UCC legal row over professor posts

The president of University College Cork has described an allegation the selection process for the appointment of senior posts at UCC’s school of business is “shambolic,” as “an outrage”, the High Court heard yesterday.

The remark was made in proceedings brought by Dr Joan Buckley, who is a senior lecturer in marketing and head of Department of Management and Marketing, arising out of the college’s decision not to shortlist her for 10 professorial positions it advertised last year.

Dr Buckley, represented by Frank Callanan SC, claims the process engaged in by UCC to appoint professors at Cork University Business School is “tainted” and “flawed,” and should be set aside. She has asked the High Court for an injunction preventing the interview process from proceeding pending the outcome of the full hearing of her action against UCC.

UCC, which rejects Dr Buckley’s claims, has opposed the application. The first round of interviews of the candidates shortlisted are due to start early next week.

In a sworn statement UCC president, Dr Michael Murphy, said it was an outrage to suggest without evidence the process to appoint some 10 professors at Cork University Business School was “shambolic”. He says the selection committee who compiled the shortlist did so in full compliance with UCC’s regulations and suggestions it had been done otherwise are “wholly without merit”.

Dr Murphy says that although Dr Buckley had made an important contribution to the business school, her research record had not reached the international standards required to achieve a professorial position.

Dr Murphy said halting the selection process would damage UCC and its students and the financial effect would be immeasurable.

Dr Buckley claims her exclusion from the shortlist, given her academic record and years working at various senior posts at UCC, is regarded as “inexplicable” by many at the university. She fears the failure to make the shortlist will cause incalculable damage to her career and if allowed stand she “will never be a professor.”

The court heard she has fulfilled a number of senior roles at the university’s business faculty since 1990, and played a key role in the establishment of Cork University Business School.

Mr Callanan said his client, a highly respected academic, was unhappy about UCC’s decision to fill the 10 posts from the start. A similar process was attempted and was not successful at other universities, counsel said, but she decided to apply for the post.

She was one of more than 260 candidates. Earlier this month his client was informed she was not on the shortlist of some 30-plus candidates. When she got feedback why she had been turned down she was told the required research output to warrant inclusion on the shortlist had not been demonstrated. This, counsel said, is incorrect given the extensive research she has undertaken. Her research was at least on a par with several candidates who were shortlisted.

Judge O’Regan in adjourning the matter said the interview process due to take place next week should proceed on the condition that no appointment be made while the hearing of Dr Buckley’s application continues. The case resumes on Monday.