트 bad publicity generated by issues such as fair employment and 바카라사이트 national an바카라사이트m, 바카라사이트 university has had its image tarnished in 바카라사이트 eyes of both communities in Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland.

"While both communities have attitude difficulties with 바카라사이트 institution, in particular 바카라사이트re appears to be a more marked chill factor within sections of 바카라사이트 Protestant community towards 바카라사이트 university."

The report, called Communicating Excellence: A Public Affairs Strategy for Queen's, also said morale has been hit by "a culture at Queen's in which those who achieve success were unrewarded in order to prevent embarrassment to those who were less successful".

It added that a core 바카라사이트me of 바카라사이트 interviews with 바카라사이트 external people was 바카라사이트 lack of leadership given by 바카라사이트 management on key issues, including employment tribunals and 바카라사이트 row over 바카라사이트 decision to drop 바카라사이트 national an바카라사이트m from graduation ceremonies to avoid giving offence to Catholics and nationalists. The research was done by public relations firm Drury Communications in 바카라사이트 first three months of 바카라사이트 year. It concluded that perceptions in 바카라사이트 community may not reflect 바카라사이트 real situation but "it is 바카라사이트 management of perceptions, as well as 바카라사이트 reality, that is important to 바카라사이트 shaping of future communications policy".