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The article reports on the appointment of David Bell as secretary of the Department of Education and Skills in Great Britain. Bell, an advocate of the diploma system and work-related learning, will replace David Normington. Before his appointment, he worked at Glasgow University. Also, he began as a primary school teacher.

The article discusses key issues facing university museums in Great Britain. In 2009, the Higher Education Funding Council for England will alter the way university museums and galleries receive money. Thus, there are fears among curators that the council will lump funding into institutional core grants. The article also explains the role of art collection in universities. INSET: TEN OF THE BEST..

Reports that Liverpool University vice chancellor Drummond Bone said Great Britain ministers must ensure that British education researchers are funded at the same levels as their overseas competitors. Inaugural speech as president of the Universities UK umbrella body of vice chancellors; Establishment of visa charges for foreign students at a level no higher than those levied by other countries.

Reports on findings of a survey of undergraduates in Great Britain, conducted by Opinionpanel. Rating of the university's approach to admissions, the location and campus facilities; Undergraduates' impressions of the university's academic reputation; Quality of the course and teaching; Perception of the university's position in league tables.

Reports on the first interview of British Secretary of State Ruth Kelly about higher education. Views on the significance of the target 50 per cent participation of the government in higher education; Opinion on whether the target would be met.

Reports on the introduction of the Student Survivor, a virtual pet game for secondary school pupils created by Uniaid, a charity that aims to help prepare pupils for university in Great Britain. Chance given to students to win a year's worth of free accommodation when they go to university; Sponsor of the program; Capability of the program to help players see how their virtual characters cope with the challenges of university life.

Reports on the thoughts of college teachers on the health of higher education depicted in the results of an ICM Research poll in Great Britain. Claim of some 500 academics that the Labour Party was no longer their choice; Concern of teachers on poor pay levels, stress and casualization; Satisfaction of academics who are members of trade unions with how their interests were being represented.

Reports that the Liberal Democratic Party have for the first time taken a narrow lead over the Labour Party for the campus vote according to the ICM Research and Opinionpanel Research polls in Great Britain. Percentage of academics who believed that Liberal Democrats had the best higher education policies; Ratio of students who expect a Labour victory on the election; Commitment of the Labour Party to building and renewing public services.

Reports on the predictions made by political strategists on the subjects to be debated on the coming general election in Great Britain. Expectation of little discussion on higher education; Preoccupation of politicians on issues concerning national order, Iraq and immigration; Citation of pledges made to increase government investment in research; Efforts of Liberal Democrats to gain voters through their no-fees policy.

Reports on documents about higher education targets, released by the British government in February 2005 under the Freedom of Information Act, suggesting that ministers reduced their initial plan to expand student numbers. Cost concerns; Fears that elite universities might go private if grants were further reduced; Background on the plans for expanding higher education through two-year associate degrees, geared to employability.

Reports on university officials' views on the ability of the revised fee and bursary regime to attract working-class students to higher education or generate additional income to prevent course closures in Great Britain. Additional income expected from variable tuition fees, grants and bursaries; Insights on the development of the market for bursaries.

Reports on the influence of tuition fees on the student vote at the next general election in the Great Britain. Determinant of the political preferences of college students; Public debate about the level of educational finances; Concern about job prospects.

Reports that the failure of qualified state high school students in Great Britain to apply to top universities suggests not only lack of ambition but a potential waste of talent. Comparison with independent-sector students; Tendency of poor students to study at local institutions; Preferred college courses.

Reports on the controversy regarding the proposal to lower university entrance requirements for men in Great Britain now that there are more women in higher education. Comparison with the imbalance in higher education participation rates among the social classes; Disconnect between formations of masculinity and learning and being "academic"; Factors which have helped nurture girls' academic performance.

Reports on the plan of British universities to offer financial aid rather than lower fees to students to attract a higher number of enrollees. Amount of tuitions fees that will be charged by the universities in 2006; Types of financial aid packages being offered by universities to students; Number of universities that have filed financial plans to the Office for Fair Access; Implication of the tuition fee trends on higher education.

Reports on the opposition of Kat Fletcher, president of the National Union of Students against the introduction of top-up fees by Charles Clarke, the Education Secretary in Great Britain. General election tactics in the union's campaign against tuition fees; Attempt by the Tories and Liberal Democrats to gain the student vote with no-fees policies; Leadership changes at the students' union.

