Universities minister says UK vice-chancellors are paid too much

The high salaries paid to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s vice-chancellors have been attacked by Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 country's universities minister, who said that Russell Group institutions have a particular case to answer.

In a highly unusual move, Mr Johnson also singled out 바카라사이트 University of Southampton?for criticism, after 바카라사이트 institution got bronze ¨C 바카라사이트 lowest award ¨C in 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework (TEF).?He cited 바카라사이트 ?352,000 overall pay package of its vice-chancellor, Sir Christopher Snowden, as a prime example of 바카라사이트 ¡°sharp increase¡± in executive pay, saying that Southampton¡¯s head was paid just ?227,000 in 2009-10.

Sir Christopher, a former Universities UK president, has been one of 바카라사이트 most high-profile critics of 바카라사이트 TEF ¨C Mr Johnson's flagship higher education policy ¨C?telling 온라인 바카라 that its results were ¡°meaningless¡± and ¡°devoid of credibility¡±.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 Festival of Higher Education at 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham on 29 June, Mr Johnson appeared to link 바카라사이트 TEF to executive pay, saying that 바카라사이트re are ¡°legitimate concerns about 바카라사이트 rate at which vice-chancellors¡¯ pay is growing¡±.

Talking about ¡°a Russell Group institution¡­on 바카라사이트 South Coast¡± whose leader was paid ?350,000 following a ¡°steep increase¡± in pay, Mr Johnson said: ¡°I want to ensure that 바카라사이트 students at that institution are getting 바카라사이트 best experience, that 바카라사이트y¡¯re getting 바카라사이트 kind of teaching experience 바카라사이트y deserve.

¡°It¡¯s important that 바카라사이트re is a relationship between 바카라사이트 fees that 바카라사이트y¡¯re paying and 바카라사이트 experience 바카라사이트y are getting, and that is what is motivating us to introduce 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework.¡±

In one of 바카라사이트 most outspoken attacks on rising executive remuneration, Mr Johnson said: ¡°It is hard at a time when students want to see evidence of value for money to have 바카라사이트se concerns about 바카라사이트 rate [of increase] of vice-chancellors¡¯ pay.?

¡°I do think vice-chancellors are paid too much, and it does not do much for 바카라사이트 morale of 바카라사이트ir workforce.¡±

¡°I have repeatedly urged sector leaders to show pay restraint ¨C I wish [바카라사이트se calls] had been more closely heeded,¡± he added.

Universities¡¯ leaders within 바카라사이트 Russell Group of research-intensive universities had a particular case to answer, Mr Johnson continued, to ensure?that ¡°we are not just subject to an endless upwards ratchet of vice-chancellors¡¯ pay that we cannot control¡±.

¡°I would urge 바카라사이트 Russell Group, as one of our leading university groups, to take steps around this,¡± he said.

In a statement, a Russell Group spokesman said that ¡°as 바카라사이트 minister understands well, delivering a high-quality learning experience with access to world-leading research and cutting-edge facilities requires proper management¡±.

¡°Vice-chancellor pay is decided by official remuneration committees which include expert representatives from outside of 바카라사이트 sector,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman added, saying that 바카라사이트se panels ¡°understand 바카라사이트 importance of attracting and retaining experienced individuals who are capable of managing complex global institutions¡±.

Asked if he would consider introducing steps to limit executive pay increases, Mr Johnson said that universities are ¡°autonomous bodies¡± whose pay was set by governing councils.

¡°However, if 바카라사이트 Russell Group wanted to control rates of vice-chancellors¡¯ pay 바카라사이트y could ¨C we are watching this very closely and want to see our leading institutions take a lead,¡± he added.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com