Dundee’s dismay over merger proposals

DUNDEE University has expressed its continuing dismay at the way a proposed merger with Abertay University has been handled.

The university, whose court met yesterday to discuss the move, said it had concerns over the leaking of private letters and said an “unrealistic” timescale had been set for the discussions.

In a letter sent to Abertay University last month, Scottish Funding Council (SFC) chief executive Mark Batho made clear the need to move “quite quickly” with the aim that the universities and the SFC should “take a decision on whether to proceed with this merger by the end of October”.

In a statement released yesterday, Dundee University said: “The university has a strong history of developing collaborations across a wide range of its activities and has always been happy to discuss partnerships and collaborations where they have potential to create opportunities and benefits.

“The court decided that the university should be prepared to take part in talks on enhanced collaboration with Abertay, provided all parties were willing to do so, and in the context of the Scottish Government’s pre-legislative paper on post-16 education in Scotland.

“The university is not committing itself to any particular outcome from these discussions and expects any talks to be held in strictest confidence.

“Court remains acutely aware of the different missions of the two universities and how they impact on their nature and character. There are many aspects of what makes the University of Dundee distinctive, and which have established its reputation and profile at home and abroad. Court is clear it would not be prepared to see these lost as the result of any discussions regarding potential collaborations.”

education secretary Mike Russell has made it clear that he wants to see closer collaboration between universities as a way of saving money across the sector.

But Lord Sutherland, a former principal of Edinburgh University, last week criticised the proposed timescale for the merger and the way it had been handled. He said: “I can’t think of a worse way of doing it – it looks like merger by fax.

“It takes time and requires agreement on institutions, not instructions that come across as a veiled threat.”