Vice chancellors were expected to endorse the current pre-qualification universities admissions system at their annual residential conference in Belfast this week.

A working session of the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals convened to discuss a report from Sir Frederick Crawford, vice chancellor of Aston University, produced little evidence of support for any radical change.

The admissions crisis feared as a consequence of rapid expansion and the abolition of the binary line had not occurred, said speakers.

Sir Frederick's report outlined the options but did not make recommendations.

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There was consensus about the suggestion that the prediction of likely A level scores should not be made until after mock examinations have been taken in January.

* The conference endorsed chairman Gareth Roberts's proposal for a restructuring of the CVCP.

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This creates a six-strong "inner cabinet" in which Professor Roberts is joined by the CVCP's three vice-chairmen - Howard Newby (Southampton), David Melville (Middlesex) and Martin Harris (Manchester) - the treasurer John Bull (Plymouth) and Diana Warwick, chief executive.

It will meet a fortnight before each CVCP council meeting. The 39 sub-committees currently in operation will be subsumed in eight sector groups to cover health; environmental and biological sciences; industry, engineering and physical sciences; humanities, cultural and social sciences; information systems and telecommunications; learning and employment; European and international markets; and students and staff.