They argue things that are not great now would be worse

“Within our university we have witnessed an emphasis on revenue raising and cost cutting, without due regard for the consequences for teaching, research, and institutional culture. We are concerned that the proposed merger is an extension of this approach,” the Uni Adelaide chapter of the Association of Australian University Professors warns in statement opposing the now in-planning merger with Uni SA.

The professors warn:

*  a merger will not deliver research excellence:  at Uni A now, “many academics struggle to have time and resources for research, alongside limited concentrations of well supported research-only teams. We are concerned that this template will be magnified in a merged university”

* as for teaching and learning: “mass education of minimum standards is not in the best interests of our students or our state. The anticipated benefits of a merger seem to rest on this template.”

* which will be bad for reputation: “the massification of universities has seen an increasing separation of the roles of teaching and research, the combination once seen to be a hallmark of respected academics, high quality teaching, and great universities. The merged university would seem to entail more of this.”

* so call it off and invest in: :”the rebuilding of the TAFE system, with pathways to universities, (which) deserves consideration as a better way to meet the variety of needs of the state and our children”