University chiefs paid more than PM
EDUCATION: Vice chancellors at more than 120 universities were paid a higher salary than Theresa May last year, with one taking home almost £500,000. New data shows that 1.5 per cent of staff were on a salary of more than £100,000 a year.
VICE CHANCELLORS at more than 120 universities were paid a higher salary than Theresa May last year, with one taking home almost £500,000.
New data from the Office for Students shows that 1.5 per cent of staff were on a basic salary of more than £100,000 a year in 2017/18 – up from 1.3 per cent in 2016/17.
The list was topped by the University of Bath which paid its vice chancellor a basic salary of £470,000.
Meanwhile Yorkshire’s highest paid vice chancellor (VC) earned more than twice the Prime Minister last year, taking home £346,000. Sir Keith Burnett, who retired in September from Sheffield University after 10 years, had a total remuneration package of £456,000 – the 10th highest in the country.
Second highest paid in the region was Prof Bob Cryan, of Huddersfield University, whose basic salary was £326,000, a total of £385,000, including pension.
He was followed by Sir Alan Langlands, of Leeds University, whose basic salary was £281,000 (total £294,000 including pension).
The data also shows that nearly 300 senior staff at Yorkshire universities were paid more than £100,000 – 117 of them at Leeds and another 67 at Sheffield.
Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of the OfS, said it was not for them to set pay, but where pay was out of kilter, or salary increases at the top outstripped pay awards to other staff, VCs should be prepared to answer “tough questions”.
She said: “It is good to see signs of pay restraint at some universities, with some VCs refusing a salary increase.”
However, the report was criticised by the University and College Union (UCU), which branded the OfS a “paper tiger”.
The UCU said it failed to look at the excessive and arbitrary rises still enjoyed by some VCs, or tackle the expenses and other benefits in kind that have “plagued universities in recent years”.
Head of policy Matt Waddup said: “The report simply regurgitates some of the analysis done by UCU and others in recent years, but pulls its punches on how to address the problem.
“The OfS fails to ask why some vice chancellors are still picking up double-digit pay rises and doesn’t even look at their expenses or other benefits in kind.
“This report sends a message that those who accept such largesse have nothing to fear from the new regulator.”
Education Secretary Damian Hinds said: “We set up the OfS to look out for students’ interests and it is absolutely right that the OfS demands greater transparency from universities by requiring them to justify the pay and benefits of their vice chancellors.
“We have given the OfS powers to take action if universities do not do this and we expect them to be used where necessary.”
Sheffield University’s new vice chancellor is Prof Koen Lamberts, formerly VC of York University, whose salary has been agreed at £285,000.
Huddersfield University said Prof Cryan had been a “remarkably effective and inspirational leader”. A spokesman said his salary was reviewed annually by a committee of members of the Governing Council and Prof Cryan was neither a member nor in attendance at its meeting.
Leeds University said as Yorkshire’s largest university it inevitably employed a lot of people, providing 38,000 students “with an exceptional education”. Sir Alan’s total package was below the sector average and he had only had a single 1.1 per cent rise since 2013.
It is good to see signs of pay restraint at some universities,
Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of the OfS,