Merger of the Universities of Adelaide and South Australia

[Llessur2002]

Thought it was a time for a single thread for merger-related news to replace the existing UniSA and UoA threads and create a new Thread for the Future(TM).

Looks like the upper house support has been secured and it's all systems go from here on:

The much-vaunted merger of the universities of Adelaide and South Australia will go ahead because the state government has secured crucial upper house support.

Premier Peter Malinauskas on Wednesday morning will announce crossbenchers Sarah Game and Connie Bonaros will back legislation, to be introduced to parliament tomorrow.

The move follows backing from a key parliamentary committee on Tuesday, which said the merger would advance the state’s economic and social interests.

From: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/south-au ... 5b51093ee7]

[Llessur2002]

Update on the concessions required for the cross-bench support - Flinders seem to be getting a pretty good deal out of this too:

As part of the deal to gain the support of Ms Game and Ms Bonaros, the government indicated it would support the recommendations of the committee. That includes $40m more funding for Flinders University and an extra $20m for a student support fund for the new university to ensure a focus on students from regional South Australia."

[abc]

Ms Game

[Llessur2002]

A joint statement was released by the Vice-Chancellors this morning:

This is a significant moment in our shared histories with the passing of state legislation to establish a new Adelaide University.

This represents one of the most important steps to date in realising our ambitious vision for a contemporary, for-purpose university that will be truly transformative for future generations of learners and researchers, and the state of South Australia.

The path to today has been extensive. Following a comprehensive six-month feasibility assessment, parliamentary inquiry and State Parliament consideration and debate, the Adelaide University Act that will serve as the foundation of our new institution has now been passed.

We would like to thank our parliamentarians and the parliamentary Joint Committee for their confidence in our roadmap forward – to create a future-focused university that will produce graduates who are in global demand, while prioritising the needs of our local industries and communities through skills development and innovation through world-leading research.

We have absolute clarity of purpose. Knowledge-based transformation leading to sustainable growth of a new Australian university that will consistently feature in the world’s top 1% is a compelling reason to exist. However, we acknowledge the responsibility and weighty task ahead of us – to deliver on our bold vision for the sector and state, and to open our doors come 1st January 2026. We believe in the talent and capability of our university community to get this done – drawing on our depth of expertise and experience and bolstered by our many partners and friends.

The passing of legislation through the State Parliament is a key enabler to the creation of a combined Adelaide University, which must now be proclaimed for the Act to come into operation and for the future institution to exist. Further to proclamation, there are a number of steps we must still take before we can become a new, fledging university. This includes, but is not limited to:

• population of the Adelaide University Transition Council
• approval of the new university’s Strategic Plan
• necessary regulatory approvals (TEQSA, CRICOS, ESOS and HESA registrations).

Looks like all systems are go.

[NTRabbit]

I for one am shocked to learn that the biggest winner out of all this will be the developers that the government are flogging off "excess" Uni land in Mawson Lakes and Magill to, utterly shocked

[ChillyPhilly]

I for one am shocked to learn that the biggest winner out of all this will be the developers that the government are flogging off "excess" Uni land in Mawson Lakes and Magill to, utterly shocked

If I was a local resident or student of UniSA Mawson Lakes that makes use of the sports grounds, I would be livid.