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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Universities minister demands restraint over vice-chancellors' pay | Universities minister demands restraint over vice-chancellors' pay |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Jo Johnson says pay policies should be published more openly and VCs should not sit on committees that set their salaries | |
| Richard Adams Education editor | |
| Wed 13 Dec 2017 19.44 GMT | |
| Last modified on Wed 13 Dec 2017 20.07 GMT | |
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| Universities in England must introduce specific reforms to rein in rises in vice-chancellors’ pay, the higher education minister has said at a meeting with leaders from the sector. | Universities in England must introduce specific reforms to rein in rises in vice-chancellors’ pay, the higher education minister has said at a meeting with leaders from the sector. |
| In unusually blunt terms, Jo Johnson told the delegation he expected pay policies for senior staff to be published more openly, and that vice-chancellors should be barred from sitting on the committees that set their pay. | In unusually blunt terms, Jo Johnson told the delegation he expected pay policies for senior staff to be published more openly, and that vice-chancellors should be barred from sitting on the committees that set their pay. |
| There has been public disquiet about the scale of vice-chancellors’ pay increases. The issue was highlighted by the case of the University of Bath’s vice-chancellor, Dame Glynis Breakwell, who was a member of the committee that steadily increased her pay and benefits to £462,000 a year. | There has been public disquiet about the scale of vice-chancellors’ pay increases. The issue was highlighted by the case of the University of Bath’s vice-chancellor, Dame Glynis Breakwell, who was a member of the committee that steadily increased her pay and benefits to £462,000 a year. |
| Figures published on Wednesday by Birmingham University show that its vice-chancellor, Sir David Eastwood, has been awarded a new “long-term incentive plan” worth £80,000 over four years for meeting “specific objectives” that were not disclosed. | Figures published on Wednesday by Birmingham University show that its vice-chancellor, Sir David Eastwood, has been awarded a new “long-term incentive plan” worth £80,000 over four years for meeting “specific objectives” that were not disclosed. |
| The financial statements show Eastwood’s pay rose by more than 3% to £439,000, helped by an increase in his bonus to £50,000. Outside of senior management, the average salaries for staff at Birmingham fell, from £38,100 to £37,883. | The financial statements show Eastwood’s pay rose by more than 3% to £439,000, helped by an increase in his bonus to £50,000. Outside of senior management, the average salaries for staff at Birmingham fell, from £38,100 to £37,883. |
| After meeting representatives from Universities UK, the Russell Group and the Committee of University Chairs, Johnson said: “It is vital that pay arrangements command public confidence and deliver value for money for students and taxpayers. | After meeting representatives from Universities UK, the Russell Group and the Committee of University Chairs, Johnson said: “It is vital that pay arrangements command public confidence and deliver value for money for students and taxpayers. |
| “We need to see restraint that ends the upwards ratchet in pay and the use of benchmarks that are appropriate for a system in receipt of significant public funding.” | “We need to see restraint that ends the upwards ratchet in pay and the use of benchmarks that are appropriate for a system in receipt of significant public funding.” |
| Johnson detailed the set of requirements expected to be part of a remuneration code to be compiled by the Committee of University Chairs, which represents the non-executive heads of university ruling bodies. | Johnson detailed the set of requirements expected to be part of a remuneration code to be compiled by the Committee of University Chairs, which represents the non-executive heads of university ruling bodies. |
| The new rules are to include: | The new rules are to include: |
| • Procedures for setting senior staff pay to be fully transparent. | • Procedures for setting senior staff pay to be fully transparent. |
| • Vice-chancellors must not be members of remuneration committees that decide their pay. | • Vice-chancellors must not be members of remuneration committees that decide their pay. |
| • Remuneration committee members should be from outside the organisation. | • Remuneration committee members should be from outside the organisation. |
| • Universities to publish clear pay ratios, from top to median pay for all staff. | • Universities to publish clear pay ratios, from top to median pay for all staff. |
| • Full disclosure of all senior staff benefits including housing and expenses. | • Full disclosure of all senior staff benefits including housing and expenses. |
| Johnson said: “Universities should start adhering to these principles of fair remuneration immediately.” | Johnson said: “Universities should start adhering to these principles of fair remuneration immediately.” |
| On Tuesday, the chief executive of the Office for Students, the new higher education regulator, told MPs it would intervene if universities did not seriously tackle high pay. Nicola Dandridge said the public was right to be concerned about excessive pay for university leaders in England. | On Tuesday, the chief executive of the Office for Students, the new higher education regulator, told MPs it would intervene if universities did not seriously tackle high pay. Nicola Dandridge said the public was right to be concerned about excessive pay for university leaders in England. |
| Johnson said on Wednesday: “The new Office for Students will use its powers to ensure full transparency and accountability with respect to senior pay.” | Johnson said on Wednesday: “The new Office for Students will use its powers to ensure full transparency and accountability with respect to senior pay.” |
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