Is Sir Ivor Crewe, vice-chancellor of Essex University, dusting down his CV? The post of director-general for higher education at the Department for Education and Skills is up for grabs now that Sir Alan Wilson has said he will leave for the presidency of his old college Corpus Christi, Cambridge in September. Sir Ivor was said to have been deeply disappointed not to have been named Hefce chief in February. Perhaps he will end up in the real seat of power instead.