It has been revealed that 127 University of Leeds employees receive remuneration in excess of £100,000, the greatest number in any Yorkshire educational institute. This information has been released following research from the TaxPayers’ Alliance as part of The Public Sector Rich List.

Details of the report include several cases of highly paid officials at universities that are reliant on income from undergraduate fees. Of the 127 University of Leeds employees earning a six figure salary, 56 earnt more than £150,000 a year (more than the Prime Minister) and 22 more than £200,000 a year.

This puts the university in 17th position in the country in terms of employees earning more than £100,000 a year.

Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the TaxPayers Alliance, acknowledged that taxpayers shouldn’t begrudge world-class academic staff receiving a good salary if they “produce great results and motivate their students”. He believes that not to be the case; with institutions failing but “financial rewards continuing to the flow to those at the top”.

Isaby called instead for a more accurate reflection of academic success in pay and perks to staff. In March 2015, a report released by the UCU, University and College Union, revealed that on average, University bosses enjoy average  salaries of £260,000 a year, and that 16% of institutions failed to respond to Freedom of Information requests or used exemptions to avoid releasing information asked for.

The research is following the decline of government funding for teaching in higher education, meaning more of the cost of tuition is having to be met by students.

Whilst tuition fees have tripled to £9,000, the proportion of the tuition costs covered by the Higher Education Funding Council for England has fallen, with teaching grants declining from 59% in 2009-2010, to 34% in 2013-14.

Despite the reduction in funding per students, salaries in higher education institutions remain one of the highest within the public sector, calling student value for money into question. In responding to these figures, a spokesperson for the University said: “It’s important to take into account the University’s position as one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK, which means it inevitably employs a lot of people at all levels of seniority.

“To provide our students with an exceptional education and to produce world class research, it is vital that we are able to attract and retain talented individuals. In today’s globally competitive market, we must offer terms which are attractive to the brightest and best researchers, teachers and professionals, while of course being mindful of the need to provide value for money.”

The University also stressed that that none of its staff had had a pay cut and that this year’s pay award will be applied in full.

(Image: Wikipedia)

James Hicks