Lecturers union freedom of information requests unveil extent of pay increases to university bosses
GLASGOW CALEDONIAN and Strathclyde university bosses have topped expenses lists released by University and Colleges Union.
The figures were published by the union as part of a larger body of data, retrieved through freedom of information requests to universities across the country, which showed that university principals received some of the largest increases in pay, pension contributions and expenses in the UK for the year 2014/2015.
Sir Jim McDonald, principal at Strathclyde University, made the largest claims for expenses on flights at PS41,891. Pamela Gillies made the largest claims for hotels at PS19,864.77.
“Scottish university leaders heading up the UK list of spending on flights and accommodation they should hang their heads.” Mary Senior, UCU
Commenting on the growth in university bosses pay and perks Mary Senior, UCU Scotland Official, said: “Normally we’re proud of our universities in Scotland being at the top of league tables. But these are tables of shame, and with Scottish university leaders heading up the UK list of spending on flights and accommodation they should hang their heads. As importantly, we’re still seeing a lack of openness from universities on how they disclose how they spend their money.
“Given that over a billion pounds of public money is handed to universities from the Scottish Government annually the least we should be able to expect is that they comply with the legislation around freedom of information. Having elected chairs of governing bodies, elected by all staff and students, as proposed in the governance bill would be small step toward making universities more democratic and transparent. Rather than spending time and resources trying to fight the bill university principals should get their own house in order.”
The revelations come after five former university rectors published an open letter criticising university bosses for resisting attempts to democratise university governing bodies through the Scottish Government’s Higher Education Governance Bill.
Two universities refused to respond to freedom of information requests from the union, whilst others offered only redacted information.