Office for Students: new code on senior pay ‘a positive step’

‘I welcome the publication of this code as a positive step towards greater pay restraint and transparency for university leaders. The CUC is right to call for greater clarity in this area, and they are right to say vice-chancellors should never be involved in setting their own pay.

‘In recent years there have been a number of cases where the levels of pay for some vice-chancellors, and increases in their pay, are out of kilter with pay levels elsewhere, and that must change. Vice-chancellors, and the governing bodies of universities, now need to show real leadership on this issue. While the code provides useful guidelines, tough questions need to be asked about high pay in the sector.

‘Later this month, the Office for Students will publish its accounts direction for universities and colleges. We will set out our increased expectations around transparency for senior pay, and will be expecting all higher education providers to justify how much those who lead their organisations are paid. Where an institution breaches our regulatory conditions, we will not hesitate to intervene.’