Latest UK news

OU appoints vice-chancellor
Brenda Gourley, vice-chancellor of the University of Natal in South Africa, is to become vice-chancellor of the Open University. Professor Gourley believes that universities have social responsibilities in promoting access to education and was attracted to the OU by its mission.

South Bank slashes jobs in recovery plan
South Bank University is making up to 17 staff redundant as part of a recovery plan it is implementing on the orders of the Higher Education Funding Council. Ten are from the faculty of the built environment, four from health and three from languages. Another 14 staff will be made redundant next summer - three from languages and 11 from built environment.

Student leaders question cost of complaints
A consultation paper on the independent review of student complaints puts the cost of an independent review system at up to £830,000 based on five complaints, costing an average of £1,000 each, per institution each year. Student leaders believe the price tag could be a gross under-estimate.