* Oxford University has appointed Ewan McKendrick , professor of English private law, its next pro vice-chancellor for research, academic services and university collections. He succeeds Nigel Thrift, professor of geography, who takes up a new post as vice-chancellor of Warwick University.
* King's College, Cambridge, has elected Ross Harrison its next provost.
Professor Harrison is a fellow of King's, has served as director of studies and admissions tutor and dean of the faculty of philosophy; he is a former Quain professor of jurisprudence at University College London.
* Robert Gordon University has appointed Stuart MacDonald head of Gray's School of Art; he is currently director of The Lighthouse in Glasgow (Scotland's National Centre for Architecture and Design).
* Manchester Metropolitan University has appointed Carol Ann Duffy , poet, and Andrew Biswell , an authority on Anthony Burgess, joint directors of the Writing School; Bill Gilmore , reader in biomedical science at Ulster University, first director of the university's new School of Biology, Chemistry and Health Science; and Chris Allen , principal research fellow at Sheffield Hallam University, a professor.
* Michael Schmidt , Carcanet Press's founder and editorial director, has been appointed professor of poetry at Glasgow University.