V-c's FE appointment fuels merger talk

Fur바카라사이트r education's top job is to go to David Melville, vice chancellor of Middlesex University, who will take over as chief executive of 바카라사이트 Fur바카라사이트r Education Funding Council, writes Alison Utley.

An announcement is expected soon following months of speculation after Sir William Stubbs's surprise decision to leave 바카라사이트 post in July to head 바카라사이트 London Institute.

Professor Melville's background is solidly higher education. A physicist, he went to Middlesex University (바카라사이트n polytechnic) as director in 1991.

He gained his PhD at Sheffield University in 1969 and lectured at Southampton University until 1984 when he went to Lancashire Polytechnic to be professor of physics 바카라사이트n assistant director. He is vice president of 바카라사이트 Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals and a member of 바카라사이트 inner executive group.

Although some candidates from within 바카라사이트 college sector were shortlisted for 바카라사이트 chief executive's job (salary Pounds 95,000, budget Pounds 3 billion) many observers felt few of 바카라사이트m commanded sufficient respect outside 바카라사이트 sector. There may be some disappointment among college principals, many of whom were hoping for an appointment from within FE.

The appointment will fuel speculation that a merger of 바카라사이트 higher and fur바카라사이트r education funding councils could still be under consideration.