University of Surrey spends more than £1,600 on relocating vice-chancellor's pet dog

A recent investigation conducted on the expense claims of universities found out that a university spent about £1,600 of public money to relocate a pet dog of the vice chancellor from Australia to Britain.

The Freedom of Information request found that many similar cases exist. It was reported that almost £8 million of public money has been spent by university leaders and senior colleagues is such expenses in the past 2 years.

According to an investigation conducted by Channel 4’s Dispatches programme, it was found that among these cases, the expenses arose from paying for first class flights, five star hotel rooms and meals at top restaurants that amounted to £1,000-plus. The money was also used to buy artwork, Laura Ashley mugs, Fortnum & Mason hamper and more.

The expenses made by university leaders have been uncovered just as tens of thousands of university staff is on a strike regarding the new pension reforms.

General Secretary of the University and College Union (UCU) said, “Higher education has had to endure months of terrible headlines over the pay and perks scandals of those at the top. The lack of self-awareness while they feather their own nests yet hold down staff pay, use insecure contracts and try to slash pensions, is quite staggering.”

Just last week, the MPs on the Education Select Committee criticized vice chancellors of top universities, saying that their wages were ‘immoral and overinflated’ and out a huge burden on students, increasing their debt.

Chairman of the Common’s Education Select Committee, Robert Halfon said, “Those kinds of examples are pretty shocking, dare I say it being an MP, but the dog example is slightly comparable to duck houses which caused the expense scandal for Members of Parliament in the first place. Well this is public money, and just as it’s a requirement now for MPs to publish their expenses, universities should be subject to the same procedures.”