The pay of Kent University’s vice-chancellor shot up by £43,000 last year as staff took strike action to secure a 2% pay rise.

Professor Dame Julia Goodfellow’s salary increased from £222,000 in 2012/13 to £265,000 in 2013/14 – a 19% rise.

The University and College Union believes the increase will stagger students and staff in higher education.

Mike Moran, its regional official, said: “Many staff and students will be amazed at the size of the Kent University vice-chancellor’s pay increase, especially as it came at a time when staff were having to take strike action to secure a 2% pay rise.”

But the university has defended the increase.

Spokesman Martin Herrema said: “The University of Kent believes that senior management pay needs to reflect what it takes to attract and retain the very best leaders, in what is a global market for leadership talent.

“Higher education continues to be one of the UK’s most successful sectors. The university is worth £0.6 billion to the economy of the South East, with its students contributing £211 million to that total, and directly or indirectly supports almost 6,800 jobs.”

Dame Goodfellow, a biotechnology expert, has been in her position since 2007 and is the fifth vice-chancellor of the university in its 50-year history.

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