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Dame Patricia Hodgson's appointment to the board of the Higher Education Funding Council for England last week has raised eyebrows. Dame Patricia, who will take over as principal of Newnham College, Cambridge, next August, is seen as a strong candidate who could do much to boost the council. But she also chairs the Government's Higher Education Regulation Review Group. As one peeved vice-chancellor told us: "Most of the regulation is generated by Hefce!"

"It is good news that a poacher is turning gamekeeper, but you can't be poacher and gamekeeper at the same time or the pheasants will get confused," the source added.