Cardiff University’s former vice-chancellor spent £26,000 on oversea trips in five months

Cardiff University’s former vice-chancellor, Colin Riordan, spent more than £26,000 on overseas trips in five months.

During that period in 2023, he flew to Germany, India, South Africa, and Asia.

The Times reported in February 2023 that Mr Riordan had warned Cardiff University about financial concerns and how it would “continually lose money” under current funding arrangements. However, despite his warning, he still managed to spend thousands in a mere few months.

The university has spoken out regarding Mr Riordan’s spending by saying that the former VC had a vital role in engaging businesses, foreign partners, and donors, which occasionally required worldwide travel.

They added: “We are also committed to ensuring value for money in the way university funds are spent”.

Speaking to The Telegraph, one Russell Group spokesman said: “Our universities are committed to responsible financial management and expenses are kept under review and set out transparently.”

The newspaper’s report highlighted VCs’ pay raises at Russel Group universities around the UK, showing that Mr Riordan’s salary saw a 4.2 per cent raise from £289,000 in 2021/22 to £301,00 in 2022/23, a £12,000 increase.

Some have spoken out in outrage regarding the findings of the personal overspending of UK vice-chancellors.

The general secretary of the University and College Union, Jo Grady, said: “We urgently need increased public investment and a guarantee that jobs and courses will be protected.

“Instead, we have university bosses that are paid eye-watering sums lobbying for a tuition fees increase, whilst they claim kitchen utensils and high-end London restaurants on expenses.”

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This comes as the education sector has warned of the coming financial crisis. An estimated 40 per cent of universities are anticipated to be in deficit this year, particularly Cardiff University’s £30 million deficit, which may rise to £65 million.

The institution also relaunched its voluntary severance scheme in November 2024, after closing it at the start of the current academic year due to cost-cutting measures.

Cardiff University further announced on Tuesday (28th January) that 400 jobs, as well as numerous courses could be cut.

Furthermore, the Welsh Government is set to raise tuition fees again this year from £9,250 to £9,535 to address the financial challenges affecting universities.

A spokesman for Universities UK said: “Universities are outward facing institutions delivering big benefits to the UK economy.

“Vice-chancellors lead engagement with businesses, international partners, government and donors, so their job involves meetings all over the country and overseas.”

Adding: “This brings funding into their universities and into the UK economy, and benefits domestic students by enhancing the quality of teaching and research.”

A Cardiff University spokesperson told The Cardiff Tab: “The remuneration package has been determined according to a number of factors, including, but not limited to:

• The leadership, management, and academic experience within the higher education sector;
• The breadth of leadership responsibilities for one of the UK’s largest universities consisting of 33,985 students and 5,945 FTE staff, as well as a global community of 205,000 alumni in more than 200 countries;
• The financial responsibilities for an institution with an annual income of over £625 million, and which contributes more than £3.7 billion to the UK economy, generating £6.40 for every £1 we spend and supports one in 135 jobs in Wales.

“Salaries for senior staff and the vice-chancellor are set by the Remuneration Committee – part of the university’s Council, its governing body – which comprises independent external members of Council, who possess commercial and public-sector pay knowledge and expertise, and whose terms of reference can be found within the university’s ordinances.

“The Vice-Chancellor is not in attendance for, and does not play any part in, the discussions and decisions of their own remuneration.”

They added: “All international travel is approved in accordance with the University’s financial regulations. Our Vice-Chancellor [in this case, our previous Vice-Chancellor] plays a key role in meeting businesses, international partners and donors to seek opportunities that will benefit our staff, students and research.

“Like all universities, this does occasionally involve international travel. However, we are conscious of the need for value for money and the responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint. Staff will use a wide range of methods to reduce the amount of international travel required.

“We are also committed to ensuring value for money in the way University funds are spent. The expenses and travel costs of our Vice-Chancellor and all University Executive Board members are published on our website.”

Colin Riordan has been contacted for comment but has not yet responded.

Featured image via Cardiff University on X.