Flinders Uni new city campus almost ready to go, but vice-chancellor calls $100m for merger ‘unfair’

Out in the merger cold … or happy alone? Flinders Uni’s new CBD campus has lit up amid a “fundamentally unfair” problem posed by the new Adelaide Uni.

Flinders University is on track to open its new city campus next year, which Vice Chancellor Colin Stirling says will help bring more students to the institution as it grapples with the implications of the proposed merger between its two main rivals.

Professor Stirling said the new campus in the 29-storey tower beside Festival Plaza would teach between 5000 and 7000 students a year and opened the doors to “to potential future students who might otherwise have thought that Flinders was a little bit too far away’’.

“We’re getting a huge amount of interest actually from students, both international and local domestic students, who are very interested in the idea of studying in the city,’’ he said.

Flinders is already taking applications for courses to start in 2024, with the university offering a mix of business, creative arts, law, cybersecurity and machine learning programs.

The Flinders University sign on top of Festival Tower was switched on for the first time on Thursday night and Professor Stirling said he expected handover of the eight stories of the building that will house students as soon as November.

The Flinders University light illuminated for the first time at its new city campus building. Picture: Supplied

The vice chancellor said while the decision to move to Festival Tower had been made before the proposed merger between Adelaide University and the University of SA was announced, the new site helped offer an “important alternative to the new institution’’.

While Premier Peter Malinauskas has talked up the benefits of having a bigger university post-merger, Professor Stirling also believes there are other advantages to students and staff from a smaller institution.

“We can move quickly and that is helpful, and is made easier by being a bit smaller,’’ he said. “I don’t think that it’s impossible for a very large institution to also develop that sort of agility, it’s just a bit harder.’’

However, Professor Stirling said it was vital the benefits offered to the merged institution were also made available to Flinders, particularly the state government’s proposed $100m fund to help students from low socio-economic backgrounds to attend university.

Flinders University vice chancellor Colin Stirling outside the new city campus. Picture: Supplied

“What is, however, fundamentally unfair is for the state government to provide support for a student who chooses Adelaide University in the future, but to not provide support for students at Flinders,’’ he said.

Professor Stirling said Flinders would be successful “whatever happens on North Terrace’’ and had bold plans for the future. He said this included continuing with its plan, announced pre-Covid to build a “Flinders Village’’ that included a research centre, student accommodation, hotel and retail around the rail link extension.

The $1.5b plan was announced in 2019 but was delayed by Covid, although a $280m research centre, which was part of the original scheme, should be completed next year.

Professor Stirling acknowledged the total cost had risen but said the university was still pursuing the project.

“It’s a watch-this-space because now that we’ve got the first building almost completed, I think that will accelerate our plans.’’