ULSTER University is to review a decision not to let a leading trade union member stand for election to its governing body.
It comes just days after the university was threatened with legal action over claims of "discrimination" when lecturer Goretti Horgan said she was told she would not be allowed to stand for election to the university's council, which oversees all of UU's operations.
She had applied to become a member of the council, but earlier this week received a letter from UU stating she would not be considered for the position as a staff representative due to her links to the University and College Union (UCU).
UU said Ms Horgan had a "conflict of interest" caused by her membership of the UCU, which oversees and scrutinises the university’s affairs.
But a UU spokesperson yesterday told BBC NI it was "reviewing this matter" and expressions of interest from staff intending to stand for election to council had been reviewed by a nominations committee.
"If deemed to meet the criteria and to have no significant conflict of interest, the applicants will then progress to a staff election for the position," they said.
"We are currently reviewing this matter following receipt of a complaint from an employee and it would not be appropriate to comment further on individual applicants until this is completed."
