The Principal of a University that has presided over a redundancy programme has confirmed going on 14 overseas trips since taking up the job.

Professor Craig Mahoney, who is from Australia, visited his homeland twice on business, including attendance at a conference.

Vonnie Sandlan, the President of NUS Scotland, said such trips must have “clear and tangible benefits for staff and students back at home” .

UWS staff went on strike recently in protest at a 1.1% pay rise offer tabled by the universities’ employers, UCEA.

The key union for lecturers has also called on action to be taken across universities to close the gender gap and reduce the number of staff on zero-hours contracts.

However, despite money being tight in the sector, new figures reveal Mahoney has travelled the world on behalf of the University.

The Principal, who took over the role three years ago, started his globetrotting in November 2013 with an eight-day “business trip” to China.

Five months later, he embarked on a “USA study tour” lasting six days and covering Kentucky, Wisconsin and Florida.

Weeks later, Mahoney was off to Dubai for three days to meet figures in government and higher education.

Immediately after this trip, Mahoney flew to Canada for a “fundraising study tour” that lasted six days.

In the same month, he jetted off to the US to speak at a conference – this spanned a week.

The Herald:

In October 2014, he was back in the skies for a three-day “trip” to Berlin.

In February 2015, he left Scotland for a 12-day trip that included Indonesia and Australia.

The Principal’s official biography makes clear he is an Australian who has lived in the UK for the past 24 years.

He has dual citizenship.

In the same year, he also travelled on university business to South Africa, Dubai twice, Jordan and China.

He also found time to visit Australia again, this time for 10 days to attend the Times Higher conference.

The only foreign trip listed for this year was an 11-day visit to Malaysia.

The bill for the trips came to £54,104 and Mahoney flew business class on all but one of the overseas visits.

Sandlan said: “There is absolutely a place for university leaders to engage in cultural exchanges, international study visits, and best practice learning from other countries about their teaching methods and student experience.

"But that must come with clear and tangible benefits for staff and students back at home, and there must be absolute transparency - it shouldn’t take an FOI request for universities to disclose this information, and staff and students shouldn’t be left in the dark as to how their university and experience will benefit.”

According to the University, UWS has “significantly expanded” its international activity and fee income from foreign students has jumped from £2.3m to over £5m.

Asked where most of these students came from, the University said Bangladesh, China, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Seychelles and the Middle East.

The University’s latest financial report reveals that Mahoney’s remuneration package in 2015 totalled £259,000.

In the last two years, the University spent over £1.4m on voluntary redundancy and early retirement.

A UWS spokesperson said: “Successful universities are international in their outlook and activities - this is what Scotland requires of its universities.

"As we seek to deliver learning that prepares our students for the world of work here in Scotland and beyond our borders it is critical that our universities are internationally informed.

"It is standard practice for Vice-Chancellors to spearhead the partnership development aspect of international work.

"UWS is no different from other universities in that regard.

"This University does not set the venue for events such as the Times Higher Education World Academy Summit, which took place in Australia last year, but is delighted that it secured a presence at the event, which brings together senior university, government and industry leaders in one of the most prestigious gatherings in the world.”