The principal of Aberdeen University has been criticised for pocketing a pay rise, just months after warning of job cuts in order to save millions of pounds.
Sir Ian Diamond, who is also the university’s vice-chancellor, was given a remuneration package worth £352,000 last year, including a £274,000 salary and £27,000 bonus.
Overall, this was worth £50,000 more than the package he earned in 2012.
The increase made him the second-highest-paid university principal in Scotland, with his total just £8,000 less than Sir Jim McDonald of Strathclyde.
The move has drawn anger as that same year Aberdeen University had encouraged staff to take voluntary redundancy or early retirement.
Mary Senior, UCU Scotland official, said: “In recent years, staff working in universities have had their pay held down and in many institutions, including Aberdeen University, have been subject to redundancies and job losses.
“It’s really disappointing to see principals continue to award themselves inflation-busting pay rises.
“This doesn’t help at a time when we’re trying to make the case for better investment in Scottish universities.
Analysis has found that the 17 heads of Scotland’s higher education facilities earned almost £4.4million between them last year, an increase of more than 10% in five years.
Ms Senior added: “With jobs being cut, staff workloads growing, class sizes increasing and research demands heightening, it is bizarre that principals think it is acceptable to be giving themselves pay rises and accepting bonuses.”
A spokeswoman from Aberdeen University said: “This payment is subject to an annual appraisal and is awarded by a remuneration committee which includes five independent members, a non-executive staff representative and the student president.
“The figure of £352,000 includes costs which all employers pay, but which do not form part of an individual’s salary, such as National Insurance and pension contributions.
“In an increasingly competitive global market, senior remuneration needs to be comparable to overseas higher education Institutes in order to attract the most talented individuals.
“Recent figures show that the average UK vice chancellor’s salary remains significantly less than that of nations such as the US, South Africa and Australia.”
Last month Sir Ian Diamond announced his intention to step down from his posts.
A global search is underway for his successor.