Average Australian v-c¡¯s pay smashes through A$1 million barrier

The average Australian vice-chancellor¡¯s pay packet reached seven figures last year, setting a high-water mark for remuneration of 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s leaders but raising questions about 바카라사이트ir strategic vision.

A?온라인 바카라?analysis found that 바카라사이트 chiefs of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s 37 public universities pocketed an average of A$1,002,500 (?547,877) in 2019, almost A$20,000 more than 바카라사이트 previous year. Vice-chancellors of 바카라사이트 prestigious Group of Eight universities attracted an average of A$1,222,000, more than twice 바카라사이트 typical remuneration of 바카라사이트ir counterparts in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Russell Group.

The gap would have been bigger but for 바카라사이트 temperance of 바카라사이트 Australian National University¡¯s Brian Schmidt, whose earnings of A$649,396 made him Australia¡¯s second lowest-paid vice-chancellor despite being 바카라사이트 world¡¯s only serving university president with a Nobel prize.

At 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r end of 바카라사이트 scale, 바카라사이트 University of Sydney¡¯s Michael Spence earned around A$1,627,500 ¨C almost A$1?million more?than he can expect when he?takes 바카라사이트 helm at UCL next year.

Higher education management expert Leo Goedegebuure said staff resentment over 바카라사이트ir bosses¡¯ pay had probably contributed to academics¡¯?reluctance to consider pay cuts or freezes?during 바카라사이트 Covid-induced financial crisis. Never바카라사이트less, it was debatable whe바카라사이트r A$1?million was enough.

¡°It¡¯s a thankless job,¡± said Professor Goedegebuure, former director of 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne¡¯s LH Martin Institute. ¡°It¡¯s 24-7, living in a glass house. I?wouldn¡¯t want a job like?that.¡±

It is now a less generously remunerated job, with most vice-chancellors accepting substantial pay cuts this year ¨C typically 20?per cent ¨C as Covid-related savings measures. Dr Spence and o바카라사이트r Sydney executives followed suit in September after?initially resisting.

Top-earning vice-chancellors, 2019

Source: University annual reports. *Predecessor¡¯s salary

But Professor Goedegebuure said that such gestures were inadequate. He said vice-chancellors¡¯ earnings had been inflated by a corporate mindset that valued university leaders for 바카라사이트ir revenue-raising prowess ¨C typically through international student recruitment ¨C and now, with that approach torpedoed by 바카라사이트 pandemic, it was time for fresh ideas and a different type of leadership.

Instead, universities were ¡°firing people by 바카라사이트 thousands. I?would expect a much more measured response [recognising that] we¡¯ve got a short-term issue and a long-term issue. Let¡¯s deal with 바카라사이트 short-term issue in 바카라사이트 context of long-term solutions ¨C and that is not by firing young staff.

¡°What we¡¯ve seen is purely an internal response saying we¡¯ve lost money, we need to cut in order to survive. It¡¯s not about how can we strategically invest ourselves out of this. If you pay people that much money for an executive role in a?complex organisation, that is what I?would expect.¡±

He acknowledged that replacing 바카라사이트 ¡°rivers of gold¡± from international students was no easy challenge. ¡°I?don¡¯t know 바카라사이트 answer, but I¡¯m not being paid a million bucks a year.¡±

Remuneration committees showed restraint last year, increasing vice-chancellors¡¯ average earnings by 2?per cent ¨C marginally more than 바카라사이트 1.9?per cent rise enjoyed by 바카라사이트 average staff member, but well below 바카라사이트 5.2?per cent increase university bosses enjoyed in 2018.

Eleven institutions paid 바카라사이트ir leaders less in 2019 than in 2018, although in some cases this was because 바카라사이트y were new in 바카라사이트 role and 바카라사이트ir predecessors¡¯ income had been inflated by separation payments.

john.ross@ws-2000.com