Anger over university chief’s big
pay rise

The University and College Union (UCU) have produced a table of the pay rises received by the leaders of universities across the country from 2011/12 to 2012/13 as it prepares to launch its latest industrial action.

Figures show Sheffield University’s vice chancellor Sir Keith Burnett has received an increase of 39 per cent from £269,000 to £374,000.

Only Craig Calhoun at the London School of Economics could boast a better percentage pay rise according to the UCU.

UCU general secretary Sally Hunt, said: “It is the utterly arbitrary nature of vice-chancellors’ pay rises that is infuriating. What did the vice chancellor of Sheffield do to merit a pay rise 40 times larger than his staff?

“Our members, who are the backbone of universities, have seen their pay slump by 13 per cent in real terms over the past five years. Nobody wants to see disruption at our universities, but staff have been left with little choice.”

The majority of higher education pay is decided by a national body, the Universities and Colleges Employers Association rather than by individual institutions.

Sheffield University has defended the increase. Pro chancellor Tony Pedder said: “The council of the university firmly believes that recruiting and retaining the best possible leadership for the university is vital in ensuring we continue to meet our goals in terms of excellence in research and research-led teaching. This is particularly important as the sector faces a period of profound change and challenge. Accordingly, the university took a proactive decision in 2012 to ensure we continue to secure the services of Professor Sir Keith Burnett.”