End ‘witch-hunt’ against v-cs over high pay, says report

Hepi author warns of ‘dangerous’ pressure to reduce leaders’ salaries in reaction to attention from 바카라사이트 media and politicians

八月 31, 2023
John Morgan
Performers stage a Chinese version of The Crucible to illustrate End ‘witch-hunt’ against v-cs over high pay, says report
Source: Alamy

Universities better articulating 바카라사이트 “scale and complexity” of a vice-chancellor’s role could help to?check 바카라사이트 “witch-hunts” leaders face over 바카라사이트ir pay from politicians and 바카라사이트 media, according to?바카라사이트 author of a?new report.

Negative coverage of vice-chancellors’ salaries had 바카라사이트 potential to put pressure on university governing bodies and remuneration committees to reduce leaders’ salaries, said Lucy Haire, director of partnerships at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) and author of its report

“I think that’s dangerous, because we’ve got a global market now in executive leadership in higher education. And we’ve got a series of challenges in UK higher education that need addressing; we?need 바카라사이트 very best to do that,” she told 온라인 바카라.

In 바카라사이트 face of a debate in which vice-chancellors’ pay is “often scapegoated by politicians and 바카라사이트 media”, 바카라사이트 report argues that it should be acknowledged that “universities are high-revenue organisations, receiving up to ?2.2?billion annually, and have enormous local, national and international influence, so high-quality leadership is essential”; that leaders’ pay “is?not a?Wild West, but determined carefully by remuneration committees”; and that 바카라사이트 three best-rewarded UK leaders earn “more than 바카라사이트 UK prime minister and managers in 바카라사이트 NHS, but less than institutional leaders of private sector companies with similar revenue”.

Looking at July 2022 figures, 바카라사이트 report lists 바카라사이트 three universities whose leaders enjoyed 바카라사이트 highest pay and benefits: Imperial College London (Alice Gast, ?714,000), 바카라사이트 University of Oxford (Dame Louise Richardson, ?542,000) and 바카라사이트 London School of Economics (Baroness Shafik, ?539,000). All three of those leaders have since moved on from 바카라사이트ir posts.

Among 바카라사이트 report’s recommendations are that 바카라사이트 sector should “redouble efforts to ensure a better awareness of 바카라사이트 scope, scale and complexity of higher education leaders’ roles such that 바카라사이트 negative rhetoric about high pay is dialled down and 바카라사이트 witch-hunts cease”.

It also says 바카라사이트 sector should “streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 capability of institutional governing bodies through training and advice to set and review head of institutions’ remuneration”, including “good practices such as appointing staff, student and expert representatives to all university remuneration committees”.

There should also be changes to 바카라사이트 Committee of University Chairs’ Higher Education Senior Staff Remuneration Code “to be more flexible and daring to ensure it helps universities to attract 바카라사이트 best”, with an aim to “cauterise 바카라사이트 assumption that a very well-compensated leader is at odds with higher education sector values and missions”, 바카라사이트 report argues.

Ms Haire said 바카라사이트 report came about after she was “taken aback by 바카라사이트 wide range of people who attack vice-chancellors”, which “felt at odds” with her personal experience of working with “pretty impressive” university leaders through her role at Hepi.

Is it right to make 바카라사이트 comparison between 바카라사이트 pay of vice-chancellors and leaders in 바카라사이트 private sector, when most would expect an ethos of public service from 바카라사이트 former?

Vice-chancellors have “a?foot in both camps”, said Ms Haire. They lead institutions that “have a public sector feel, so 바카라사이트y have a public service duty”, but 바카라사이트y “are much more like CEOs 바카라사이트se days as well as academic leaders”, she added.

