CVCP backs off college takeover

Plans to transform the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals into a nationwide body representing all higher education institutions have been shelved, writes Tony Tysome.

A working groupset up to review the CVCP was considering proposals to create a British equivalent ofthe American Council on Education, takingin higher educationcolleges as well asuniversities.

But it has decidedto drop the idea in the face of opposition from the Standing Conference of Principals, which says it wants to maintain an independent voice to lobbyon issues concerningonly colleges.

The working group, chaired by Leicester University vice-chancellor Kenneth Edwards, has been concentrating instead on the impact of devolution in Scotland and Wales and on regional representation in England.

But draft proposals for a new CVCPstructure have raised concerns among Scottish university andcollege heads keen to protect the autonomy of their own representative body.

The proposals are due to be debated ata special residential meeting of vice-chancellors to be held in Cardiff on March 4 and 5.