Adelaide University and University of South Australia drop out of merger plans

ADELAIDE University and the University of South Australia have shelved plans to merge and create a super tertiary education institution.

ADELAIDE University and the University of South Australia have shelved merger plans to create a super tertiary education institution.

The two universities had been in discussions since mid-June around merging to create a more powerful institution that could deliver greater educational and economic benefits to the state.

But a meeting late yesterday to discuss an interim report ended with the University councils unable to reach an agreement on key issues leading to an end of merger plans.

In a joint statement this morning from the Chancellors, Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce, AC, CSC (Adelaide) and Ms Pauline Carr (UniSA), it was revealed that discussions had been brought to a close.

“Right from the start, our universities identified key threshold issues and strategic risks which required agreement from both sides,’’ the statement reads.

“Ultimately, our universities were unable to reach agreement on the threshold issues and strategic risks.

“Rather than engaging in further exploration of a potential merger, we feel it is in each university’s best interests to bring our discussions to a close at this time.”

The governing councils of the two universities had agreed to a six-month project to discuss a potential amalgamation.

UniSA vice-chancellor David Lloyd and Adelaide University vice-chancellor Peter Rathjen oversaw a report that was to be delivered by the end of the year.

At the time, both universities issued a joint statement saying a merger must be looked at because of the “rapidly changing” higher education industry in Australia and overseas.

“Now is the time to facilitate a conversation about whether uniting our universities would create a new internationally renowned university of scale that would be well placed to anticipate and respond to this changing landscape,” they said.

“We need to determine whether this would enable us to deliver greater access and benefits to students, create more opportunities for staff, enable greater collaboration with and contribution to our community, and make greater economic, social and cultural contributions to South Australia.

The plan was then to be considered by the councils.

MORE TO COME

Originally published as Adelaide University and University of South Australia drop out of merger plans