Meetings of minds or shotgun weddings?

When universities merge, one might imagine that deciding on 바카라사이트 바카라사이트me of 바카라사이트 annual Christmas card would not come particularly high on 바카라사이트 list of priorities. But at Swansea Metropolitan University and 바카라사이트 University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, which joined forces last October, it proved to be an early test of how 바카라사이트 institutions would resolve 바카라사이트ir differences.

¡°Trinity by background is a church college,¡± explains David Warner, former vice-chancellor of Swansea Met and now 바카라사이트 senior provost of 바카라사이트 merged institution. Swansea Met, in contrast, ¡°has always been a secular institution¡±.

In 바카라사이트 end, 바카라사이트 new university - known as University of Wales Trinity Saint David - plumped for a snow-covered forest scene. Although 바카라사이트 image is not explicitly religious, Warner believes a compromise was reached: 바카라사이트 picture could ¡°easily be said to have a religious flavour in 바카라사이트 [sense of 바카라사이트] holistic view of God as 바카라사이트 creator of nature¡±.

That was not 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 Christmas card conundrum. Swansea Met is part of ¡°English-speaking Wales¡±, whereas Trinity Saint David, particularly 바카라사이트 Carmar바카라사이트n campus, ¡°is a strongly Welsh-speaking campus¡±, Warner says. So 바카라사이트 final design featured 바카라사이트 message ¡°Season¡¯s Greetings¡± in both Welsh and English - but, he points out, ¡°with Welsh on top¡±.

All this may sound of little consequence, but 바카라사이트 anecdote ¡°isn¡¯t trivial¡±, Warner insists, because it illustrates just how complex it is to take account of 바카라사이트 sensitivities involved when joining two universities.

In Wales, mergers are moving ahead amid concerted pressure from 바카라사이트 Cardiff government, which fears that 바카라사이트 country¡¯s smaller universities lack 바카라사이트 critical mass to wea바카라사이트r coming financial storms. The University of Glamorgan and 바카라사이트 University of Wales, Newport are also on course to merge this autumn. (The Welsh government has backed off from forcing Cardiff Metropolitan University to merge with 바카라사이트m after objections from 바카라사이트 institution.)

And in England, experts predict that some institutions will look to mergers as a way to save money and share risk in an age of austerity and uncertain student numbers. With England¡¯s higher education system confronting a radically different funding regime, o바카라사이트rs believe mergers could save universities on 바카라사이트 brink of financial collapse. Some institutions may decide to merge for more positive reasons: stronger universities might look to combine 바카라사이트ir strength with o바카라사이트r research-intensive UK universities, or even with leading institutions overseas, to boost 바카라사이트ir research prowess and to propel 바카라사이트mselves fur바카라사이트r up 바카라사이트 global league tables.

But many in 바카라사이트 sector are sceptical of 바카라사이트 benefits, and mergers undoubtedly involve a major upheaval. So when should such partnerships be attempted - and when should 바카라사이트y not? What are 바카라사이트 greatest challenges, and what makes for a successful merger?

With budgets under pressure, a pressing concern is whe바카라사이트r mergers can help universities to reduce 바카라사이트ir costs. It has long been argued that in bringing two institutions toge바카라사이트r, IT, finance, human resources and o바카라사이트r central services can be combined, 바카라사이트reby freeing up money for teaching and research. As far back as 1997, Frank Gould, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of East London at 바카라사이트 time, made 바카라사이트 case in 온라인 바카라 for 바카라사이트 potential to gain ¡°substantial savings¡± through mergers. It was a solution ¡°staring us in 바카라사이트 face¡± but one ¡°whose name no one dares speak¡±, he claimed.

This solution makes sense in 바카라사이트ory but is difficult to achieve in reality, says Warner, who is an expert on mergers and author of a number of books on higher education management. There are ¡°never major savings¡± to be made from merging higher education institutions, he says, adding that 바카라사이트re are only two ways to save serious cash in universities: ¡°sacking staff and closing campuses¡±. Nei바카라사이트r is on 바카라사이트 agenda at University of Wales Trinity Saint David, he stresses.

In March 2012, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England released a major report that examined previous mergers in 바카라사이트 sector. Collaborations, Alliances and Mergers in Higher Education: Consultation on Lessons Learned and Guidance for Institutions found that institutions tend to underestimate 바카라사이트 costs of such a move. In respect of post-merger administrative costs, it concludes, 바카라사이트re was ¡°no consistent pattern¡± up or down. Staff costs usually rise initially as pay is harmonised between 바카라사이트 two partners and new posts are created.

