Top management at universities see salaries grow by a third in five years

THE salary bill for senior management at Scotland’s universities has increased by a third in five years, new figures show.

A submission to a review of governance arrangements for Scottish higher education institutions showed total management salaries rose from £12 million in 2005 to £16m last year.

The University and College Union (UCU), which compiled the figures, called for a “re-balancing” of the roles of management and academics.

A UCU spokesman said: “As the executive has taken over the running of institutions, management teams have grown in size and pay.” It added: “Management have seen salaries increase as they take over responsibility for running the institution from academics. We believe this relationship has to be re-balanced.”

In its submission to the review chaired by Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, principal of Robert Gordon University, UCU Scotland criticised the make-up of management and said governing bodies should have increased representation from the wider community.

It also said senate bodies, which represent academics, were being “undermined” by management and called for committees which nominate principals to have staff and student representatives.

Guidance on the review’s remit from education secretary Mike Russell also suggested setting up “supervisory councils” which could have a say in the appointment of principals. But in its submission to the review, Universities Scotland, which represents principals, said: “Unless the governing body is fully responsible for the appointment, performance management and termination of employment of the principal, it cannot be responsible for the overall effectiveness and good governance of the institution.”