University bosses spent £150,000 on flights - union

The university said the flights were taken as part of its plan to announce more overseas campuses in the next 12 months

A union has criticised Coventry University bosses for spending thousands of pounds on first class flights whilst staff are being made redundant.

The University and College Union (UCU) said senior leaders spent about £150,000 on flights between January and November 2024, according to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

However, Coventry University Group (CUG) said less than £30,000 of the spend quoted was "solely paid for by the group" as a "significant amount" was funded through grants and contracts with overseas partners.

A spokesperson said they had increased the number of students studying from overseas and needed to develop relationships in other countries.

The group previously announced in December 2023 that it needed to deliver nearly £100m in cuts over a two-year period.

In a FOI request seen by the BBC, vice-chancellor Prof John Latham CBE, spent £7,870 on one business class flight with Emirates, with other flights above £4,000 in first or business class taken by staff including deputy vice-chancellor Prof Richard Wells.

A Coventry UCU spokesperson said they wanted to see "responsible leadership" from the university

CUG said it had a "clear strategy" to generate growth and income from delivering education in international markets, with campuses or hubs in several countries, including Egypt, Singapore, Kazakhstan, China and India.

"When travel is required to support strategic growth, all individuals must adhere to the group's travel policy, which has clear rules on appropriate class of travel," it added.

A spokesperson said the group had a target of 50,000 students studying at its sites in other parts of the world and was expected to announce more overseas campuses in the next 12 months.

"None of this happens remotely, we need to develop relationships and this means flying to countries where we do business, or hope to do business, that generates a surplus to support our communities in the UK as well as protecting jobs," they said.

'One rule for them'

Lara Chaplin, from Coventry UCU, said the university were "millions and millions pounds in deficit" and were all pulling together to try to reduce the deficit, but the senior leadership team was "making widespread redundancies".

She alleged staff were being fired and rehired on "substantially worse" terms and conditions, including a decrease in annual leave.

"Our student numbers are taking a hit, we're sort of spiralling down the league tables," she said.

Ms Chaplin added she wanted to see "responsible leadership" from the university.

She told BBC CWR she understood the group needed to raise the profile of the university, but questioned why leaders could not fly in economy instead.

"It's one rule for them and then another for the rest of the university workers," she said.

"If we are in it together, then we should be in it together."