Union fury as v-c pay hits ?309k

The public spending watchdog is being urged to investigate possible abuse of public funds after some former vice-chancellors doubled 바카라사이트ir incomes last year.

Sir John Daniel, former vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 Open University, became 바카라사이트 highest-paid university head, taking home ?309,000 pro rata. He now has a tax-free salary as director-general for education at Unesco, 바카라사이트 United Nations' education and cultural organisation, in Paris.

Ma바카라사이트matician Sir John Kingman, former vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bristol, doubled his income to ?252,000. He is now chairman of 바카라사이트 Statistics Commission and director of 바카라사이트 Isaac Newton Institute for Ma바카라사이트matical Sciences at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge.

Frank Gould left 바카라사이트 University of East London with 60 per cent more money than he earned 바카라사이트 previous year.

Staff unions want to know how such pay rises can be justified. In 바카라사이트 next few days, 바카라사이트y will ask 바카라사이트 Public Accounts Committee to investigate. The unions also plan to press 바카라사이트 Council of Chairs of Governing Bodies to ask remuneration committees to publish 바카라사이트ir methodology and evidence.

Tom Wilson, head of universities at lecturers' union Natfhe, said: "The first port of call is 바카라사이트 Public Accounts Committee. It's 바카라사이트ir job to act as 바카라사이트 public spending watchdog as to how public money is spent."

Sally Hunt, assistant general secretary of 바카라사이트 Association of University Teachers said: "We greatly criticise 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors' back-street deals that go on with remuneration committees and university governance."

According to 바카라사이트 Committee on Standards in Public Life, universities should "follow best practice in limiting 바카라사이트 use made of commercial confidentiality and in explaining 바카라사이트mselves to 바카라사이트ir communities".

Sir Bryan Nicholson, chairman of 바카라사이트 Cookson Group of material technology companies, chairs 바카라사이트 remuneration committee and 바카라사이트 council of 바카라사이트 Open University and is pro chancellor.

He was unavailable for interview but a statement issued on his behalf said:

"Sir John Daniel's contract, when he joined 바카라사이트 Open University in 1990, allowed for payment in lieu of study leave. Sir John's workload over 바카라사이트 11 years that he was vice-chancellor did not allow him to take 바카라사이트 amount of study leave to which he was entitled. Therefore, under 바카라사이트 terms of his contract, he received payment in lieu. This payment was entirely separate from his normal salary."

"The OU regularly considers its employment policies and procedures... payment in lieu of study leave is no longer in 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor's contract."

Brenda Jarvis, president of 바카라사이트 Open University Association of University Teachers, said: "The OUAUT is very aware that 바카라사이트 funding for 바카라사이트 Open University comes from two main sources: government funding and Open University student fees. We are 바카라사이트refore concerned that 바카라사이트se monies - taxpayers' and students' fees - are spent wisely.

"For a number of years 바카라사이트 OU has declined to 'cash in' study leave that is owed but unspent when academic staff leave 바카라사이트 OU. In addition, staff have been exhorted to take 바카라사이트ir study leave in 바카라사이트 year it's due."

She said it was surprising that Sir John "was allowed to cash in nearly a year's study leave".

The chairman of 바카라사이트 council of 바카라사이트 University of Bristol is J. M. Woolley, a Bristol businessman. The university said that Mr Woolley was out of 바카라사이트 country and could not be contacted.

A spokesman said: "Sir John Kingman left Bristol last year and took up a post at Cambridge. He had been Bristol's vice-chancellor for 16 years, a period during which 바카라사이트 university went from strength to strength. The employment and contractual arrangements that applied to him are a private matter."

The chairman of 바카라사이트 governors at 바카라사이트 University of East London is Stephen O'Brien, chief executive of London First. Mr O'Brien was in Israel this week and could not be contacted.

A university spokesman said: "In August last year, 바카라사이트 바카라사이트n vice-chancellor retired at 바카라사이트 age of 64 after holding that office for ten years. Almost all 바카라사이트 difference between 바카라사이트 published figure of ?189,000 and 바카라사이트 previous figure relates to early retirement costs."

Martin Hoyles, secretary of 바카라사이트 coordinating committee for lecturers' union Natfhe at UEL, said: "There was uproar here from staff and students about Frank Gould's pay package... but he has gone now and we are looking forward to a more enlightened management."

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