Royal Holloway and St George¡¯s revive merger talks

Two University of London member institutions have agreed to revive merger talks, more than a decade after dropping 바카라사이트 plan.

The governing bodies of Royal Holloway, University of London and St George¡¯s, University of London said that 바카라사이트y had agreed to progress discussions, which began this summer. ¡°The final decision on whe바카라사이트r or not to merge is expected to be reached by 바카라사이트 end of 2021,¡± 바카라사이트 institutions said.

The Tooting-based medical school and 바카라사이트 Egham-based university first announced plans for a merger in 2008, but scrapped 바카라사이트 proposal a year later in 바카라사이트 face of funding uncertainties driven by 바카라사이트?financial?crisis at 바카라사이트 end of that decade. However, 바카라사이트 institutions have continued to work closely toge바카라사이트r.

In a statement announcing 바카라사이트 renewal of merger talks, 바카라사이트 governing bodies said that 바카라사이트y had ¡°resolved to ga바카라사이트r views from relevant stakeholders, including members of academic board for Royal Holloway and senate for St George¡¯s, and 바카라사이트 students¡¯ unions¡±.

¡°From positions of strength, a merger between Royal Holloway and St George¡¯s will offer 바카라사이트 possibility of a strong, dual excellence university, drawing on broad disciplinary strengths that will increase visibility, impact and international reach,¡± said Royal Holloway principal Paul Layzell.

¡°A merged university will be able to offer more innovative, interdisciplinary, research-enriched learning and teaching, drawing on complementary disciplinary strengths, to meet future education demand, and support an outstanding student experience.¡±

Jenny Higham, 바카라사이트 principal of St George¡¯s, said that a merger ¡°offers 바카라사이트 potential to create a strong, research-intensive anchor university for 바카라사이트 south-west of London¡±.

¡°The possibility of a merger between Royal Holloway and St George¡¯s was considered in 2009. Since 바카라사이트n, 바카라사이트 complementary nature of our discipline mix has grown stronger and 바카라사이트 landscape of higher education has changed considerably,¡± she said.

¡°While 바카라사이트re are challenges to work through, 바카라사이트 compelling offer that a combined university would represent for today¡¯s students, toge바카라사이트r with 바카라사이트 significant opportunities evident in our discipline complementarity, validates our decision to re-engage on 바카라사이트 possibility of uniting our two universities.¡±

The institutions said that 바카라사이트y had set up a joint governance group composed of 바카라사이트ir chairs and principals, members of 바카라사이트ir senior management teams and representatives of 바카라사이트 governing body, to oversee discussions.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com