Letter: Merger concerns

Edinburgh College of Art is (ECA) is in discussions with Edinburgh University over a possible merger (your report, 9 September).

It is a matter of legitimate concern to all who are concerned with the future Scottish and indeed UK higher education in art and design. There would a considerable public interest and dismay were we to lose its only "other" independent art school.

It isn't anything new. About 15 years ago, when principal of Glasgow School of Art (GSA), I met with ECA's then chairman and principal to persuade them out of such a move as there was a strong wish at the highest level to go in with Heriot Watt.

GSA was, and I hope is, still resolutely against losing its independence though it retains an excellent working relationship academically with Glasgow University. There is no good argument, particularly not a financial one to support a merger.

Anyway, nothing more became of it and financial recognition was given to the small, specialist institutions.

Universities have a quite different ethos and culture to that of the art schools and financially had lower overheads. Cancer research competing with conceptual art is a no contest. Mind you, the bosses usually do well in such affairs. The merged institutions, however, are usually less than the sum of their parts.

(Professor) Dugald Cameron OBE DSc DA

Skelmore

Ayrshire