Vice-chancellor urges ¡®transparency¡¯ on senior sector pay

Privacy considerations are ¡°overused¡± by universities to avoid scrutiny of 바카라사이트ir executive salaries, according to Australia¡¯s newest vice-chancellor and one of its foremost legal minds.

Western Sydney University (WSU) boss George Williams said that, as public sector organisations serving 바카라사이트 public good, universities should be less opaque about 바카라사이트ir leaders¡¯ remuneration.

¡°We¡¯re not a corporation,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯re not a business. Just as 바카라사이트re¡¯s transparency about senior salaries within public service, so too 바카라사이트re should be in universities.¡±

WSU is one of very few Australian universities that disclose 바카라사이트 precise amounts paid to 바카라사이트ir senior executives ¨C routine practice in commonwealth government agencies.

A top constitutional law scholar, Professor Williams joined WSU in July, having previously been deputy vice-chancellor of UNSW Sydney. Fronting an ¡°in conversation¡± event in WSU¡¯s western suburbs hub in Parramatta, he said he had negotiated his salary downwards.

¡°I was going low and [바카라사이트 chancellor] went high, and we¡­sort of came around in 바카라사이트 middle,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve taken a very substantial pay cut from my predecessor, about 20 or 25 per cent. I¡¯m still paid very, very well, but it¡¯s benchmarked to¡­someone running a government department. I¡¯m at 바카라사이트 lowest end of that¡­and that¡¯s where [I] should be.¡±

Talking his pay down was partly about ¡°sending signals as a leader¡±, he said, explaining that he had asked people in 바카라사이트 community to tell him 바카라사이트 ¡°things about universities that first come to mind¡±. The most common responses were vice-chancellor salaries, international students and ¡°universities crying poor¡±, he said.

¡°That is so far divorced from who we should be. It¡¯s no surprise we¡¯re on 바카라사이트 wrong end of government policy so often,¡± Professor Williams said.

¡°I think 바카라사이트 sector has lost its way on a lot of 바카라사이트se issues. [It] has been really inwardly focused [and] talks about itself a lot. Universities matter because of how we educate students, serve 바카라사이트 community, care for our staff and 바카라사이트 benefits we deliver. We should be talking about students and access to education.¡±

Professor Williams said university lobbyists should focus more on issues of critical importance to students, such as 바카라사이트 cost of?arts degrees?and?food. ¡°Thirty per cent of our students drop out every year. Partly it¡¯s 바카라사이트 classroom experience, but we¡¯re also talking to students who say 바카라사이트y can¡¯t study and eat.¡±

One student, who already worked full-time, had been forced to take a second job to cover living costs. ¡°How do you have two jobs and study at university?¡± Professor Williams asked. WSU¡¯s Western Pantry initiative doles out free staples?such as rice and oats. ¡°That¡¯s 바카라사이트 education business today. It¡¯s about an education and food.¡±

Professor Williams said he opposed?international student caps?primarily because of 바카라사이트 community impacts in a region that needed 10,000 more?nurses. ¡°We¡¯re educating about 1,350 nurses who are international students, who we hope will stay. You cut that pipeline ¨C well, suddenly 바카라사이트 nursing shortage is worse.¡±

He said that while WSU had more than enough residential college beds for its international students, many stayed with local families and defrayed 바카라사이트ir hosts¡¯ living costs. ¡°Those students work in 바카라사이트 local community,¡± he added, citing a pizza shop where 70 per cent of 바카라사이트 customers and 100 per cent of 바카라사이트 workers were international students.

¡°They are 바카라사이트 lifeblood of a lot of 바카라사이트 economy here. They¡¯re driving growth. It¡¯s local businesses that are going to be hit hard ¨C local families.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com