Uni merger with art college backed by Scottish Government

THE proposed merger between Edinburgh University and Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) has been approved by the Scottish Government and will be backed by £13.8 million of new investment.

Education Secretary Michael Russell backed the proposals "with regret as well as anticipation".

The Scottish Funding Council will invest 13.8 million in the college as part of the plan.

The decision was made after a 12-week public consultation, with the backing of the two institutions.

Mr Russell said there is a compelling case for the merger, but criticised the financial management at the ECA, where long-term finances were "unsustainable".

He said: "This position should not have been allowed to develop, and it points towards very significant weaknesses in ECA's internal controls and governance structures at crucial stages in recent years.

"Even with 13.8 million of additional public money now being made available, the scale of the difficulties at ECA mean that even this significant injection of funds would not have made ECA financially sustainable. I very much regret that these matters have overshadowed, and had a bearing on, my decision.

"However, I do recognise the significant academic benefits of joining two institutions with outstanding reputations and histories of success.

"I am encouraged that the university is committed to raising ECA's already strong international profile and that major new activity, in both teaching and research, will be pursued.

"Given that both staff and student bodies have supported the merger, I believe they must be rewarded with an enhanced College of Art, with its identity and ethos not simply maintained but allowed to develop and flourish in the years ahead."

The Scottish Parliament will be asked to give final approval to the proposal, which could see both institutions merged on August 1.

Professor Sir Timothy O'Shea, principal of the university, said: "If the merger gets the backing of the Scottish Parliament, then this will lead to a step-change in academic collaboration between our two institutions, bringing considerable benefits to students, the arts and creative industries and, more widely, to Scottish higher education, society and the economy."

Professor Ian Howard, principal of the college, said: "We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the development of the proposal and responded to the consultation.

"A lot of hard work still lies ahead in order to make any merger a success for both the college and the university, but this is a very important step on the way."