On the move ..

Christopher Day has been appointed head of Newcastle University's faculty of medical sciences, from April 2008. He will succeed Oliver James, who had previously announced his intention to retire.

Gill Howland has joined Staffordshire University as executive pro vice- chancellor, from the Learning and Skills Council in Birmingham and Solihull, where she held the post of executive director.

Pat Bailey , currently associate dean for teaching and learning in the faculty of engineering and physical sciences and professor of organic chemistry at Manchester University, has been appointed as the new dean of natural sciences at Keele University.

The Open University has appointed Helen Wildman as regional director for the East of England; she was previously director for strategic planning at De Montfort University following a career in the British Army.