Goldsmiths becomes first university to let a student into the secret of the boss's pay

Goldsmiths has become the first university to allow a student representative to sit on the committee that decides how much its vice-chancellor gets paid. UCU welcomed the move and said all universities should have students and staff in the room when the boss's pay is being set.

At present four-fifths (81%*) of UK universities refuse to even release the minutes of their remuneration committee - the body that sets their vice-chancellor's pay. Just two institutions provided details of their vice-chancellor's pay rise when asked by UCU earlier this year.

The union has written to business secretary Vince Cable demanding that full details of senior pay awards, and the reasons behind them, are published and that staff and student representatives sit on the clandestine remuneration committees.

Vice-chancellors' salaries and benefits rose by an average of 5.5% between 2011-12 and 2012-13. A fifth of universities thought it appropriate to reward their vice-chancellor or principal an annual increase of at least 10% and around of third enjoyed a rise of between 5-10%. 

With pension payments, the average vice-chancellor's pay was £254,692. In comparison staff were offered another below inflation rise of just 1%.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'Millions of pounds of public money are spent on vice-chancellors' salaries, yet their pay rises are decided in clandestine committees that staff and students are barred from attending.

'Goldsmiths should be applauded for its move towards greater transparency. We hope there will also be a staff representative invited to probe the boss's pay rise and that other universities will follow suit.

'History and our own research, tells us that universities have no interest in accountability when it comes to pay at the top. The time has come for the full public disclosure of the large amounts of taxpayers' money going on senior pay in higher education.'

* Two-thirds of universities (66%) snubbed UCU's request for the minutes of the committee, often citing confidentiality as the reason. A further 15% did not even respond to the call for information. Read the  Goldsmiths announcement here.