Latest UK news

Academic heads medical watchdog
Alistair Scotland, director of medical education and research at London’s Chelsea and Westminster hospital, will be the first chief officer of the doctors’ watchdog announced today. He will also act as medical director to the National Clinical Assessment Authority, set up in response to recent medical scandals such as the Harold Shipman murders.

Unions win lifelong learning funds
Wendy Alexander, Scotland’s minister for enterprise and lifelong learning, has announced more than £500,000 for 12 trade union lifelong learning projects. Those winning funding under the Scottish Union Learning Fund include the Educational Institute of Scotland and the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists.

Private company to run Loughborough accommodation
Loughborough University looks set to appoint a private company to run about a fifth of its student accommodation. Bristol-based firm Unite has been declared the prefered bidder to manage, develop and refurbish around 1,000 student bedrooms. The deal would be one of the biggest of its kind in the higher education sector.

Clarification
Loughborough University's negotiations with Unite have not yet reached the point of an agreement being signed. Our earlier report implied that they had.