Abertay head going to tribunal

ONE of Britain's longest-serving university principals is taking his case to an employment tribunal after being suspended from his £222,000-a-year post.

Professor Bernard King, principal of Dundee's Abertay University, was suspended on the orders of the University Court two weeks ago, after what sources claimed was a dispute between Prof King and court members over the timing of his departure from office and a struggle for power at the university.

Vice-principal Professor Nicholas Terry had earlier been suspended pending a separate investigation into what the university called an "unrelated issue." It is understood the decision to suspend him was not taken by the court

Prof King has also stepped down from his post as convener of Universities Scotland, the representative body for Scotland's 21 universities and higher education colleges.

Prof King, who is few months short of his 65th birthday, is reported to have lodged papers with the employment tribunal service, claiming he was discriminated against because of his age.

The principal, 64, claims the university's governing body reneged on an agreement to extend his contract. Papers lodged with the tribunal are said to include claims and counter-claims of intimidation and breach of agreement.

The university has appointed two external investigators to examine the suspensions of both the vice-principal and principal.

A spokesman for Abertay University said last night: "There are investigations ongoing and we will not comment further while those are under way."

Prof King, Scotland's longest-serving university principal, became principal of what was then Dundee Institute of technology in 1992 - two years before Abertay University was created.