Academic staff at Queen's University Belfast have called for an extraordinary meeting of the Association of University Teachers to discuss compulsory redundancies and early retirement for 107 of their members.
After details were released earlier this year of the university's plan to improve its research performance, academic staff from the faculties of engineering, humanities, science, law, social studies, education and medicine received a letter "inviting" them to leave.
The Queen's Vice-Chancellor, Prof r George Bain, said at the time: "We are now focusing on achieving research excellence throughout the university while maintaining and strengthening our established teaching quality.
"Queen's is entering a new and exciting phase in its development . . . We regret that some staff will leave as part of the change process, but it will be of enormous benefit to Queen's and Northern Ireland as we enter the new millennium."
The plan involves an investment in Queen's over the next four years of £25 million. It is proposed to replace 107 existing staff members with 110 new appointments, but not necessarily in the same subject areas.
"There is extreme concern and complete disbelief," said Dr John Kremer, Reader in Psychology at Queen's, who is not one of those affected. The policy, according to a letter to newspapers co-signed by 103 members of staff, "was focused on one criterion, namely projected activity in relation to the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise."
The letter states: "Activities which sustain the life of any university, including teaching, administrative responsibilities and external activities, were given little consideration in the selection process, and consequently many individuals who play a full and active role in the life of Queen's, and who have helped to sustain the university through difficult times over the last 25 years, have received a letter inviting them to leave."
Prof Malcolm Andrew, Pro-Vice Chancellor at Queen's with responsibility for academic planning and resources, told The Irish Times: "The point which is missing from this letter is that it is perfectly possible to do research while doing those things. It's an utterly unconvincing argument.
"People who are not performing significantly in research cost the university money."
The £25 million investment programme was overwhelmingly endorsed by the Queen's governing body, the senate, in June.
The extraordinary meeting of the Association of University Teachers is expected to take place within two weeks.