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Queen's University Belfast

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A university in crisis - Lecturer Queen's University Belfast Employee Review

1.0
Sep 11, 2015
Recommend
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Pros

Potentially a great university. Most staff working at Queen's are dedicated and working very hard. Many staff have dedicated their lives to improving the university and should be better appreciated. The possibilities are enormous if there is more collegiality and cooperation encouraged between staff.

Cons

Sadly the senior management do not appreciate what they have. Almost all of the senior management from the new Vice Chancellor down are from Northern Ireland. They have a very narrow outlook and cannot or refuse to see themselves as others do. This is very apparent to outsiders. Do not come here if you cannot fit in. Also ask about the performance management targets - especially the income targets and support before going there. Not meeting these will lead to aggressive capability procedures and dismissal so be warned. No one is secure. Sad to leave but I could not fit in - despite doing very well - the future was not secure there. There was little real support and guidance available at Queen's. Despite being OK on targets the performance management pressures on some colleagues had become unacceptable. Another UK employer is now providing much better support and understanding.

Explore other reviews about Queen's University Belfast

5.0
Jun 30, 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Lots of learning, meeting new people and working on innovative technologies.

Cons

Not applicable for this role.

1.0
Nov 26, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

money stretches well as Belfast is one of the cheapest cities in the UK, the staff tend to be friendly and inclusive and welcoming. The gym is great, easy to get to and runs good classes at quite a fair monthly fee for membership (that can be paid directly from salary).

Cons

Where do you start? It is hard to recruit to Belfast, so the quality of staff is poor. On both the academic and the admin side the staff would simply not have that job/level outside of NI. It is skewed heavily local, so there is bias and interconnection between people that is not helpful. Everyone is either related, grew up together, or know the same people and in an effort not to offend nothing moves forward. It is Russell Group on paper only, the quality is at best 2nd or 3rd tier (and in some areas that is being generous). The University is complacent and reliant on government funding so it is there is help local people get some form of education and pay local people to be academics or well paid administrators as they want to stay near home- nothing more, nothing less. It is now struggling with the beginning of a hiring freeze. Bullying is rampant and no matter how many complaints are levied no one wants to upset a distant relative or relatives ex-school mate. The new VC is causing huge disruption due to new policies but it is unclear if it is the right kind of shake up. It needs to be reshaped and reorganized to move with the times- but you need to have the skills or vision to do that.

9
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