Fat cat pay soars ... as student numbers fall
ALMOST a dozen universities gave their vice-chancellors a bumper pay rise last year despite a fall in student numbers, figures show.
The fat cat academics were handed increases of up to 13 per cent in 2015-16.
A fall in student numbers can hit university resources and staffing, as budgets are largely reliant on tuition fees. But analysis by Times Higher Education (THE) magazine suggested it does not affect pay hikes for vice-chancellors.
The survey, by accountants Grant Thornton for THE, shows that in 2015-16, the average pay package for university heads was £280,877 including pension contributions – a rise of 2.2 per cent on 2014-15. But 11 universities awarded larger pay rises even as their student recruitment fell by more than 5 per cent from 2014 to 2015.
The head of East London University, John Joughin, saw his total pay, including pension, climb by 13.5 per cent in 201516 despite numbers falling by 10 per cent year-on-year.
George Holmes, leader of Bolton University, enjoyed a rise of 11.5 per cent as student numbers fell 6 per cent.
Both universities said their vice-chancellors’ pay is not out of line with similar institutions, and is lower than many.