THE head of one of Scotland’s leading universities took a bonus of £15,000 last year despite previously stating he didn’t feel comfortable accepting pay rises at a time of austerity.
Professor Sir Tim O’Shea, principal of Edinburgh University, accepted the lump sum as part of an overall four per cent pay rise which took his salary package to £301,000.
In previous years Sir Tim has refused to accept bonus payments and said in 2015: “I felt that at a time of economic austerity it was very difficult if my colleagues were not getting pay rises.
“Each year there has been a suggestion for a rise, but I have declined. I wouldn’t be comfortable taking a pay rise if the majority of my colleagues were not.”
Academic unions attacked the lump sum payment, revealed in the university’s 2015/16 accounts, and called for greater scrutiny over principals’ salaries.
In 2012 a review of the way universities were being run in Scotland chaired by Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, principal of Robert Gordon University, questioned the use of bonus payments.
The review recommended that universities ensure bonus payments were either abolished or awarded more transparently.
Mary Senior, UCU Scotland official, said: “At a time when principals say the money is not there to better reward staff, it is disappointing to learn they do not believe that rule should apply to themselves.
“A murky bonus culture for those at the top doesn’t sit well in higher education and, as the von Prondzynski review concluded, they should be abolished, or at least brought in line with other contribution payments.”
A spokesman for Edinburgh University said: “The principal was awarded and accepted a one per cent increase in basic salary in line with the national pay award received by the majority of university staff.
“The principal also accepted a contractual lump sum award which he has chosen not to receive in previous years.”
The payment came to light at the same time as UCU published details of salaries and expenses claims of university principals across the UK.
Principals received an average salary package of £277,834 for the academic year 2015/16 across the UK, with three Scottish principals in the top 50 highest earners.
The top earner in Scotland was Strathclyde University’s Professor Sir Jim McDonald, with a pay package of £360,000 - eight times the average salary of staff employed at the university he leads.
The second highest paid in Scotland was Aberdeen University’s Professor Sir Ian Diamond on £352,000 with Glasgow University’s principal Professor Anton Muscatelli the third highest paid with a salary package of £322,000.
A spokeswoman for Universities Scotland said decisions on pay were taken at remuneration committees overseen by the universities’ governing body, including staff and students.
She added: “The principal has no role in the process and universities are transparent about the sums involved, publishing them in annual financial reports.”
On travel expenses she said universities operated in a global context making national and international travel part of a principal’s job.
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