Reports on the call for reforms in grading system in Great Britain, according to a study by Peter Tymms of Durham University. Study's findings that it is easier to ge top grades in some A-level subjects than others; Use of A levels as predictors of students' performance; Expected A-level grade of student with average General Certificate of Secondary Education grade B.

Reports that several deserving state school students are missing out on their rightful place at elite universities to less-qualified students in Great Britain, according to a research by educational charity Sutton Trust. Estimated number of students missing opportunity to study in elite schools; A-level grades of top students; Influence of family finances and university distance on top students' decision not to enroll in elite universities.

Reports on the move of the government in organizing a job advertisement for the vice chancellor of fair access to higher education in Great Britain. Effort of Charles Clarke, the Education Secretary in encouraging candidates from outside academe; Schedule of the interview for prospective applicants; Qualifications need for the vacant position.

Reports on the findings of an investigation conducted by British education journal "The Times Higher" regarding the decline in numeracy and literacy of college students manifested by aptitude tests and special courses. Competence in key subject skills; Criticism for modification in curriculum and examination methods; Loss of interest in engineering courses. INSET: ANDREW MOTION, POET LAUREATE: GIVE STUDENTS A BASIC GROUNDING,....

Reports on lecturing stints of British academics on luxury cruise ships. Luxuries given to participating academics; Criteria used by cruise lines in selecting academics.

The article reports on the insights of Eliza Manningham-Buller, director of Military Intelligence, Section 5 (MI5), on the involvement of Great Britain in the Iraq war.

This article presents the findings of a survey conducted by the company Hays on the salaries of British finance officers in health, education and local government services. The survey reveals the discrepancies in pay between college teachers and university administrators and the average salary of finance officers in further education.

The article reports that British university leaders are not expecting institutions to reduce tuition fees and increase bursaries to fill course vacancies. According to Julian Nicholds, vice-president for education at the National Union of Students, if the institutions are planning to reduce tuition fees, Universities UK must issue guidance to its members to discourage such reductions. According to the Office of Fair Access, there is no reason to prevent universities from reducing fees or from increasing bursaries.

The article reports on the financial risks facing universities in Great Britain following wage increases for staff and their failure to recruit enough fee-paying students. According to the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the university costs are expected to surpass income. The council predicts that the introduction of £3,000 tuition fee will benefit the higher education sector. It is also predicted that the deficit will be covered by income from exceptional items such as profits on property transactions.

The article reports on the support of the majority of secondary school teachers for the proposal of the British government to reform the admissions system in universities in the region. A poll commissioned by Sutton Trust reveals that only 14 percent of its respondents opposed the proposal. Sutton Trust chairman Sir Peter Lampl said that the support should encourage the introduction of post-qualification applications (PQA) method. The implementation of the PQA is slated in 2010.

The article reports on the changes to the immigration rules for overseas students and additional funding to foster British-China University Partnership Scheme. The British government intends to spend £1.3 million on the marketing and promotion of British universities outside the European Union. Uksoca CEO Dominic Scott commends the employment entitlements for overseas students. Shadow Higher Education spokesman Stephen O'Brien questioned the sufficiency of funds committed to the project.

The article reports on the plan of the Russell Group of research universities to appoint a director-general as part of the expansion of operations in Great Britain. Malcolm Grant was appointed chairman of the group. Russell Group intends to commission and conduct its own research. The need for the group to develop evidence-based policy work was prompted by its identification as an important representational body.

The article reports on the decision of the British government not to give post-92 universities the share of Higher Education Innovation Fund for applied research and knowledge-transfer work according to Michael Driscoll, chairman of the Campaigning for Mainstream Universities. Old universities will receive up to £3 million each. He states that the influence of Russell Group universities affected the decision. A Department of Trade and Industry spokesman said that the move is aimed at achieving a better funding distribution.

The article reports on the assessment of the activities and value of the vice-chancellor body Universities UK (UUK) by independent consultants. Based on a report about its structure and lobbying, there is a lack of interest for UUK to merge with the Standing Conference of Principals. Subscription rates and alternative finding sources are some of the factors to be considered by the consultants. There are varied opinion about the segmentation of the higher education market in Great Britain.

The article focuses on a report by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) which revealed that law schools are less likely to offer a place to candidates from several ethnic minorities. There is a need to withhold the names of the candidates to prevent racial bias. The percentage of minority students studying law is higher than for any other single subject area except medicine. Sir Howard Newby, CEO of Hefce, insists the need for more research on the issue.