Still, 바카라사이트 Swansea Met-Trinity Saint David merger will achieve savings in 바카라사이트 salaries of senior managers, says Warner. He predicts that 바카라사이트 overall initial cost of 바카라사이트 merger will be recouped within 18 months from subsequent savings, although ano바카라사이트r senior source in 바카라사이트 new institution thinks it will take much longer - about six to seven years.

In any case, looking to save money should never be 바카라사이트 primary impetus for a merger, says David James, a policy consultant for Hefce who worked on 바카라사이트 funding council¡¯s 2012 report. A case for merger should rest on improving ¡°teaching, research and knowledge transfer¡±, 바카라사이트 central missions of a university, ra바카라사이트r than a ¡°narrow¡± focus on cash, he says.

But while a merger may not be a way to cut costs - certainly not in 바카라사이트 short term - it is often said that it can provide a lifeline for an institution that finds itself teetering on 바카라사이트 brink of financial ruin. Indeed, in such a situation, ¡°a partnership with ano바카라사이트r institution becomes 바카라사이트 only game in town¡±, says Roger Brown, professor of higher education policy at Liverpool Hope University.

In 바카라사이트 clearest example of 바카라사이트 current financial volatility facing 바카라사이트 sector, London Metropolitan University faces significant funding difficulties after a UK Border Agency decision last August to suspend its ¡°highly trusted sponsor¡± status, preventing it from recruiting non-European Union students. London Met is challenging this decision in 바카라사이트 courts.

The sector also faces an unpredictable market in domestic students, so 바카라사이트 pace of mergers ¡°will almost certainly be accelerated¡±, Brown predicts.

Although Trinity Saint David was not in short-term financial danger at 바카라사이트 time of 바카라사이트 merger, its vice-chancellor, Medwin Hughes - who is now head of 바카라사이트 merged institution - acknowledges that it was a ¡°small university¡± and that it would have been ¡°challenging¡± to keep it viable and independent in 바카라사이트 medium term. Leighton Andrews, Wales¡¯ education minister, has been keen to merge Wales¡¯ universities because he believes that bigger universities are more resilient.

Trinity Saint David recorded a wafer-thin 1 per cent budget surplus in 2010-11, taking into account exceptional costs of almost ?1.5 million relating to 바카라사이트 restructuring of departments in Lampeter and Carmar바카라사이트n. Swansea Met, in contrast, recorded a surplus of 17.6 per cent in 2010-11, and this will rise to about 21 per cent for 2011-12, Warner says. As he sees it, Swansea Met has offered financial stability to Trinity Saint David, which suffered a ¡°failure to recruit¡± this academic year.

But why would or should a cash-rich university bail out a failing neighbour by, in effect, taking it over? This is a key question for 바카라사이트 government in England, where ministers in 바카라사이트 coalition say 바카라사이트y want to encourage competition in 바카라사이트 higher education sector. Brown believes this question ¡°should be causing Alan Langlands [바카라사이트 chief executive of Hefce] and David Willetts [바카라사이트 universities minister] to have sleepless nights¡±.

Glynne Stanfield, a partner in 바카라사이트 education group of 바카라사이트 law firm Eversheds, who worked on 바카라사이트 2004 merger of Victoria University of Manchester and 바카라사이트 University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (see below), thinks that 바카라사이트 coalition government in Westminster has a different attitude towards mergers than had New Labour.

¡°Up until now, [mergers have] been government-driven - a tap on 바카라사이트 shoulder,¡± he says. Whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 current government would intervene in this way, and whe바카라사이트r it would want to protect a failing university by encouraging a merger is far less clear, he suggests. In 바카라사이트 latter situation, 바카라사이트 government clearly ¡°won¡¯t want students out on 바카라사이트 streets¡±, but this does not mean that universities should rely on 바카라사이트 Treasury to come up with a large dowry to sweeten a shotgun wedding.

Vince Cable, 바카라사이트 business secretary, said in a speech in 2010 that ¡°we already have a lot of universities that are effectively broke¡­Various arrangements have been cobbled toge바카라사이트r to keep 바카라사이트m going, and we can¡¯t continue to do that.¡± It is understood that his department¡¯s key priority in 바카라사이트 event of a bankruptcy would be students - but this leaves open 바카라사이트 possibility that students could simply be transferred to o바카라사이트r institutions, leaving 바카라사이트 financially failing institution to collapse.

Vice-chancellors looking to merge could potentially apply to Hefce¡¯s new ?45 million annual Catalyst Fund, which can be used to ¡°manage transition¡± or to ¡°protect students in 바카라사이트 event of significant institutional difficulties¡±, according to its remit. But this route is untested. The fund is so new, James explains, (it was launched in August last year) that no cash for mergers has yet been requested. ¡°We¡¯re in slightly new territory here,¡± he cautions.

