Scottish university bosses have seen their wages soar despite warnings that hundreds of lecturers and staff may be about to lose their jobs. The average salary of a university principal in the last financial year was £222,000, up 10% on the previous year.
The highest paid principal was Sir Muir Russell, the former civil servant who presided over the Scottish Parliament building fiasco. In his role as head of Glasgow University (pictured above), he received an annual wage of £249,000, a grace-and-favour home and £35,000 towards his pension.
His counterpart in Edinburgh Sit Timothy O'Shea, was paid £228,000 and also receives a rent-free house, chauffeur-driven car and £47,000 in pension benefits.
The biggest pay rise went to Heriot-Watt university principal Anton Muscatelli, who is due to replace Sir Muir at Glasgow in October. His annual salary rocketed by almost 19% last year to £194,727.
Although universities are run as independent charities at least half of their funding comes from taxpayers.
Laura Laws, convenor of the Coalition of Higher Education Students in Scotland said, "We have to accept that the principals of our universities do an excellent job for less money than they would be earning in the private sector."
There's that old chestnut again, these worthies would receive so much more in the private sector. Are we expected to believe that? I don't believe it for a minute because, if it was true, they'd be off like a shot. Let's be honest, who, in private business, would employ Muir Russell after the absolute mess he made of the Scottish Parliament building project.
Don't forget the salaries are only part of the deal. I know the property in which the last principal of Dundee university lived and it's possibly worth well over £750,000 and, as you can imagine, situated in a rather select part of the city. I couldn't hazard a guess at how much it would cost a month to rent.
It is not my intention to imply all university principals are greedy, but it certainly looks that way. After all aren't they just run-of-the-mill accountants these days?
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15 comments:
Agree 100%
Every time I hear one of them say that they could earn far more in the private sector, or far more if they went abroad, I always think well.... why are you here?
I mean either it's because they are talking rubbish and (as you say) they couldn't get another job, or it's because they love the job and wouldn't want to move to private industry, or abroad.
You get the same with the banks who insist that they must pay idiotic bonuses or the best people will go to Delhi or New York or the Middle East... No they won't.
It's Mrs Thatcher economics... we have to pay good money to the top people or we will lose them; we have to have a low wage economy or the foreigners will take our jobs...
Rubbish!
To do a direct comparison with the private sector you'd have to add together the principals' salaries, benefits in kind and pension pot and then compare that to say the CEO of a company of comparable size.
It's probably not a great comparison because plenty companies go bust but I haven't heard of a university in Scotland going bust and disappearing yet so the private companies are employing a CEO in a much riskier business environment and paying for someone who can handle that risk.
PS
If you're interested Jack McConnell the former Labour First Minister of Scotland is taking questions on devolution in Northern Ireland tomorrow, 07/09/09, and Slugger O'Toole is looking for questions. I've already put a few in
I agree with Tris - scam artists one and all.
It's a definite 'jobs for the boys' sector the university principal one tris. Who in their right mind would ever employ Muir Russell.
Far too many folk over-value their working worth in this country these days.
You're right Doug, Difficult area to make comparisons but I'm sure with their posh homes and chauffeurs etc there quids in compared with those in the private sector who constantly have an undefined amount of risk around.
Will think up a question for Slugger.
Dear Subrosa
I am working on a story about Muscatelli and Russell for my blog.
It won't be a nice story.
Do you know that every Principal of the University of Glasgow since the 1970's is a member of the private invitation only club, the Royal Society of Edinburgh?
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
SubR, it is a "boys" club.
Sir Muir Russell was educated at Glasgow University and gtaduate in Nat Phil, physics to our southern readers.
K Calman, former Principal of GU is appointed stitch up the Nationalists and chooses as his economic consultant Anton Muscatelli who is Principal of Heriot Watt. Kenny was Chief Medical Officer for Scotland in the Thatcher days (I think but certainly in a Tory regime) and subsequently occupied the same role in the UK. He jumped the party divide and continued to work under Labour and as we have seen has been drafted in to sort out the pesky by kicking devolution into the long grass; or so Gorgon, whoever was in charge of the Tories and Labour and not forgetting Wendy, thought.
Mr Muscatelli was educated at Glasgow Uni and has seen all of his academic life there until H-Watt.
He didn't even relocate to Edinburgh and retained his home in Outer Maryhill, commuting as necessary.
Now he has fulfilled his role for his old mate Calman he now slides back to GU, having ensured that his going rate has been ramped of in the interim.
Seems that you have to be a member of a very special club.
We plebs do not get a look in although I do have an entry ticket to that club but, the 'phone has never rung.
subrosa,
The head of Edinburgh University, Tim O'Shea must make a fortune from his shampoo as well.
Have you any idea how much the Head of the Glasgow School of Arts gets?
WV is drupe - sounds familiar.
"It is not my intention to imply all university principals are greedy, but it certainly looks that way."
That should serve to bamboozle the libel lawyers [(:-)].
Who actually sets these salaries?
The rest of the staff?
The customers (students)?
I didn't know that George but I have heard about the mysterious Royal Society of Edinburgh. A real boys club by the sound of it.
Only the few are admitted BL and they certainly don't seem to by chosen by ability. I'm wondering what characteristics gain entry to this club.
The mind boggles...
Brownlie you have me confused there. O'Shea's shampoo??
No I've no idea. Do tell me.
Hamish I've nothing left to give libel lawyers so I'd have to pay perhaps a £5 a month from my pension.
I think the article said it was set by ' an independent university committee' - possibly composed of ex-principals.
subrosa,
Sorry, my mistake, I thought his name was Tim O'Tei.
Ah ok Brownlie. :) (I didn't get it first time round, sorry.)
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