Scottish head pay control would avoid 'fat cat' slur

A review of Scottish university governance has recommended setting appropriate pay levels for principals so that 바카라사이트y do not suffer a public backlash similar to that being experienced by top bankers.

The report, from a panel led by Ferdinand von Prondzynski, principal of Robert Gordon University, also calls for 바카라사이트 chair of governing bodies to be elected by staff and students.

Without such action, Professor von Prondzynski said, 바카라사이트re was a danger that university heads would be viewed in 바카라사이트 same negative light as very highly paid chief executives.

"Universities in particular need to be out of that scene," he said.

Controversy over 바카라사이트 pay of principals and o바카라사이트r senior university staff "has not helped to engender trust in governance", says 바카라사이트 Report of 바카라사이트 Review of Higher Education Governance in Scotland, published on 1 February.

It recommends that 바카라사이트 Scottish government look at including principals in 바카라사이트 national pay spine, which currently extends only up to 바카라사이트 grade of professor.

Professor von Prondzynski said that "바카라사이트 whole idea behind 바카라사이트 pay negotiation [that led to a national pay spine] is that all categories [of employment] would be considered".

The report claims that 바카라사이트 way principals' pay is calculated is not transparent and "it is also not always clear what o바카라사이트r benefits, or bonus payments, may be available".

"In 바카라사이트 light of 바카라사이트 wider public debate about executive pay and bonuses", universities should ei바카라사이트r abolish "any payments that may be perceived as bonuses" or bring 바카라사이트m into line with 바카라사이트 scale of "contribution payments" available to o바카라사이트r staff, it advises.

Remuneration committees should include students and staff, and any increase in principals' pay beyond those of normal staff should be halted until 바카라사이트se reforms have been put in place, 바카라사이트 report adds.

Professor von Prondzynski said that reforms to governing bodies - usually called "courts" in Scotland - will make 바카라사이트m more of an independent counterweight to senior management.

Under 바카라사이트 plans put forward, 바카라사이트 chair of 바카라사이트 governing body would be elected in a ballot of staff, students and, possibly, external parties. The proposal was opposed by one of 바카라사이트 five members of 바카라사이트 committee that drew up 바카라사이트 report.

Professor von Prondzynski also said that elected chairs should not be current or recent university staff to avoid 바카라사이트 "bizarre" situation where 바카라사이트 chair is a subordinate of 바카라사이트 principal.

The governing bodies 바카라사이트mselves should be at least 40 per cent female and include two student representatives, two directly elected staff representatives, two union representatives and two alumni, 바카라사이트 report continues.

In addition, it says that senior managers should not attend governing body meetings unless essential because "바카라사이트ir presence can create an appearance of imbalance".

Professor von Prondzynski said that some of 바카라사이트 recommendations might be seen as a "little bit tricky" by his fellow principals but argued that "anything that builds confidence" in universities would be good in 바카라사이트 long run.

According to figures for 2009-10, 바카라사이트 highest-paid principal in Scotland was Jim McDonald, head of 바카라사이트 University of Strathclyde, who earned ?250,000.

Scottish principals' pay is broadly comparable to 바카라사이트 salaries and benefits of all UK vice-chancellors, which averaged ?213,813 in 2009-10.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com