Uni SA and Uni Adelaide are adamant that the proposed merger is not a done-deal, they have six months to make it so

Jason Clare is optimistic

The federal education minister announces the Commonwealth will cooperate with the two institutions and the state government “to create a new university for SA.”

Mr Clare is careful to refer to the “proposed Adelaide University” but adds “this plan will draw on the existing strengths” of the two to be merged.

The SA branch of the National Tertiary Education does not rule it out. State secretary Andrew Miller says the union, “will expect very active participation throughout. Public universities must serve the public interest and all stakeholders must have a say.”

But if two can become one why not include an extra: Adelaide (as in the city) was abuzz yesterday with speculation as to whether Flinders U could have fitted in. Vice Chancellor Colin Stirling says Flinders “has not been party to any merger discussions” and “will continue to forge its own destiny.”

Their time starts now A six-month deadline would normally be nearly enough time to draft the terms of reference for a working party on a logo for a merged uni. But  the two VCs, Peter Høj and David Lloyd, know their state and the state of its universities. Høj used to be VC of Uni SA and he is across running a research-strong university from success at Uni Queensland. And when Lloyd decides to do something dither he doesn’t. He led a transformation of Uni SA’s teaching structure in 2019-21, moving from traditional academic departments to “curriculum communities.”

What to say to sceptics

In the UK the Victoria University of Manchester and the Manchester Institute of Science and Technology merged in 2004. One of the architects explained how they did it to Inga Davis, in CMM HERE.

“It was driven by ambition and not financial necessity. The two universities would have been moderately successful if they had continued as separate institutions.  What was exciting was the sense that we could build something better on the platform of the two institutions together.”

Sounds like a pitch for Adelaide.