James Humphreys , head of corporate communications at 10 Downing Street, has been appointed director of a masters course in politics at Kingston University, teaching political communication techniques pioneered by new Labour.

Martin Severs , head of the University of Portsmouth's Institute of Medicine, Health and Social Care and consultant at St Christopher's Hospital in Fareham, Hampshire, has been made head of a Department of Health project on information standards.

Cardiff University's Business School has appointed Stephen Walker , former head of the department of accounting and business method at Edinburgh University, professor of accounting and James Foreman-Peck , former economic adviser at the Treasury, professor of Welsh economic research.

Graham Durant , professor and deputy director of the Hunterian Museum at the University of Glasgow, has been appointed director of the National Science and Technology Centre, Questacon in ߣߣÊÓƵ.

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Bryan Gray , deputy chairman of Baxi Group Ltd and chair of Baxi Technologies, has been appointed pro vice-chancellor of Lancaster University, succeeding Brian Heron who will retire on July 31.

William Gelletly , professor of physics at the University of Surrey, has been appointed distinguished professor.

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Graham Hair , professor in the department of music at the University of Glasgow, has been appointed visiting guest artist-in-residence at Radford University, Virginia, US, for 2003 and 2004.