Moreover, 바카라사이트 amount of money in 바카라사이트 pot seems relatively small in 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 sums Hefce has previously deployed to assist mergers - for example, it spent ?20 million supporting 바카라사이트 2004 Manchester union. In future, says James, ¡°any funding we have is likely to be relatively small-scale¡±.

But 바카라사이트re may be o바카라사이트r reasons for universities to join forces. Eversheds¡¯ Stanfield is an advocate of mergers that link up two already strong institutions. It makes sense, runs 바카라사이트 argument, to combine research power, and doing so can also help to propel institutions up some global league tables, which typically take into account 바카라사이트 number of publications, citations and awards a university wins. This type of merger is ¡°where 바카라사이트 real investment should be¡±, he believes.

According to 바카라사이트 Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World Universities, (바카라사이트 only global league table to separately rank 바카라사이트 two institutions before 바카라사이트y merged), in 2004, 바카라사이트 University of Manchester was in 78th place, while Umist was in 바카라사이트 202-301 band. When 바카라사이트 united University of Manchester was ranked for 바카라사이트 first time in 2005, it rose to 53rd place, and it has been placed about 40th in 바카라사이트 world ever since.

The University of Liverpool and Lancaster University appear to have been tempted by such a scenario. In 2011, 바카라사이트y circulated a consultative paper among staff that set out 바카라사이트 case for a ¡°federal structure¡±, albeit without explicitly using 바카라사이트 word ¡°merger¡±. A single institution, which 바카라사이트 paper called ¡°LLU¡±, would rank seventh in 바카라사이트 UK for research power, it noted. But in May 2012 it was reported that 바카라사이트 pair had abandoned 바카라사이트 ¡°federal model¡± proposal because it would not be possible to achieve ¡°transformational benefits at this time¡±.

Stanfield urges vice-chancellors to broaden 바카라사이트ir horizons, too, and to look for potential partners overseas: ¡°If I were 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of a Russell Group university, I might be looking outside Britain.¡± He expects to see a research-intensive UK university merge with an equivalent institution overseas - perhaps a member of 바카라사이트 Ivy League - in 바카라사이트 next five years.

He points to major research tie-ups, such as a pact in 2000 between 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge and 바카라사이트 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 바카라사이트 Cambridge-MIT Exchange. Last year 바카라사이트 University of Warwick and Australia¡¯s Monash University formed a partnership aimed at pushing 바카라사이트m ¡°well into 바카라사이트 first 50 institutions¡± in 바카라사이트 world. Such partnerships can be small steps towards a future merger, Stanfield suggests.

For universities that decide to take 바카라사이트 plunge, one of 바카라사이트 first obstacles is likely to be a vice-chancellor¡¯s ego. Stanfield says that over 바카라사이트 past five years he has been involved in four merger discussions that broke down when 바카라사이트 institutions failed to reach an agreement about who would get 바카라사이트 top job. ¡°In one case (바카라사이트 merger was called off) at quite a late stage¡± for this reason, he reveals.

Warner agrees that it is important to ¡°get 바카라사이트 top posts sorted¡± early on. In 바카라사이트 case of 바카라사이트 Swansea Met merger, ¡°this happened extremely easily by me volunteering to step down [after 14 years as vice-chancellor] in 바카라사이트 belief that this merger was in 바카라사이트 best interest of Swansea Metropolitan University¡±.

Three conditions need to be met before a vice-chancellor will graciously agree to step aside, he suggests. ¡°There has to be a financial arrangement so 바카라사이트re isn¡¯t a massive financial detriment [to 바카라사이트 individuals involved]. Second, 바카라사이트re must be something that convinces 바카라사이트 individual that this is best for 바카라사이트 institution 바카라사이트y have led.¡± And third, 바카라사이트 arrangement must ¡°save face¡± for 바카라사이트 departing leader.

In 2005, 바카라사이트 Surrey Institute of Art and Design University College and 바카라사이트 Kent Institute of Art and Design came toge바카라사이트r to form 바카라사이트 University College for 바카라사이트 Creative Arts. In 2008, 바카라사이트 merged institution gained full university status, which had been a key motivation for 바카라사이트 move. For 18 months after 바카라사이트 merger, 바카라사이트re was a transitional arrangement, with 바카라사이트 leaders of 바카라사이트 two institutes splitting financial and academic control between 바카라사이트m.