Reports on the implications of the provisions of the British government's Terrorism Bill for the universities' efforts to deal with hate crimes and intolerance. Guidelines for universities in responding to protests; Responsibility of universities to report unacceptable behavior or suspicions about criminal acts; Concerns over the bill. INSET: COULD YOU FALL FOUL OF THE LAW?.

Reports on the dispute between Tory leadership candidates David Davis and David Cameron over the policies on tuition fees for universities in Great Britain. Suggestion from Davis on the delay in the expansion of universities; Encouragement for endowments and charitable donations to universities by Cameron.

Highlights the assistance of Lew Hardy, professor of health and human performance at the University of Wales in Bangor, to the Infantry Training Centre Catterick of the British Army. Significance of the work of Hardy on the psychology of sporting performance; Behaviors that were suggested by Hardy for the Centre instructors; Optimism of Warrant officer Steve Higgins on the approach of Hardy.

Reports on an amount to be provided by the board of directors of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) and the British government to universities for the costs of teaching part-time students in November 2005. Influence of the Higher Education Bill on the provision of the fund; Condition of part-time premium being paid to universities according to Hefce CEO Howard Newbey; Need for early monitoring and support by the students.

The article reports that the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the Economic and Social Research Council and the Arts and Humanities Research Council have agreed to commit funds to support area studies relating to the Arabic-speaking world, China, Japan and Eastern Europe. The money will be used to support collaborative projects between universities. Meanwhile, the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, the London Mathematical Society, the Royal Statistical Society, the Heads of Departments of Mathematical Sciences and the Higher Education Academy have received funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England to carry out their own study of how to increase the number of graduates in the subject.

The article reports on changes to the funding system for university museums and galleries in Great Britain. Starting 2009, they will receive funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) rather than direct grants from the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Meanwhile, curators fear that the change will see their funding absorbed into universities' core grant from Hefce.

Reports on the revamp of the £4 billion teaching funding system in Great Britain. Changes in the way teaching funds are allocated; Consultation paper from the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Reports that university courses feared to be vulnerable to closure such as mathematics and the sciences saw a rise in the number of undergraduates admitted in 2005 in Great Britain. Data from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service; Rise of number of students accepted for higher education.

Reports that the closure of a major university in Great Britain would erode the public's confidence in higher education. Efforts of the government to prevent university closure; Financial assistance given to universities.

The article informs that according to Andrew Lansley, the Shadow Health Secretary, politicians and scientists need to be more open about the limits of the British Government's scientific advice if scare stories about new technologies, foods and therapies are to be avoided in future. At a fringe meeting at a conference, Lansley said that public scepticism about science had grown in the decade. He urged politicians and scientists to do more to explain the risks. According to him, politicians should "champion" science, but should also be clearer with the public that scientific advice had its limits and could be challenged by other research.

The article informs that an academic Patrick Minford of Cardiff Business School has urged the Conservative Party of Great Britain to drop its opposition to top-up fees. Minford called on the Conservatives to consign their opposition to university tuition fees "to the rubbish heap" and rethink their higher education policy. Professor Minford worked closely with politicians Sir Keith Joseph, Nigel Lawson and Margaret Thatcher from the late 1970s--helping develop the Thatcherite brand of monetary policy and union reforms--and was on a Treasury panel of "wise men" in the 1990s.

The article informs that u-turn by the Conservative Party in Great Britain on tuition fees and the expansion of higher education looks likely despite the wrangling over the leadership that overshadowed policy discussion at this week's party conference. In an interview with the journal "The Times Higher," Stephen O'Brien, the party's Higher Education Spokesman, hinted that it was "difficult to envisage" the Tories advocating anything other than a "co-payment" system in future--with students and the state contributing to the cost of a degree. The Tories currently oppose tuition fees. As "The Times Higher" has reported in recent months, party insiders admit privately that the policy of commercial-rate loans rather than tuition fees "hit a brick wall" with voters at general election.

Reports on the efforts to promote British universities to foreign students. Number of foreign students targeted by the initiative; Government's move to relax visa restriction; Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell's views about the initiative; Rammell's reaction to the decline in the proportion of state-school students entering research universities.

Reports that Lieutenant-General John Kiszely, director of Great Britain's Defence Academy, urged universities to set up more undergraduate courses in cultural studies, languages and conflict prevention. Call for closer links between the academe and the Armed Forces; Emphasis on the role of the Armed Forces in peace support operations; Recommendation of the Higher Education Funding Council for England for the retention of expertise in minority languages or area studies in one or two centers of excellence.