University heads receive pay rise amidst cuts

University vice-chancellors received an average pay rise of ten percent last year despite cuts across university departments, according to a recent report. The increase took institutions average spend on their vice-chancellors to £219,156.

The recent report from Grant Thornton, published by The Times Higher Education Supplement, gives the details of the pay increases from 2007/08 – 08/09.

According to the data, Edinburgh Napier University’s Dame Joanne Stringer's salary and benefits increased from a total of £177,000 to £191,000 in a year, while Queen Margaret’s vice-chancellor Professor Anthony Cohen saw a pay increase from £150,000 in 07/08 to £171,000 in 08/09.

University of Edinburgh’s Sir Professor Timothy O’Shea was an exception taking a £6,000 pay cut, lowering his salary to £223,000.

The salaries are higher than those of high court judges who will earn an average of £150,000 a year, while CEO’s in the private sector are likely to be earning £200,000+ after 20 years experience.

Liam Burns, president of NUS Scotland told The Journal: “When financial hardship and debt levels among students are through the roof, hardship and childcare funds are under severe pressure, and courses and departments have been threatened with cuts, it's beyond belief that we're seeing double-digit increases in pay for principals.

"Increasing principals' pay should be the last thing on peoples' minds. This is especially the case when at the same time we've heard university leaders call for a return to tuition fees for Scottish students."

Universities Scotland, the umbrella group for vice-chancellors of Scotland, defended their member’s pay rises.

Director Alastair Sim told The Journal: “It’s difficult to make any sense of the Times Higher’s table for Scotland as there have been so many changes amongst principals in Scotland over the last year, largely as a result of retirement.

“What we do know from Universities UK & the University & College Employers Association’s survey of principals' salaries for this year is that pay increases for 2009/10 reflect the very different funding climate we’re now in with the median increase at around 0.5 percent.”

A spokesperson from Queen Margaret University  also defended the wage rise, saying: “Professor Cohen’s pay increase from 2007/8 to 2008/9 was in line with awards made to the rest of QMU staff  that period which was 3 percent in May and 5 percent in October 2008, in line with National Framework Agreement.  

"The Principal’s salary is considered by a renumeration committee which looks at all salaries of QMU’s senior staff, benchmarks against other principals’ positions and considers performance and achievements."