* Merfyn Jones, chair of Welsh history, will take up his appointment as vice-chancellor of the University of Wales, Bangor on August 1. He succeeds Roy Evans.
* Keith Peters, regius professor of physics at Cambridge University, head of the School of Clinical Medicine and honorary consultant physician at Addenbrooke's National Health Service Trust, has been appointed chair of Cardiff University's council.
* Neva Haites, professor and associate dean (clinical), has been appointed Aberdeen University's first female vice-principal. She will also take over from Stephen Logan as head of the College of Life Sciences and Medicine on his retirement in July.
* Dundee University has appointed David Yule, former acting director of estates and buildings, as director of campus services.
* Martin Chalkley, professor and head of the department of economic studies at Dundee, has been elected president of the Scottish Economic Society from April 2005. Until then, he will take on the role of president-elect.
* Christopher Jennison, professor of statistics, has been appointed dean of the faculty of science at Bath University.
* David Stephens, head of masters programmes for the sustainable development organisation Forum for the Future, has been appointed visiting professor at Brighton University.
* Deborah Swallow, director of collections and keeper of the Asian department of the Victoria and Albert Museum, will succeed James Cuno in October as director of the Courtauld Institute of Art. Professor Cuno is to become president and director of the Art Institute of Chicago.