Pay for university fatcats up £10,000
VICE- chancellors’ pay rose by £10,000 last year despite an outcry over fatcat salaries, according to figures.
The average pay packet for 2016/17 was £268,103, up from £258,039 the previous year – a rise of 3.9 per cent. Once employer pension contributions are included, vice-chancellors received a total pay package of £289,756 on average, up 3.2 per cent.
The data, compiled by the Times Higher Education Supplement, comes after a year of outrage over the salaries paid to university chiefs.
Former universities minister Jo Johnson called for an end to the ‘endless upwards ratchet’ while Labour’s Lord Adonis said they all should take a pay cut to below £150,000. The highest paid is Dame Glynis Breakwell of Bath University, who received £471,000 including pension last year and announced her retirement following a furore over her salary.
Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union, which represents lecturers, said: ‘Despite months of terrible headlines about senior pay and perks in our universities, some vice-chancellors continue to appear only concerned about looking after themselves. The lack of self-awareness is staggering as universities plead poverty to keep down staff pay and try to impose changes that would slash staff pensions.’
The rise in average pay for vicechancellors is four times the 1.1 per cent increase awarded to staff.
A total of 13 institutions paid more than £400,000 for the office of the vice-chancellor in 2016/17, while 64 paid more than £300,000. The data also shows that four higher education leaders shared nearly £1million between them in ‘golden goodbyes’ as they retired or stepped down.
These included Professor Cliff Allan, who left Birmingham City University in October 2016, and was paid £186,878 as ‘compensation for loss of office’, in addition to £38,960 in salary, pension contributions and benefits. A spokesman for the institution said he received compensation ‘in line with the terms of his contract’.
At Hull University, Calie Pistorius, who stepped down in January last year, was handed £74,000 ‘in connection with his retirement’.
A spokesman for Universities UK, which represents vice-chancellors, said: ‘It is right to expect that the process for determining senior university staff pay is rigorous and transparent.
‘The Committee of University Chairs’ new remuneration code, currently being consulted upon, will provide important guidance for remuneration committees to ensure pay decisions are fair, accountable and justified, while recognising that competitive pay is necessary to attract first rate leaders.’