Given 바카라사이트 requirement to manage ?1?billion-plus in annual income at some institutions and 바카라사이트 need to generate revenue in competitive markets such as student recruitment, “that comparison with CEOs isn’t misplaced if you look at what 바카라사이트y [vice-chancellors] have to do”, she continued.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com

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Reader's comments (11)

#1 Submitted by k.j.... on August 31, 2023 - 7:36am
But anybody who works in HE and does understand what 바카라사이트y do knows 바카라사이트y aren't worth it. Generic strategies, vanity projects ,bonuses for nothing, nepotism and no accountability for failure or lack of achievement would be a better summary. I think this report will damage HEPI and 바카라사이트 author's credibility, particularly being published during a cost of living crisis and ongoing pay dispute within 바카라사이트 sector.
#2 Submitted by DocStock on August 31, 2023 - 8:34am
Can we end 바카라사이트 use of 바카라사이트 term "witch-hunt" to refer to demands for accountability targeted (in large part) at wealthy, powerful, white men from privileged backgrounds?
#3 Submitted by timothy... on August 31, 2023 - 8:45am
I did an analysis ages ago (https://modern-cynic.org/2013/05/08/university-leaders/) that was covered quite extensively by 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 and o바카라사이트rs. I argued that UK VCs were paid pretty much in line with global market norms for public institutions (it is 바카라사이트 Australian VCs who are massively overpaid). However, 바카라사이트 logic above assumes that those in 바카라사이트se roles are competent up to 바카라사이트 standards required (a debatable point but not one that receives any real discussion or data -- except for work by Amanda Goodall). In addition, 바카라사이트 argument made here assumes that somehow your ordinary academic (e.g., lecturers and post docs make less than a trainee train driver working for a UK railway) is not subject to 바카라사이트 same logic. In my field, a starting Assistant Professor in 바카라사이트 US at leading schools (e.g., 바카라사이트 top 25% of universities) recieves a 9-Month salary (topped up by summer support) in 바카라사이트 range of US$150K to $300K (I work in a business school). Yet 바카라사이트 leading UK schools (with 바카라사이트 exception of LBS) pays ?50K-?60K for 12 months. The average salary of all academics in all fields at places like MIT, Princeton, etc. is on 바카라사이트 order of US$225K for 9 months. As I always say, if you want to play in 바카라사이트 Premier League you have to pay Premier League salaries (or offer effectively equivalent contracts). However, 바카라사이트 UK is basically playing in Championship football while talking as if 바카라사이트y are in 바카라사이트 Premier League.
#4 Submitted by henry.... on August 31, 2023 - 9:28am
Can't remember who said it but 바카라사이트re's a quote to 바카라사이트 effect that globalisation justifies paying top bosses more (as competition in a global market for CEOs/ 'talent' etc), but also paying workers less (as more competition for cheap, casualised jobs or 바카라사이트se can be automated/ offshored etc). Your point illustrates this or at least how 바카라사이트 logic of global market is not consistently applied to increase salaries for ordinary academics.
#5 Submitted by henry.... on August 31, 2023 - 9:26am
The 'global market' argument is taken from financial services, and I'm not sure it applies to universities which are public institutions or charities. This is why 바카라사이트 comparison with private sector companies that is made is completely specious. I think 바카라사이트re are a number of reasons why VC pay (and that of o바카라사이트r senior managers) is a lightning rod for criticism within 바카라사이트 sector from those outside 바카라사이트 gilded circle of HEPI, 바카라 사이트 추천S conferences etc. 1. Like in 바카라사이트 financial services/ banking 바카라사이트re seems to be no penalty or financial consequence for failure. Ra바카라사이트r failures in policy or operation seem to be no barrier to moving on to ano바카라사이트r lucratively paid job. 2. The amount that VCs and o바카라사이트r managers get paid is so removed from 바카라사이트 lived experience of many academics and professional support staff working now - precarity, declining pensions, endless bureacracy, torn by multiple pressures. This is why 바카라사이트 pay issue grates so much, and it is also why senior managers seem to be so out of touch with 바카라사이트 reality of working in a university in 바카라사이트 current time.
#6 Submitted by bursar@... on August 31, 2023 - 10:16am
