Professor Les Ebdon has been announced as the Government's preferred candidate for the next director of Fair Access to Higher Education.
The University of Bedfordshire's Vice Chancellor (left) will attend a pre-appointment hearing tomorrow with the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee.
The committee will then publish a report setting out its views on the candidate's suitability for the post.
The new Director will replace Sir Martin Harris, whose term of office finishes at the end of April.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "Attracting greater numbers of students to higher education from disadvantaged backgrounds is a key part of this Government's social mobility agenda. The Director of Fair Access has a central role to play in this.
"The current Director, Sir Martin, has successfully established the role and I am very confident that in Les Ebdon we have a strong candidate with a real commitment to widening access."
In a statement the university said: 'The University of Bedfordshire is delighted that its Vice Chancellor Professor Les Ebdon CBE DL, who is well-known for his commitment to widening participation, has been named by Ministers as their preferred candidate for the next Director of the Office for Fair Access.
'This appointment is subject to Parliamentary approval and the Business, Innovation and Skills Select committee will meet on Thursday to consider this recommendation.'
Universities and Science Minister David Willetts added: "The appointment of this position is vital to achieving our ambitions for fair access. We announced last year that we would make significantly more resources available to the Office for Fair Access so that it can provide more active challenge and support to universities and colleges and we will work with the new Director to support this.
"I am very grateful to Sir Martin for his excellent work in the role and for staying on whilst we carry out our search for the next Director."
Universities wishing to charge above £6,000 have to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the independent Director for Fair Access the measures they have in place to attract those students from under-represented and disadvantaged groups
