The THES Diary

I'll sit this one out

Who will be the next chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals? Strathclyde's Sir John Arbuthnott was originally proposed by Southampton's Howard Newby, possibly to keep the Scots on board as the CVCP discussed its future in the light of devolution. But Sir John was not happy. Then someone nominated Professor Newby, leaving Professor Newby unhappy. Maybe the CVCP should retain Manchester's Martin Harris for another term - if only because no one else will do the job.

Students in a spin

There was much talk of revolution at the National Union of Students annual conference. NUS president Andrew Pakes told students at informal hustings that he believed in the revolution - the reform of the student movement. Liberal Democrat candidate for national secretary Yuan Potts also believed in it - the information revolution. For Potts it held such exciting prospects as "interactive websites" and a solution to the "millennium bug". Revolution is not what it was.

No business like...

The University of Bradford Management Centre clearly believes William Shakespeare had business sense. It has teamed up with theatre director Richard Olivier to produce a "mythodrama" course for managers. This "new discipline", which employs drama to provide insights into leadership styles, dilemmas and solutions, draws on Henry V ("motivational leadership") and The Winter's Tale ("contradictory natures of passion and perception"). Let's hope they steer clear of Richard III.

Cross addressing

The Scottish Office is likely to receive a new name in the wake of the Scottish Parliament, Scottish Office undersecretary Ed Weeple revealed at the council dinner for the Association of University Teachers Scotland recently. It will probably be called The Office of The Scottish Executive, but Mr Weeple wondered about the reaction to: "I'm from Tootse and I'm here to help."