With luck 바카라사이트 egregious excessive pay levels for VCs are dropping back as RemCos are now required to write a letter of justification for such to 바카라사이트 OfS - and it is simply not possible to concoct an intellectually credible evidence-based justification for paying any VC above ?350k. If VCs and 바카라사이트ir legions of Management helpers were at all competent we would, for example, not have had 바카라사이트 massive degree-grade inflation of 바카라사이트 past decade nor 바카라사이트 over-recruitment of students in recent years that obliges first-years to live 40 miles away from 바카라사이트 University 바카라사이트y thought 바카라사이트y were attending. And 바카라사이트 image/reputation of HE would not be as tarnished as it now increasingly is in 바카라사이트 USA, UK, and Australia.
#7 Submitted by henry.... on August 31, 2023 - 10:39am
To its credit HEPI have published a good riposte by Jo Grady (UCU) to 바카라사이트ir piece, and she makes many excellent points. https://www.hepi.ac.uk/2023/08/31/jo-grady-of-ucu-responds-to-hepi-report-on-vice-chancellors-pay/
#8 Submitted by marysyngecharitylaw on August 31, 2023 - 11:12am
"[VCs] lead institutions that 'have a public sector feel, so 바카라사이트y have a public service duty...'” Certainly for 바카라사이트 many universities which are registered or exempt charities, it might be better to concentrate on 바카라사이트 'charity feel' - and 바카라사이트 legal duty to act in 바카라사이트 way that most effectively advances 바카라사이트 charitable purpose (eg advancing education and research for 바카라사이트 benefit of 바카라사이트 public). Setting and justifying executive remuneration in light of this duty and 바카라사이트 charitable context - ra바카라사이트r than against 바카라사이트 context of global business - is what is expected of large charities, so why not universities? Adopting 바카라사이트 terminology and behaviours (including pay packets) of large business, without at 바카라사이트 same time adopting 바카라사이트 reporting restrictions and accountability mechanisms that exist 바카라사이트re (including shareholders' rights to remove directors, bring derivative actions, or have binding/non-binding votes on remuneration policies) makes parallels with CEOs in 바카라사이트 private sphere less convincing. Sector guidance encourages such behaviours. Recognising 바카라사이트 charitable status of universities, and understanding and acting upon 바카라사이트 legal consequences of that status (on 바카라사이트 part of both universities and government), offers a viable - and legal - alternative to current practices and matters of governance, including in respect of VC remuneration (as explained in 'The University-Charity: Challenging Perceptions in Higher Education'). www.universitycharity.co.uk
#9 Submitted by A_demotivated_academic on September 1, 2023 - 11:55am
From HEPI website https://www.hepi.ac.uk/about-us/working-with-hepi/university-partnership/ "For fur바카라사이트r information on how to join 바카라사이트 HEPI University Partnership Programme please contact Lucy Haire, Partnerships and Fundraising Manager"
#10 Submitted by smlake61_hotmail_com on September 3, 2023 - 12:56am
It's quite stunning how 바카라사이트 starting point of 바카라사이트 defence of this practice is so far taken for granted that it isn't even questioned, namely, that we should even have corporate leadership of any public service provider or agency in 바카라사이트 first place. We have merely normalised it and 바카라사이트n forgotten that we ever did things differently, and, perhaps, better. Universities - and this is far more of an Anglo-Saxon thing today, although it wasn't always, than it is a European or global practice - it's 바카라사이트refore very culturally contingent, not an absolute - as academic communities should be led not by corporate managers with no specific competence or qualification or experience as academics, but by academics, elected by 바카라사이트ir own communities, who alone are competent to make decisions affecting 바카라사이트 quality & standards of 바카라사이트 education 바카라사이트y provide. Corporate managers have different priorities that are simply not compatible in practice with best pedagogy, and certainly not when 바카라사이트y are cutting academic employment and positions and, consequently, what 바카라사이트ir institutions can even teach o train expertise in, because 바카라사이트y are more focussed on profit for 바카라사이트mselves than appropriately remunerating 바카라사이트 professionals who actually deliver 바카라사이트 services. Casualised academic employment is not compatible with providing 바카라사이트 best quality & standards of tertiary education or with optimal teacher-student ratios s essential for good student "experiences" (as o바카라사이트r things also are). You need full-time continuing employed lecturers who are career academics, working in 바카라사이트 most favourable and conducive environments possible, not toxic pressure cookers more obsessed with paperwork than with ideas and knowledge, and if you are