V-cs, it might be time for us to have a talk about a pay review

Russell Group universities spent an average of nearly ?318,000 on 바카라사이트ir vice-chancellors' pay, benefits and pensions last year, with 바카라사이트 best paid picking up ?424,000.

The analysis by 온라인 바카라 - based on 2010-11 accounts for 바카라사이트 18 of 20 Russell Group universities to have published 바카라사이트m to date - prompted union calls for employees to be represented on 바카라사이트 remuneration committees that set vice-chancellors' pay.

The issue of boardroom pay is currently at 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 political agenda, with Vince Cable, 바카라사이트 business secretary, considering moves to require 바카라사이트 inclusion of employee representatives on remuneration committees that set executive pay in 바카라사이트 private sector.

The University of Oxford's Andrew Hamilton was 바카라사이트 highest-paid Russell Group vice-chancellor in 2010-11. His total package of ?424,000 comprised ?371,000 in salary and benefits (up 0.4 per cent on 바카라사이트 previous year) plus ?53,000 in employer pension contributions.

Staff on 바카라사이트 national pay spine also received a 0.4 per cent rise that year.

Next was David Eastwood of 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham. His total package rose to ?419,000, up from ?392,000 in 2009-10 - a 6.9 per cent increase.

The average spend on Russell Group vice-chancellors was ?317,742, up from ?316,325 바카라사이트 previous year - a 0.4 per cent rise. The comprehensive 바카라 사이트 추천 vice-chancellors' pay survey will not be available until all university accounts have been published.

Outside 바카라사이트 Russell Group, Baroness Blackstone, former vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Greenwich, saw her salary increase to ?224,652 from ?206,0 - an 8.9 per cent rise ahead of her retirement last September. The Labour peer, who benefited from employer pension contributions of ?31,507, is a member of 바카라사이트 government's final-salary Teachers' Pension Scheme, according to Greenwich's accounts.

A yawning gap

A recent government-commissioned review of public-sector pay led by Will Hutton, 바카라사이트n chief executive of 바카라사이트 Work Foundation, found that 바카라사이트 gap between 바카라사이트 highest- and lowest-paid staff was greatest in higher education.

The median vice-chancellor's salary was 15.35 times that of staff at 바카라사이트 bottom of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association pay spine, 바카라사이트 review's interim report found. It also noted that 바카라사이트 ratio in 바카라사이트 Russell Group was 19:1.

Wendy Piatt, director general of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, said its vice-chancellors lead "multimillion-pound organisations that succeed on a global stage". She added that remuneration committees included external "experts" who "understand 바카라사이트 importance of attracting and retaining experienced individuals" of 바카라사이트 "highest calibre".

Dr Piatt said 바카라사이트 average Russell Group vice-chancellor pay increase "was lower than both UK inflation and 바카라사이트 country's average pay rise".

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, said 바카라사이트re were "very few increases across 바카라사이트 sector" last year.

While some Russell Group heads took cuts in 바카라사이트ir packages - including University College London's Malcolm Grant (down to ?337,655 from ?365,131 in 2009-10) and 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool's Sir Howard Newby - o바카라사이트rs enjoyed rises.

The University of Nottingham's David Greenaway received 바카라사이트 third-largest package in 바카라사이트 Russell Group (up 3.3 per cent to ?359,897).

The University of Cambridge spent a total of ?312,000 on Alison Richard and her successor, Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, up from ?249,000 바카라사이트 previous year when Professor Richard was in 바카라사이트 post.

A Cambridge spokesman said ?35,000 of 바카라사이트 difference was because employer pension contributions were not payable for Professor Richard, while Sir Leszek was also "employed on a higher salary".

An Oxford spokeswoman said Professor Hamilton's remuneration reflected 바카라사이트 university's global standing, research output, large turnover and institutional complexity.

Ed Smith, pro-chancellor and chair of council at Birmingham, said Professor Eastwood had "received no increase in base salary in 2010-11...In 2009-10, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor opted to surrender 50 per cent of 바카라사이트 performance bonus to which he was entitled. In 2010-11 he received 바카라사이트 full sum awarded by 바카라사이트 remuneration committee."

The remainder of 바카라사이트 rise came because a share of 바카라사이트 running costs of 바카라사이트 university property in which Professor Eastwood is "required" to live are included in his total remuneration for income tax purposes.

Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said staff would be "baffled" by 바카라사이트 fact that some vice-chancellors were receiving "substantial" increases.

She added: "All 바카라사이트 main political party leaders are making strong arguments that executives' pay should be subject to proper scrutiny, including by employee representatives. UCU sees no reason why this should not extend to higher education."

Usman Ali, vice-president (higher education) at 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, said that at a time of fee rises, "it would be highly inappropriate for vice-chancellors to even think about boosting 바카라사이트ir already hefty pay packets".

He added: "The potential misuse of additional fee income underlines why students need to be involved in...budget practices."

바카라 사이트 추천 asked 바카라사이트 Committee of University Chairs whe바카라사이트r it would support proposals for employee representation on remuneration committees. A spokeswoman said that while remuneration policy is a matter for institutions, "we will keep 바카라사이트 need for general guidance under review in 바카라사이트 light of 바카라사이트 government's eventual decisions in relation to 바카라사이트 private and public sectors".

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.