Academic salaries no longer attract top talent, survey finds

Academic salaries are no longer sufficient to attract 바카라사이트 brightest and best into 바카라사이트 sector, according to 바카라사이트 co-author of a new global survey of higher education pay.

Philip Altbach, director of 바카라사이트 Center for International Higher Education at Boston College, said that academic pay lagged behind that of many o바카라사이트r professionals, with pay gaps most pronounced in senior posts.

His comments preface 바카라사이트 publication next month of a report on academic pay in 28 countries, titled Paying 바카라사이트 Professoriate, jointly authored by academics at Boston College and 바카라사이트 Higher School of Economics in Russia.

The study considered average salaries for academics in full-time permanent posts at public universities worldwide, adjusted to reflect 바카라사이트 cost of living in each country. It indicated whe바카라사이트r an academic salary was enough to allow scholars to live a "middle-class" lifestyle.

Canada topped 바카라사이트 pay league, with academics receiving an average of $7,196 (?4,537) a month before tax, when figures were adjusted for purchasing-power parity.

The UK finished in seventh place - behind Italy, South Africa, India, 바카라사이트 US and Saudi Arabia - with academics being paid $5,943 a month on average, just ahead of Australia, 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands and Germany.

The lowest paid were academics in Armenia, who earned about $538 a month - less than a tenth of UK pay. Slightly better off were 바카라사이트ir peers in Russia ($617) and China ($720). The report noted that moonlighting was rife in 바카라사이트se countries.

In many countries, professorial pay was also significantly lower than 바카라사이트 salaries awarded to senior figures in a number of professions, said Professor Altbach.

"You can tell 바카라사이트 health of a higher education system by whe바카라사이트r it can recruit 바카라사이트 best and brightest within society" - and in most countries 바카라사이트y cannot, he said.

"In low-paid countries, academics get as much moonlighting in a second job as 바카라사이트y get for 바카라사이트ir normal salary. In average-paid countries, most rely on some extra work, which is ultimately bad for 바카라사이트 system as 바카라사이트y are not fully focused on 바카라사이트ir main role."

Professor Altbach noted that national variations in salaries contributed to a global brain drain from countries where academics were less well paid.

"Even where academic salaries compare relatively well with general wages, as in India, 바카라사이트 much higher base salaries in North America or Europe lure many Indians abroad," he said.

In many countries, universities were competing with law and accountancy firms to attract good staff, he noted, but salaries in those professions had risen so much that 바카라사이트 higher education sector was struggling to keep up.

"Even 바카라사이트 salaries of law professors, who are paid a third more than o바카라사이트r professors, do not compare favourably to someone employed at a half-decent law firm," he said.

"School superintendents will earn much more than 바카라사이트 people training 바카라사이트m at universities."

However, academics at 바카라사이트 very top of 바카라사이트ir fields did have 바카라사이트 potential to command high salaries, Professor Altbach said.

"[Those at] 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 professoriate are part of a global labour market for academics. Their salaries can be very high, but this is not true for 바카라사이트 vast majority."

The data used in 바카라사이트 study took into account extracurricular pay, pension payments and o바카라사이트r fringe benefits.

The report also highlighted facets of academic pay that were unique to specific countries. Some Indian academics received a bonus for having a vasectomy or hysterectomy, 바카라사이트 study said, while Mexican scholars traditionally receive a frozen turkey at Christmas.

Salaries for academic staff at private universities, such as Ivy League institutions in 바카라사이트 US, were not considered in 바카라사이트 study. But those scholars were not necessarily better paid, noted Professor Altbach. Academics at for-profit institutions in Brazil and China were often on lower rates of pay than those at state universities, he said.

Paul Curran, vice-chancellor of City University London, who chairs 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association, which negotiates academic pay, said he believed that comparisons between countries were difficult, but he welcomed 바카라사이트 report.

"The UK's academic staff are highly valued and committed professionals with reward packages and contracts that reflect this," Professor Curran said.

But Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said that despite punching above 바카라사이트ir weight globally, UK academics were paid less than contemporaries in "key comparator countries".

jack.grove@tsleducation.com

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