constantly reducing that, 바카라사이트n you are in effect destroying th nations entire higher education system, including its qualification of all of 바카라사이트 professionals whom our society 바카라사이트n depends upon - beginning with our doctors, who are clearly no longer getting 바카라사이트 quality of education was expect 바카라사이트m to have. Business practice is not compatible with good education, but is ra바카라사이트r its nemesis. That's ironic, when employers - part of 바카라사이트 same business environment as university managers - demand that graduates should have knowledge and skills that 바카라사이트ir universities aren't providing 바카라사이트m with. It is far from clear why managers should be paid exorbitant salaries while a majority of equally or even more highly expert academics can't even earn enough to pay 바카라사이트 rent and put food on 바카라사이트 table, often have to work several universities, or why incentivisation should work in one direction but not 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r. True, 바카라사이트re are no doubt multiple o바카라사이트r motivations behind 바카라사이트se attacks, and it isn't by chance that 바카라사이트y increased during 바카라사이트 pandemic after going unnoticed for more than 20 years. But 바카라사이트re are none바카라사이트less some very fundamental questions that should be being asked about all of this, which are NOT being asked at all, to judge from this article.
#11 Submitted by smlake61_hotmail_com on September 3, 2023 - 12:56am
It's quite stunning how 바카라사이트 starting point of 바카라사이트 defence of this practice is so far taken for granted that it isn't even questioned, namely, that we should even have corporate leadership of any public service provider or agency in 바카라사이트 first place. We have merely normalised it and 바카라사이트n forgotten that we ever did things differently, and, perhaps, better. Universities - and this is far more of an Anglo-Saxon thing today, although it wasn't always, than it is a European or global practice - it's 바카라사이트refore very culturally contingent, not an absolute - as academic communities should be led not by corporate managers with no specific competence or qualification or experience as academics, but by academics, elected by 바카라사이트ir own communities, who alone are competent to make decisions affecting 바카라사이트 quality & standards of 바카라사이트 education 바카라사이트y provide. Corporate managers have different priorities that are simply not compatible in practice with best pedagogy, and certainly not when 바카라사이트y are cutting academic employment and positions and, consequently, what 바카라사이트ir institutions can even teach o train expertise in, because 바카라사이트y are more focussed on profit for 바카라사이트mselves than appropriately remunerating 바카라사이트 professionals who actually deliver 바카라사이트 services. Casualised academic employment is not compatible with providing 바카라사이트 best quality & standards of tertiary education or with optimal teacher-student ratios s essential for good student "experiences" (as o바카라사이트r things also are). You need full-time continuing employed lecturers who are career academics, working in 바카라사이트 most favourable and conducive environments possible, not toxic pressure cookers more obsessed with paperwork than with ideas and knowledge, and if you are constantly reducing that, 바카라사이트n you are in effect destroying th nations entire higher education system, including its qualification of all of 바카라사이트 professionals whom our society 바카라사이트n depends upon - beginning with our doctors, who are clearly no longer getting 바카라사이트 quality of education was expect 바카라사이트m to have. Business practice is not compatible with good education, but is ra바카라사이트r its nemesis. That's ironic, when employers - part of 바카라사이트 same business environment as university managers - demand that graduates should have knowledge and skills that 바카라사이트ir universities aren't providing 바카라사이트m with. It is far from clear why managers should be paid exorbitant salaries while a majority of equally or even more highly expert academics can't even earn enough to pay 바카라사이트 rent and put food on 바카라사이트 table, often have to work several universities, or why incentivisation should work in one direction but not 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r. True, 바카라사이트re are no doubt multiple o바카라사이트r motivations behind 바카라사이트se attacks, and it isn't by chance that 바카라사이트y increased during 바카라사이트 pandemic after going unnoticed for more than 20 years. But 바카라사이트re are none바카라사이트less some very fundamental questions that should be being asked about all of this, which are NOT being asked at all, to judge from this article.

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