The new single quality agency for higher education is expected to announce its chief executive this week after months of speculation over who would apply for the Pounds 60,000-a-year job.
On the shortlist are Roger Brown, chief executive of the Higher Education Quality Council, Bahram Bekhradnia, head of policy for the Higher Education Funding Council for England, Peter Williams, director of quality audit for HEQC, and two other unknown candidates.
The appointment of either Dr Brown or Mr Bekhradnia would add tension to an already uneasy marriage between the approaches of HEFCE and HEQC.
The new agency will be responsible for quality assurance in higher education in England and Wales.