A new UK sector agency comprising of the Equality Challenge Unit, Higher Education Academy and Leadership Foundation for Higher Education has been named as Advance HE.

The merger follows?recommendations??made in a report published in January last year, commissioned by Universities UK and GuildHE.

Conducting a review of the UK¡¯s higher education agencies, Sir David Bell, vice-chancellor of the University of Reading, advised the creation of a ¡°new, more responsive and holistic sector agency¡±.?

The new entity will support universities in their ongoing development of learning and teaching, equality and diversity, and leadership and governance in higher education, both in the UK and globally.

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Alison Johns, chief executive-designate of Advance HE, said that the new name reflected the group¡¯s mission to ¡°strive for excellence¡± across the sector.?

¡°It also emphasises our vision is to keep moving forward and looking to enhance higher education wherever it is found and for all. We look forward to working in partnership with universities in the UK and internationally, both now and in the future,¡± she said.

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The three existing agencies have already established a number of joint working groups to support the transition to a single agency, with the structures for the new agency due to be in place for 1 August this year.

rachael.pells@timeshighereducation.com