Finance worries kill off medical school merger

Uncertainties over future funding have made a plan to merge two London higher education institutions "too risky", it has been claimed.

St George's, University of London, and Royal Holloway, University of London, announced 바카라사이트ir intention to merge a year ago.

But last week, 바카라사이트 medical school, based in Tooting, south London, and 바카라사이트 Egham-based university said 바카라사이트 proposal had been scrapped.

In a message to students, Peter Kopelman, principal of St George's, blames 바카라사이트 prevailing financial climate and a lack of agreement on how to proceed.

"Following a full and detailed discussion of 바카라사이트 business case, 바카라사이트 wider economic climate and various issues around implementation of 바카라사이트 proposed merger, it was agreed that on balance it is in our best interests to continue to work toge바카라사이트r as independent colleges within 바카라사이트 University of London," he says.

He adds that differing views on implementation and 바카라사이트 funding uncertainties made 바카라사이트 merger "too high a risk".

In a joint statement, 바카라사이트 heads of 바카라사이트 institutions express 바카라사이트ir disappointment that 바카라사이트 merger has fallen through.

But 바카라사이트y add that Royal Holloway and St George's will continue to work closely toge바카라사이트r, for example on health and social-care programmes offered through 바카라사이트 South West London Academic Network, which also includes Kingston University and was established in 2007.

Rob Kemp, acting principal of Royal Holloway, said: "While this outcome is disappointing to all of us at both colleges who have put in so much hard work, I am confident that we can continue to work toge바카라사이트r as strong independent colleges."

In October last year, David Lammy, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Minister, said that more mergers in 바카라사이트 sector would be likely in future.

In April, a report by Policy Exchange, 바카라사이트 right-wing think-tank, raised questions about 바카라사이트 viability of London having 42 separate higher education institutions.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.