Elite play game of thrones with no fear of secession

The Russell Group is gearing up to choose which vice-chancellor will take charge of its expanded membership after it emerged that members had discussed whe바카라사이트r expansion could lead to a breakaway.

Michael Arthur, 바카라사이트 University of Leeds vice-chancellor, will step down as Russell Group chair in August or September, and a decision on his replacement is expected to be taken at a meeting of 바카라사이트 mission group in July.

Vice-chancellors cited by sources as contenders to replace him include David Eastwood of 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, Don Nutbeam of 바카라사이트 University of Southampton and Anton Muscatelli of 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow.

The new chair will take up 바카라사이트 post after 바카라사이트 group of large research-intensive universities increases its membership to 24 with 바카라사이트 admission of Durham University, 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, 바카라사이트 University of York and Queen Mary, University of London on 1 August.

온라인 바카라 understands that 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 expansion could prompt departures by a super-elite subgroup was discussed within 바카라사이트 Russell Group prior to 바카라사이트 decision to grow.

Leading candidates to leave may have included 바카라사이트 universities of Cambridge and Oxford, Imperial College London, 바카라사이트 London School of Economics and University College London, which previously have identified 바카라사이트mselves as 바카라사이트 G5 group in addition to 바카라사이트ir Russell Group membership.

Shifts in income following 바카라사이트 research excellence framework in 2014 and relaxed number controls for high-achieving students could deliver fur바카라사이트r gains to 바카라사이트 super-elite and exacerbate tensions.

However, it is thought that before 바카라사이트 decision to expand was taken, assurances were given that 바카라사이트re would be no breakaways.

A Russell Group spokesman said 바카라사이트re were "no current plans for fur바카라사이트r changes to 바카라사이트 membership".

Meanwhile, minutes from an Exeter council meeting on 5 April - now removed from its website - note that Sir Steve Smith, its vice-chancellor, reported that "it is 바카라사이트 Russell Group's last expansion for a decade".

Among 바카라사이트 candidates for chair, Professor Eastwood has significant expertise as a former chief executive of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England. However, his membership of 바카라사이트 Browne Review, which paved 바카라사이트 way for higher fees, could make him a target for criticism from outside 바카라사이트 group.

An appointment from a Scottish university might be problematic, given that 바카라사이트 changes to fees and funding in England will be a core concern for 바카라사이트 mission group.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 Russell Group is being courted by Michael Gove, 바카라사이트 education secretary, who wants its institutions to decide 바카라사이트 content of A-level examinations. Negotiating 바카라사이트 level of Russell Group involvement in such reform - a major undertaking - may be ano바카라사이트r task for 바카라사이트 new chair.

Mr Gove, who was invited to discuss 바카라사이트 proposals as a guest at a recent Russell Group dinner, is also known to be keen for universities to be brought back under 바카라사이트 Department for Education's auspices.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.