Welsh university faces threat of dissolution

Education Minister Leighton Andrews last week announced plans to dissolve one of Wales’ universities if it fails to engage in merger talks, writes Gareth Evans for Western Mail.

The Welsh government will launch a consultation on the dissolution of Cardiff Metropolitan University – which strongly opposes joining a planned three-way collaboration. Andrews expects Cardiff Met to join Glamorgan and Newport – which are already engaged in merger talks – in forming a new ‘super’ institution by 2015. He said merger plans hatched by the university funding council involving eight campuses and more than 40,000 students remained “sound”.

Cardiff Met, which last week voted in favour of maintaining independence, said it was “disappointed” with the announcement and Andrews’ “failure to provide a single piece of evidence” to support the merger. Although the decision is subject to consultation, the minister said dissolution was the “likely course” that will unfold in southeast Wales.
Full report on the Wales Online site