‘Halve university pay to cut fees’

UNIVERSITY chiefs are “doubling” the cost of some courses and this has led to inflated pay packets, Lord Adonis has suggested.

The former Labour education minister said that no vice-chancellor has produced figures to show their university’s arts and social studies courses, among others, cost £9,250 to deliver or that they are worth such a sum.

Speaking on Today on BBC Radio 4, alongside Professor David Phoenix, the vice-chancellor of London South Bank University, Lord Adonis said: “My own view is that South Bank University… could offer many of these courses for about half that level.

“Dave is paid a salary of £295,000 for leading a public service institution. He has 10 staff at his university who are paid over £100,000.

“All of those salaries, in my view, should be halved. That would save £1million alone and that would be a big first step towards reducing fees.”

It was clarified later in the interview that Mr Phoenix’s base salary is £227,000 and the £295,000 figure includes employment benefits such as his pension.