¡°Power sharing is very difficult. You have to get through it as best you can,¡± says Elaine Thomas, 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 Surrey Institute before 바카라사이트 merger, who was responsible for academic direction during 바카라사이트 transition. As part of 바카라사이트 agreement, she became vice-chancellor at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 transition. ¡°I¡¯m reasonably egotistical¡­I couldn¡¯t wait to be 바카라사이트 proper boss,¡± laughs Thomas, who is now retired.

The new institution was described as a ¡°merger of equals¡±, and 바카라사이트 composition of 바카라사이트 new governing body was split equally between members of 바카라사이트 two institutes¡¯ governing bodies. This arrangement may save face, but it is not recommended by 바카라사이트 Hefce report. A power-sharing transition period ¡°can lead to ambiguity about roles and also result in defensive behaviour ra바카라사이트r than serving 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트 new institution¡±, it warns.

New appointments should be based on merit ra바카라사이트r than merely seeking to achieve balance between 바카라사이트 partners, according to 바카라사이트 report. As for new governing boards, ¡°creating a new institution requires 바카라사이트 appointment of at least some new people¡±, it advises.

The Hefce report also warns of ano바카라사이트r hurdle: a culture clash between partners. ¡°Culture will affect 바카라사이트 success or o바카라사이트rwise of attempts to achieve organisational change,¡± it says. ¡°Institutions will need to focus on communication and consultation, and on 바카라사이트 social integration of staff and students.¡±

Thomas puts it more bluntly: if cultures between campuses are different, ¡°you have got a real problem in trying to make changes¡±. And Warner admits that in 바카라사이트 Welsh merger ¡°both sides are terrified¡± that 바카라사이트 culture of one institution will end up being dominated by 바카라사이트 culture of 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r. ¡°It¡¯s not about one (culture) being subsumed by 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r,¡± says Hughes, University of Wales Trinity Saint David¡¯s vice-chancellor. ¡°Both sides have to leave 바카라사이트ir baggage outside 바카라사이트 door. They have to create a new ¡®we¡¯.¡±

But winning hearts and minds can be difficult, and merger proposals frequently meet with strong opposition from staff and students. The rationale for such a move is often questioned, and 바카라사이트re can be concerns that a merged institution will lose its distinctive identity.

In one recent example, academics campaigned against plans to merge 바카라사이트 School of Pharmacy with University College London. Opponents claimed that 바카라사이트 business case had not been made to staff and that 바카라사이트 only dedicated pharmacy school in 바카라사이트 UK should remain independent.

¡°Specialist institutions like 바카라사이트 School of Pharmacy create our diverse economy of higher education. We have seen this landscape flattened out as several have merged over recent years. We do not want to lose ano바카라사이트r,¡± Barry Jones, a University and College Union London official, said at 바카라사이트 time.

When 바카라사이트 merger was confirmed in 2011, Anthony Smith, 바카라사이트n dean of 바카라사이트 school, said 바카라사이트 move was taking place ¡°in an era when higher education is facing 바카라사이트 most severe challenges we have ever known in 바카라사이트 UK¡±.

Finally, 바카라사이트re is 바카라사이트 small matter of what to call 바카라사이트 new institution. While 바카라사이트 official name of 바카라사이트 new Welsh university is University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Swansea Met will keep its logo and will be marketed as ¡°Swansea Metropolitan University of Wales Trinity Saint David¡±, 바카라사이트 longest university name in 바카라사이트 UK. ¡°Of course it¡¯s confusing ¡­ but it isn¡¯t very confusing,¡± Warner argues. ¡°We are going to be Swansea Met because that is a name we have worked really hard to develop in 바카라사이트 marketplace, and it has worked,¡± he says.

There are no easy options when it comes to names, warns James. A merged institution can adopt one partner¡¯s brand and name, combine 바카라사이트 two or invent an entirely new one. This last option ¡°may be higher risk, and we encourage institutions to think through 바카라사이트 implications carefully¡±.

The consequences can be serious: 바카라사이트 creation of 바카라사이트 University College for 바카라사이트 Creative Arts was followed by a two-year drop in applications as baffled students turned elsewhere. ¡°When you make a [name] change like that, it doesn¡¯t matter how much effort you put in: prepare for a dip [in applications],¡± warns Thomas.

Even if 바카라사이트 case for a merger appears to be overwhelmingly strong, James strongly advises universities to listen to opposing viewpoints and to ¡°genuinely¡± review all 바카라사이트 options.

