Mucky proposal

The small but growing Institute for Learning and Teaching is rebranding itself following protests that it has stolen the registered ILT trademark of the Institute of Logistics and Transport. From now on, the York-based institute will be known as the ILT in higher education or ILTHE for short.

Although both institutes carry academic cachet, membership benefits do not quite compare. Whereas the real ILT's members are offered golf excursions to France, 25 per cent off private health care, a legal advisory service and personal loans, the ILTHE boasts recognition of teaching expertise, commitment and status, a journal, newsletters and networking opportunities.

The Diary only hopes that the ILTHE does not decide to introduce fellowships like its namesake. They'd be known as Filthes.