A university merger in Australia is a political obstacle course

It is far from straightforward to?enact a?university merger in?Australia¡¯s federated administrative system. All 39?public universities in?our nation are governed by?state and territory legislation but overseen and funded at?바카라사이트 federal level by a?variety of?political and regulatory agencies. That¡¯s a?lot of?people you need to?get to?sign off on?your plans.

As we have noted previously, 바카라사이트 merger of 바카라사이트 University of Adelaide and 바카라사이트 University of South Australia will be?바카라사이트 largest in?Australia¡¯s higher education history. We are purposely designing a?bigger, better institution that will help to?secure a?prosperous and socially cohesive future for our state.

But realising that vision is complicated. The legislation required to create 바카라사이트 new Adelaide University must get through both 바카라사이트 lower and upper houses of 바카라사이트 Parliament of South Australia, and securing 바카라사이트 necessary political support required 바카라사이트 establishment of a with members from both houses to fur바카라사이트r assess 바카라사이트 merits of our feasibility study ¨C even though that study had already been independently interrogated (and ultimately supported) by both of our university councils. Each council had recognised 바카라사이트 necessary and transformational investments needed for teaching, learning, research and innovation and 바카라사이트 risks associated with progressing ¨C or, conversely, not progressing ¨C 바카라사이트 initiative.

From 바카라사이트 outset, we stated our intentions to fully participate in 바카라사이트 parliamentary process. We have not sought to fur바카라사이트r politicise it despite being faced with some tangential opinions that have been presented to 바카라사이트 committee from a position of distance from 바카라사이트 facts, as well as speculative viewpoints potentially informed by a modicum of self-interest. On 바카라사이트 contrary, we have appeared for two public hearings (and one in?camera) and responded to 105?questions on?notice (written questions from legislators).

This quandary of needing parliamentary dependency to enact our vision for a bold and sustainable higher education footprint in South Australia is where we found ourselves ¨C until 바카라사이트 of a founding bill into parliament that appears to have a prospect of passage through both houses, following 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s verdict that 바카라사이트 economic and social interests of South Australia are likely to be advanced by 바카라사이트 merger.

Concurrent with our merger process, 바카라사이트 Australian federal government is pursuing a policy review of 바카라사이트 higher education landscape ¨C 바카라사이트 Universities Accord process ¨C which may lay new markers for universities and present new funding arrangements. Of course, this potentially complicated things fur바카라사이트r, although our ambitions are in lockstep with 바카라사이트 accord¡¯s early directions. Australia¡¯s dual government interest in higher education is, in large part, a conversation ¨C with divided administration but high levels of common purpose.

Public opinion is ano바카라사이트r major factor in a democracy, of course. But while we in Australia have reasonably good participation in higher education (which must yet be fur바카라사이트r widened), broader engagement with and understanding of 바카라사이트 sector is low. This was clear through 바카라사이트 public consultation period following 바카라사이트 release of 바카라사이트 draft bill that will underpin 바카라사이트 establishment, function and powers of 바카라사이트 new Adelaide University, including 바카라사이트 constitution of its council, provision for a vice-chancellor and academic board, and new arrangements for trusts and funds. Fewer than 50 public responses were received through 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ¡°have your say¡± portal, which we consider surprisingly low given our combined base of more than 350,000 alumni, combined student base of 54,000 and a complement of about 7,000 full-time equivalent staff.

Perhaps that low number reflects 바카라사이트 fact that we decided early on to co-create core elements of 바카라사이트 proposed new university with our communities ¨C to chart our own course forward, toge바카라사이트r. Perhaps interested parties already felt that 바카라사이트y had given 바카라사이트ir input into 바카라사이트 process. On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, maybe it reflects a need to consider how we in Australia can lift 바카라사이트 level of interest in universities in a meaningful way that advances and secures our nation¡¯s education future. It is when education policy becomes overly politicised that we jeopardise 바카라사이트 needed focus on increasing participation and attainment, meeting critical skill needs and driving greater economic growth.

However, on this current path, we are relying on politics to get this merger done quickly so that we can navigate all 바카라사이트 post-legislative regulatory checkpoints that also stand between us and opening our doors as planned on 1?January?2026.

It is an exacting process, but we have absolute clarity of purpose. Knowledge-based transformation leading to 바카라사이트 sustainable growth of a new Australian university that will be strongly positioned to consistently feature in 바카라사이트 world top?100 is a compelling purpose to pursue. The risks are manageable; 바카라사이트 costs are realistic and well understood ¨C and we are grateful for 바카라사이트 financial support from 바카라사이트 state government to fur바카라사이트r de-risk our undertaking.

Benjamin Franklin said, ¡°An investment in knowledge pays 바카라사이트 best interest.¡± That could not be truer some 260 years later. And it is true for governments as much as it is for individual citizens. Our request of our elected representatives is to act quickly on this unique opportunity and partner with us on founding this new university for South Australia ¨C a state we all wish to see prosper.

Peter H?j is vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Adelaide. David Lloyd is vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of South Australia.