Recent events have demonstrated the determination of the First Minister Alex Salmond and his Education Secretary Mike Russell, to force Dundee and Abertay Universities to merge.
In the space of a few weeks, the request by the Scottish Funding Council to Abertay to defer appointing a permanent replacement for retired Principal Bernard King has moved to a blunt instruction to both of our universities to begin discussing a merger. This all makes a mockery of the willingness of the Scottish Government to listen to views about their consultative report 'Putting Learners at the Centre – Delivering our Ambitions for Post-16 Education' launched on 15 September. Alex Salmond and Mike Russell have clearly made up their mind about this ambition of theirs.
It is clear from the official responses from both Universities that this shotgun wedding is something that neither university seeks. I am sure the ensuing uncertainty will do neither University any good. With fifth and sixth form school students about to make their choices through UCAS and an application deadline for dentistry and medicine as early as 15 October and most other courses by 15 January, neither of our Universities and their staff will want this hanging over them.
My fear is that the diversity of courses offered by our two universities would be lost in a forced merger and that this would close rather than open doors to potential students. Since both universities are sought after destinations for many students from our schools, the Council has a vested interest in this issue.
For future generations of ambitious students in Dundee schools, I am backing 101% the Courier campaign 'No to Merger'.
