NEWS - Ulster University Splashes the Cash on Vice-Chancellor’s Residence
Knocktarna House in Coleraine
Professor Nixon is now Vice-Chancellor of the University of Canberra
Ulster University dished out £37,021 last year on Knocktarna House in Coleraine, the Residence of the Vice-Chancellor, according to data from the Taxpayer’s Alliance for 2019-20.
The University spent nearly £8,000 on internet expenses and even paid the £155 TV Licence. This is revealed while students are forced to hand over thousands in rent for unused accommodation.
Ulster University say the property was also used for staff and stakeholder events while the former Vice-Chancellor Professor Paddy Nixon lived there.
These outlays were authorised despite the former Vice-Chancellor’s basic salary of £264,000 and total remuneration package of £311,000.
This figure is around 10 times higher than the average Northern Ireland salary but is roughly equal to the remuneration package of Queen’s University Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Greer.
Ulster University is ranked 5th amongst UK universities on overall VC’s Residence spending even though it is placed 60th in terms of income.
However, Ulster University managed to beat its UK competitors by forking out £22,866 on ‘utilities, insurance and tax’, almost £12k more than any other UK university. These costs include £3,386 on rates and £10,000 on utilities.
One of the most striking revelations in these findings show that this bill also covers £9,480 for telephone and data charges of which £7,985 is spent on ‘internet connection and business internet use’.
Queen Mary University of London managed to cover telephone and broadband bills for only £300.
Research by The Scoop indicates that the most comprehensive packages offered by BT and TalkTalk to a neighbouring property would cost just £638 and £720 (landline and internet) per year respectively.
Reacting to these figures, UU student Johnny said, “It really shows their contempt for students when the internet at Jordanstown is mediocre. These expenses epitomise everything that is wrong with universities, they line their own pockets with unneeded luxuries whilst those below them often struggle to get by.
I would urge the university to assess how else they could use this money for the benefit of the University as a whole, and not just those at the very top.”
The extensive property overlooks the River Bann
Imagery ©2021 Google, Imagery ©2021 CNES/Airbus, Maxar Technologies
Over 70% of UK universities no longer provide their Vice-Chancellors with grace-and-favour homes, and still fewer cover utility, insurance and tax costs.
The University also spent another £14,000 on maintenance expenses for Knocktarna House, a twenty-five room mansion with views over the River Bann which at one time boasted a staff of 6. The 19th-century Residence also comprises over four acres of garden and once included a grass tennis court.
Neil, a former resident of UU accommodation, responded to this maintenance spending, saying, “the amount that UU has spent on the Residence is shocking considering there are students living on campus in sub-standard accommodation.
UU accommodation in Dalriada, Jordanstown, would have welcomed a fraction of this £14k for maintenance. Damaged floors in the common area were not fixed for the entire year and facilities clearly hadn’t been upgraded in a long time. Hot water wasn’t guaranteed and, to top it off, if we wanted a TV we’d have to purchase our own TV license.”
During the pandemic, Ulster University has not offered a rent holiday, reduction or contract release to those residents who are either unable or unwilling to return to university accommodation while teaching is online. In order to end their accommodation contract, most UU students must either find another student to take their place or drop out of the University entirely.
One current resident, Klaudiusz, secured accommodation on Magee Campus after emails from the University told students they would receive both face-to-face and online learning. But after all teaching was moved online shortly thereafter, Klaudiusz decided to stay at home.
“If the University can spend this much money on the residence, why are we as students not able to be released from our accommodation contracts. This is unfair to all students who got their accommodation and have not been using it due to online learning.
I think it’s ridiculous how we were not told this earlier. Students have been forgotten about by the University.”
Klaudiusz has now spent £4,000 on accommodation in which he has not slept a single night.
Many university rooms lie empty as the pandemic continues
Professor Paddy Nixon left Ulster University for Canberra in February 2020 and was replaced as Vice-Chancellor by Professor Bartholomew in August 2020. Professor Bartholomew reportedly claims an increased basic salary of £300,000.
Professor Bartholomew has since admitted that, due to the pandemic, he may be forced to make “difficult decisions … within the context of our already stretched financial position” by reducing staff costs as the University faces a potential loss of up to £64 million over three years.
"We need your help" – new Vice-Chancellor Professor Bartholomew’s Covid message to students
An Ulster University spokesperson told The Scoop, "There is no longer a residence included within the Vice-Chancellor remuneration package. In 2019/20 the University residence provided accommodation for the former Vice-Chancellor, but as a University property it was also used regularly for staff and stakeholder engagement and development events for the University. The property will continue to be used as a resource for the university."
The Ulster University Student’s Union did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
The data from the Taxpayer’s Alliance is based on 2019-20 spending by 143 out of 165 higher education institutions in the UK. Queen’s University was one of 22 institutions who did not respond to the Freedom of Information Requests from the Taxpayer’s Alliance within their research period.
Thomas Copeland, Head of News.