Western Australia government plans controversial university merger

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 06:30 · Archive

Western Australia's government is developing a case to merge three state universities into a single institution of almost 120,000 students.

Western Australia's government is developing a case to merge The University of Western Australia, Curtin University and Murdoch University into a single institution. The merger would create a mega-university of almost 120,000 students, a rarely seen scale for such institutions.

Opposition is substantial. A survey by the National Tertiary Education Union found more than two-thirds of WA university staff opposed the move, with opposition outweighing support by nearly six to one. Curtin vice-chancellor Harlene Hayne said the university would 'vigorously oppose' a forced merger on behalf of its more than 67,000 students, 10,000 staff and 300,000 graduates. She questioned the spending of more than a billion dollars on the plan, citing Western Australia's cost-of-living crisis, housing pressures and healthcare worker shortages.

Premier Roger Cook defended the proposal, saying universities needed to scale up to be competitive globally. 'What we see in Western Australia is a situation where our universities are dropping down the rankings, where they are not getting the research dollars that they need,' he said. He added that if the case for merger stacked up, universities should fund it themselves rather than taxpayers bearing the cost.

How it is being reported

• Stoush brewing over mega-university planUniversity workers will fight a plan to create a mega-uni from three state institutions, but a state government says it's the only way to remain competitive.Perth Now · 12 Oct, 06:16
• Stoush brewing over mega-university planUniversity workers will fight a plan to create a mega-uni from three state institutions, but a state government says it's the only way to remain competitive.The West Australian · 12 Oct, 06:16

In this story: Western Australia · The University of Western Australia · Curtin University · Murdoch University · National Tertiary Education Union · Roger Cook · Harlene Hayne · Scott Fitzgerald

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