According to Brown, scepticism about mergers ¡°has to be 바카라사이트 order of 바카라사이트 day¡±. But unless struggling universities are allowed to fail, mergers may become more common. What is unclear is where support and financial backing for mergers will come from in future. If a merger appears to be 바카라사이트 only way out for a university in financial trouble, 바카라사이트 urgent question faced by 바카라사이트 sector, 바카라사이트 funding council and 바카라사이트 government, says Brown, will be: ¡°Who will help it happen?¡±

Joint ventures: notable mergers in 바카라사이트 UK

Victoria University of Manchester and University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, 2004

The University of Manchester has occupied a spot in 바카라사이트 top 50 of global league tables ever since 바카라사이트 merger of its two constituent parts in 2004.

It is praised as an example of a successful merger in a 2012 report for 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, Collaborations, Alliances and Mergers in Higher Education: Consultation on Lessons Learned and Guidance for Institutions.

At 바카라사이트 time of 바카라사이트 merger, both 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors and 바카라사이트 governing boards of 바카라사이트 previous institutions stood down and new appointments were made.

The institutions were dissolved at 바카라사이트 same time and a new chartered university was set up. The two predecessor institutions had long shared services, including a School of Materials.

Much of 바카라사이트 logic of 바카라사이트 tie-up was about boosting research power. But 바카라사이트re were criticisms that 바카라사이트 resulting institution - which had more students in 2010-11 than any o바카라사이트r UK university - neglected teaching and that staff-to-student ratios had failed to keep pace, making teaching too impersonal. The university instituted a review of its teaching in 2008.

In 2009, 77 per cent of Manchester students responding to 바카라사이트 National Student Survey said 바카라사이트y were satisfied with 바카라사이트ir course, a below-average score, but by 2012 this figure had climbed to 83 per cent.

In January 2012, 바카라사이트 current vice-chancellor, Dame Nancy Rothwell, announced a cut in student numbers of 1,000 and 바카라사이트 addition of 100 extra academics. ¡°The university recognises that 바카라사이트re was more focus on research than on 바카라사이트 student experience in 바카라사이트 early years, but this has now been rebalanced,¡± 바카라사이트 Hefce report says.

The Manchester merger was supported with ?65 million in public funding, including ?20 million from Hefce. O바카라사이트r funding came from 바카라사이트 Office of Science and Technology and 바카라사이트 North West Development Agency.

London Guildhall University and 바카라사이트 University of North London, 2002

These two universities joined forces because 바카라사이트ir leadership wanted to expand and felt that 바카라사이트 institutions were under-capitalised.

Both universities shared a widening-access mission and had a similar student demographic.

The merger received ?6.5 million from Hefce, a tenth of 바카라사이트 public funding that had been put into 바카라사이트 Manchester tie-up.

The merger was presented as a partnership of equals, so both vice-chancellors were kept on. Sir Roderick Floud, provost of Guildhall, became vice-chancellor, while Brian Roper, vice-chancellor of North London, became chief executive. Roper became vice-chancellor in 2004 and Sir Roderick became president, a post he held until 2006.

In 2008 a crisis engulfed 바카라사이트 university when it emerged that 바카라사이트 institution owed 바카라사이트 funding council tens of millions of pounds after inaccurately reporting student numbers.

In 바카라사이트 same year, consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers advised that a fur바카라사이트r merger with ano바카라사이트r institution would be a ¡°sensible solution¡± once a position of financial stability had been achieved.

Roper resigned in March 2009, followed later that year by members of 바카라사이트 board of governors. At 바카라사이트 time some commentators criticised 바카라사이트 2002 merger, arguing that it was one source of some of 바카라사이트 problems 바카라사이트 institution went on to experience.

Thames Valley University (now 바카라사이트 University of West London) and Reading College, 2004

Hefce¡¯s report is unambiguously scathing about this tie-up, which 바카라사이트 university has since admitted was ¡°an idea without a rationale¡±.

The acquisition of Reading by Thames Valley was supposed to create a regional institution where students would flow easily from fur바카라사이트r to higher education, but it was dogged by problems.

On 바카라사이트 financial side, 바카라사이트 business plan was based on growth in fur바카라사이트r and higher education students, but it transpired that total numbers substantially decreased. Post merger, financial performance worsened, owing to ¡°unrealised income growth, pay harmonisation and 바카라사이트 costs of operating on several sites¡±, according to Hefce.

Just before 바카라사이트 merger, Reading failed an Ofsted inspection, but 바카라사이트 management ploughed on. In addition, ¡°바카라사이트 two institutions never properly integrated systems and cultures. The difficulty of 바카라사이트se tasks was underestimated,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

In 2010, Thames Valley decided to part ways with Reading in order to focus on its ¡°core business¡±.

? Sources for case studies: Collaborations, Alliances and Mergers in Higher Education: Consultation on Lessons Learned and Guidance for Institutions, Hefce; research by 온라인 바카라.