The gender pay gap between university academics is widening, according to
research.
Some UK universities are paying women about 75 per cent of the average male
academic salary and the gap has widened over the last five years.
The research, by the Association of University Teachers, names and shames
the institutions that have poor records on equal pay.
The worst offenders are St George’s Hospital medical school in South London,
the London Business School and Wye College. At these colleges, female pay lags
up to 30 per cent behind male pay.
There are also regional variations. In London universities, men earn on
average £39,010, whereas women get just £30,735. Wales has the biggest
discrepancies in the regions between gender pay, with women earning only an
average of £26,352, compared to the male average of £32,355.
David Triesman, general secretary of the Association of University Teachers,
said, "Despite continued assurances from universities about the important
role of equality on campus, we have seen an increase in pay discrimination yet
again.
"There is now a very clear and urgent case for the Government and
universities to work together to end this disgraceful practice."
Four higher education institutions paid women more. The research indicates
that the Surrey Institute of Art and Design has the best record on equal pay.
Angela Fisher, personnel manager at the institute, said, "Although we
don’t have a deliberate scheme to promote equality, our pay scheme is linked to
individual merit and qualifications rather than gender.
"Equal values is a key element in any university’s personnel policy,
and I think we will see a lot more universities dealing more effectively with
the equality challenge in the future."
The research is based on figures from the Higher Education Statistics
Agency.
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By Robert De La Poer
