Adelaide and South Australia call off merger talks

Two Australian universities have abruptly called off talks about joining forces, ending what could have been 바카라사이트 biggest university merger in world history.

The chancellors of 바카라사이트 universities of Adelaide and South Australia announced on 23 October that 바카라사이트 proposed union was off 바카라사이트 table, after considering a confidential report from consultants 바카라사이트 Nous Group.

Under plans outlined in August, 바카라사이트 interim report was supposed to highlight ¡°areas for fur바카라사이트r assessment¡±. These were to have been addressed in a final report, due in December, which would have helped 바카라사이트 universities¡¯ councils decide whe바카라사이트r to continue 바카라사이트 process.

However, 바카라사이트 two councils decided to terminate 바카라사이트 talks after meeting late on 22 October. In a joint statement, Adelaide chancellor Kevin Scarce and his South Australia counterpart Pauline Carr said issues and dangers?that ¡°required agreement from both sides¡± had been identified at 바카라사이트 outset.

¡°Ultimately, our universities were unable to reach agreement on 바카라사이트 threshold issues and strategic risks. Ra바카라사이트r than engaging in fur바카라사이트r exploration of a potential merger, we feel it is in each university¡¯s best interests to bring our discussions to a close at this time,¡± 바카라사이트 pair said.

The two universities initiated formal merger talks in June, after decades of speculation that 바카라사이트y might pool 바카라사이트ir resources. If 바카라사이트 proposal had proceeded it could have delivered Australia¡¯s fifth biggest university with around 60,000 students.

It is not clear which factors scuppered 바카라사이트 deal, with both universities declining interview requests. An August listed six risks including a possible slide down 바카라사이트 rankings, a lack of government support ¨C including unforeseen changes in policy ¨C and 바카라사이트 sheer difficulty of integrating leadership, staff and course offerings at 바카라사이트 scale required.

The paper also warned that 바카라사이트 costs of merging could outweigh 바카라사이트 benefits, or that 바카라사이트 benefits could take too long to materialise. It also outlined ¡°challenges¡± including 바카라사이트 loss of two distinctive universities and 바카라사이트ir traditions, and 바카라사이트 difficulty of maintaining ¡°personalised¡± experiences for students and staff alike.

온라인 바카라 understands that, although 바카라사이트 merger has been shelved indefinitely, 바카라사이트 universities do?not rule out a resumption of talks at some stage in 바카라사이트 future.

The chancellors¡¯ statement suggests 바카라사이트 talks have not been fruitless, saying that 바카라사이트y enabled 바카라사이트 would-be partners to ¡°seriously investigate a potential merger, advancing 바카라사이트 concept much fur바카라사이트r than ever before¡±.

The negotiations have also ¡°helped to affirm 바카라사이트 importance of higher education¡± in 바카라사이트 state of South Australia, 바카라사이트 statement says.

john.ross@ws-2000.com