Refusal To Accept Bonus: A Matter Of Principal

A North East university principal leading a radical review of higher education claimed he would refuse a bonus payment.


Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, was in charge of a review called by Education Secretary Mike Russell last year to look at the way the country’s top education institutions were managed.


The review, which has now been published, included recommendations to review principals pay and include representatives like students on the panels who decide how much the leading figures at universities should be paid.


He told the Scottish Parliament’s education committee that the issue of pay was something that “we have got to get a fix on.”


Professor von Prondzynski told the committee any bonus payments needed to be transparent, but said the review had not said they should be scrapped altogether.


But, in answer to a question from Labour member Neil Findlay, he said he had never received any extras as part of his salary.


He said: “In my entire career I have never received a bonus for anything.If I was offered, I would have refused it.”


The education secretary set up the panel last year after growing concerns over principals’ soaring pay and worries there was a lack of accountability in the institutions.


The proposals, which include electing the chairs of university courts of, featuring staff and students on renumeration committees and ensuring 40% of court members were female, were dubbed “radical” by Tory education spokeswoman Liz Smith, but Professor von Prondzynski denied this.


By Marta Imizcoz