Peter Downes has been appointed acting principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Dundee. Professor Downes, vice-principal and head of the College of Life Sciences, will perform the role while the institution finds a replacement for Sir Alan Langlands, who took over as chief executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England last week.
A pro vice-chancellor at the University of Glamorgan is to advise the Welsh Government on the future of research and innovation. Brian Hobbs will join the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales' committee for research, innovation and engagement for the next three years.
The chief nursing officer (CNO) for Scotland, Paul Martin, has been appointed dean of education, health and social sciences at the University of the West of Scotland. In his role as CNO, Dr Martin provided advice to ministers on all matters relating to nursing, midwifery and the allied health professions. He is also director for health workforce for the Scottish Government.
Tariq Ali, director of the energy and environment office at Imperial College London, is leaving to take up a position overseas. He will become vice-president for research and industrial relations at the Masdar Institute for Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi. He will remain a senior visiting fellow at Imperial.
Lancaster University has appointed Matt Fenton as director of public arts, a new post in which he will support early-career artists as well as develop cross-disciplinary programmes. Mr Fenton is a former director of the university's Nuffield Theatre and he helped to transform it into an award-winning venue that supports contemporary theatre and dance. Rachel Cooper, director of the Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts, said: "His appointment is entirely in line with the trends needed in education and the creative industry sector."
The Academy of Social Sciences has announced the appointment of Cary Cooper, pro vice-chancellor for external relations at Lancaster University, as its next chair. Professor Cooper is a longstanding academician and he takes over from Miriam David, who is retiring from the post which she has held since 2005. The academy has also conferred the award of academician on the following 49 people, drawn from across the social science spectrum for their contribution in the field: Barbara Adam, professor of sociology, Cardiff University; Haleh Afshar, professor in politics and women's studies, University of York; Andrew Blaikie, professor of historical sociology, University of Aberdeen; Jeremy Boulton, professor of urban history, Newcastle University; Roy Boyne, professor of sociology, Durham University; Christopher Brotherton, emeritus professor of applied psychology, Heriot-Watt University; Alan Bryman, professor of organisational and social research, University of Leicester; John Bryson, professor of enterprise and economic geography, University of Birmingham; Kenneth Button, professor and director of the School of Public Policy, George Mason University; Bob Carter, professor of organisational change management, De Montfort University; Ann Colley, chief executive, the British Psychological Society; Neil Collins, professor of government, University College Cork; Richard Crisp, professor of psychology, University of Kent; John Glasson, professor emeritus of environmental planning, Oxford Brookes University; Ronald Hall, director, directorate general for regional policy, European Commission; John Hills, professor of social policy, London School of Economics; Jane Ireland, professor of forensic psychology, University of Central Lancashire; Elizabeth Kuipers, professor of clinical psychology, King's College London; Robert Lee, professor of economic and social history, University of Liverpool; Moya Lloyd, professor of political theory, University of Loughborough; Joni Lovenduski, professor of politics, Birkbeck, University of London; Philip Lowe, professor of rural economy, Newcastle University; Ian Menter, professor of teacher education, University of Glasgow; Andrew Morrison, deputy director of analytical services, head of division, Government Department for Communities and Local Government; Gemma Moss, reader in education, Institute of Education, University of London; Brigitte Nerlich, professor of science, language and society, University of Nottingham; Michael O'Higgins, chairman of the Audit Commission and non-executive director, HM Treasury; Timothy O'Shea, principal and vice-chancellor, University of Edinburgh; Ann Oakley, professor of sociology and social policy, Institute of Education; John Oates, professor of psychology, The Open University; Philip Ogden, acting principal and professor of geography, Queen Mary, University of London; Robert Osborne, professor of applied policy studies, University of Ulster; Tony Payne, professor of politics, University of Sheffield; Sheila Peace, professor of social gerontology, The Open University; Chris Pierson, professor of politics, University of Nottingham; Vicky Randall, professor of government, University of Essex; Tom Schuller, director, inquiry into the future of lifelong learning in the UK, National Institute of Adult Continuing Education; Jacqueline Scott, professor of empirical sociology, University of Cambridge; Jonathan Smith, professor of psychology, Birkbeck, University of London; Martin Smith, professor of politics, University of Sheffield; Corinne Squire, professor of social sciences, University of East London; Judith Squires, professor of political theory, University of Bristol; Jon Stobart, professor of history, University of Northampton; Mark Taylor, professor of international finance and macroeconomics, University of Warwick; Jennifer Temkin, professor of law, University of Sussex; Nick Tilley, emeritus professor of sociology, Nottingham Trent University; Julia Twigg, professor of social policy and sociology, University of Kent; Robert Walker, professor of social policy, University of Oxford; and John Wicks, director, social and market research, MVA Consultancy.
At the University of Leicester, Wei Zhang has been appointed to a lectureship in educational leadership and management. She obtained a BA from Hohai University in China and went on to become a lecturer there. She undertook her masters and doctoral degrees at the universities of Warwick and Manchester, respectively. Before joining Leicester, she was a research associate at Liverpool John Moores University, where she was involved in research into educational policy for pupils displaying emotional and behavioural difficulties. Also at Leicester, Clive Marsh becomes senior lecturer and director of learning and teaching in the Institute of Lifelong Learning. He has taught theology and biblical studies since 1989. More recently, he has been working on the interface between theology, the arts and popular culture. In his new role, Dr Marsh will be involved in monitoring the learning and teaching aspects and overall coherence of programmes on offer at the centre.