Merger of the Universities of Adelaide and South Australia

[Llessur2002]

Thought it was a time for a single thread for merger-related news to replace the existing UniSA and UoA threads and create a new Thread for the Future(TM).

Looks like the upper house support has been secured and it's all systems go from here on:

The much-vaunted merger of the universities of Adelaide and South Australia will go ahead because the state government has secured crucial upper house support.

Premier Peter Malinauskas on Wednesday morning will announce crossbenchers Sarah Game and Connie Bonaros will back legislation, to be introduced to parliament tomorrow.

The move follows backing from a key parliamentary committee on Tuesday, which said the merger would advance the state’s economic and social interests.

From: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/south-au ... 5b51093ee7]

[Llessur2002]

Update on the concessions required for the cross-bench support - Flinders seem to be getting a pretty good deal out of this too:

As part of the deal to gain the support of Ms Game and Ms Bonaros, the government indicated it would support the recommendations of the committee. That includes $40m more funding for Flinders University and an extra $20m for a student support fund for the new university to ensure a focus on students from regional South Australia."

[abc]

Ms Game

[Llessur2002]

A joint statement was released by the Vice-Chancellors this morning:

This is a significant moment in our shared histories with the passing of state legislation to establish a new Adelaide University.

This represents one of the most important steps to date in realising our ambitious vision for a contemporary, for-purpose university that will be truly transformative for future generations of learners and researchers, and the state of South Australia.

The path to today has been extensive. Following a comprehensive six-month feasibility assessment, parliamentary inquiry and State Parliament consideration and debate, the Adelaide University Act that will serve as the foundation of our new institution has now been passed.

We would like to thank our parliamentarians and the parliamentary Joint Committee for their confidence in our roadmap forward – to create a future-focused university that will produce graduates who are in global demand, while prioritising the needs of our local industries and communities through skills development and innovation through world-leading research.

We have absolute clarity of purpose. Knowledge-based transformation leading to sustainable growth of a new Australian university that will consistently feature in the world’s top 1% is a compelling reason to exist. However, we acknowledge the responsibility and weighty task ahead of us – to deliver on our bold vision for the sector and state, and to open our doors come 1st January 2026. We believe in the talent and capability of our university community to get this done – drawing on our depth of expertise and experience and bolstered by our many partners and friends.

The passing of legislation through the State Parliament is a key enabler to the creation of a combined Adelaide University, which must now be proclaimed for the Act to come into operation and for the future institution to exist. Further to proclamation, there are a number of steps we must still take before we can become a new, fledging university. This includes, but is not limited to:

• population of the Adelaide University Transition Council
• approval of the new university’s Strategic Plan
• necessary regulatory approvals (TEQSA, CRICOS, ESOS and HESA registrations).

Looks like all systems are go.

[NTRabbit]

I for one am shocked to learn that the biggest winner out of all this will be the developers that the government are flogging off "excess" Uni land in Mawson Lakes and Magill to, utterly shocked

[ChillyPhilly]

I for one am shocked to learn that the biggest winner out of all this will be the developers that the government are flogging off "excess" Uni land in Mawson Lakes and Magill to, utterly shocked

If I was a local resident or student of UniSA Mawson Lakes that makes use of the sports grounds, I would be livid.

[Llessur2002]

The new Adelaide University launched today.

[HiTouch]

Don't get me started on this merger. I didn't even know this thread existed until now.

Firstly, worst logo for a university. I absolutely hate it. No shield, no heritage of either Uni, a cadbury ripoff. It's a Corporatised McDonaldisation. It's like some bloke on the piss watched the Australian Open and thought "wow that's a good idea, lets get it". No different to the merger. However, instead of one bloke on the piss, it's many nepo babies on the piss.

The merger is a tax-cut for the SA Government, an absorption of UniSA, a retirement plan Peter Hoj and a succession plan for David Lloyd. North Terrace Purple? What a waste of money trademarking that colour. They surveyed the staff and got everyone to pick a logo out of a selection of 0/10 duds. Every single option was a horror show. This one was a solid 3/10. Nobody liked it. It was just the best that the 10 million+ dollars of graphic design provided.

If you look at every University merger case study, you'll find they are not mergers, they are expansions of a bigger university or a state bail-out. This is both. Furthermore, 1+1 does not equal 2. They never double the output. They only grow by the leadership and educational capacity of the state. You'll find Adelaide University will be around 25% better off. At the cost of educational variety and competition which is always better in the long-run.

RAAAAHH Rant over.