Wales’ uni heads in average 10% pay package rise
University heads in Wales received an average salary package of £218,800 for 2015/16 – a 10% average rise on the previous year and more than seven times’ the average pay of their staff.
A report released by the University and College Union (UCU) shows how all eight universities increased the package their vicechancellor got but range from a 1% increase at the University of South Wales to a staggering 37% at Aberystwyth – pushing up the overall average.
The Vice Chancellors (VCs) spent more than £8,000 on average for flights and hotel accommodation for their work while personal expenses claimed varied from just £9 by Cardiff University VC Professor Colin Riordan to £1,015 claimed by the VCs in post at Aberystwyth University.
Some are listed as only flying first or business class for their work including Bangor University VC Professor John G Hughes, Cardiff Metropolitan University VC Professor Cara Aitchison and University of Wales Trinity St David VC Professor Medwin Hughes.
The highest payer is Wrexham Glyndwr which was ranked the worst university in the UK by The Guardian’s university ranking table last year and is now listed 24th out of 50 with the highest-earning heads of universities in the UK by the UCU.
The lowest paid VC in Wales is Julie Lydon from the University of South Wales at £225,000 and she also had the smallest percentage pay rise at 1%.
Cardiff Metropolitan University VC Professor Cara Aitchison saw her pay package rise 15% to £276,950, putting her 12th on the list of the highest percentage pay rises for VCs around the UK.
Pay and packages, including pension contributions, to Wrexham Glyndwr VCs Professor Graham Upton, who held the post from August 2015 to March 2016, and Dr Maria Hinfelaar who took up the post in April 2016, rose from a total VC salary package of £288,000 in 2014-2015 to £343, 825 in 2015-2016. This was more than VCs from universities including Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol and Glasgow.
Aberystwyth University is listed third in the UK for universities paying the top percentage increases in total pay package between 2014/15 and 2015/16 at 37%.
The UCU report shows the university’s VC Professor April McMahon, who held the post from August 2015 to July 2016, and Professor John Gratton, who held the post from February 2016 to July 2016, were paid a total package of £340,000 in 2015-2016, compared to the VC package of £248,000 paid in 20142015.
Both universities said the huge rises were caused by the anomaly of having more than one VC in post during the period.
Other parts of the report show academic staff earn an average £41,437 in pay and pension contributions while the figure for non-academic staff is £34,974.
Cardiff University has the greatest number of high earning staff in Wales. It pays 128 staff £100,000 or more, making it 15th on a list of 21 universities in the UK with the most staff paid that amount.
Responding to the report, universities said their VCs headed large, international organisations that together bring billions of pounds to the UK and Welsh economy. Their VCs had to travel for research and business and to recruit students.
A UWTSD spokeswoman said: “The Vice Chancellor is the head of a multicampus international university which is working in partnership with institutions across the world.
“His role requires regular travel in order to fulfil his duty of securing the future sustainability of the university by developing strategic partnerships with other international organisations.
“The flights taken are therefore long haul requiring the Vice Chancellor to attend to his duties whilst travelling, and also overnight accommodation to maximise the time spent away from the campuses”.
A Cardiff University spokesperson said: “A recent independent report found that Cardiff University contributes nearly £3bn to the UK economy.
“The university’s contribution to the Welsh economy has grown in line with the UK figure – from £2,036.7m in 201213 to approximately £2,204.8m in 201415.
“Overall, the report, produced by London Economics, shows Cardiff University now generates £6.36 for every £1 it spends – compared to £6.26 in 201213.”
On flights, the university said that had to be put in the context of extensive international travel to establish new research and students plus put Wales on the global map.
On paying 128 staff £100,000 or more, the university spokesperson added: “As Wales’ leading research intensive university that aspires to be one of the top 100 universities in the world and top 20 in the UK, the university needs to attract the best academics from around the world.
“This means offering competitive salaries.”
Bangor and UWTSD VCs spent most on hotels and are listed among the top hotel spenders of VCs in the UK.
A spokeswoman for Bangor University, whose VC John G Hughes spent more than £8,880 on hotels, making him the seventh on a list of 21 top hotel spenders among UK VCs, said: “The level of expenditure on both national and international travel and accommodation reflects the university’s development of important relationships nationally and abroad, particularly in China, which the Vice Chancellor has successfully led and which deliver valuable benefits to the University and to the region.”
UWTSD VC Professor Medwin Hughes was eight on the list with a £8,096 hotel bill.