Hands Off Abertay — student leader appeals for Tayside's support to fight university merger
Abertay University's student leader has written an open letter to the people of Tayside appealing for their support.
William Mohieddeen with the campaign poster.
- By Grant Smith, education reporter
- Published in the Courier : 26.09.11
- Published online : 26.09.11 @ 03.27pm
William Mohieddeen has asked that the public get behind the campaign to resist attempts by Scotland's higher education funding body to force through a merger between Abertay and Dundee University.
His letter coincides with the launch of a poster, bearing the message Hands Off Abertay, that students and their supporters will use in efforts to rally opposition to the proposal.
Mr Mohieddeen wrote: "To the people of Dundee city and the Tayside area, I write to you to appeal for your support of the University of Abertay Dundee Students' Association's opposition to moves made by the Scottish Funding Council to force Abertay University into merger with Dundee University through our campaign Hands Off Abertay.
"On September 23, it had been reported that the Scottish Funding Council had sent emails explicitly asking that Abertay and Dundee universities engage in merger talks and a decision be made in October. This form of inappropriate direction ordered from the SFC, we feel, is wholly wrong and unjustifiable.
"Abertay and Dundee are two very different but very successful, highly-celebrated institutions and are a credit to this city. The work, collaborations and teaching of both universities contribute to Dundee's celebrated reputation as a city of innovative discovery, creative excellence and high-impacting research.
"Dundee's universities pursue work in different ways but complement each other in a way of much benefit to the community. However, forced merger would have a very detrimental impact on Abertay's students and the Tayside community."
The campaign demands three commitments from the SFC and the Scottish Government — protecting access to higher education, protecting the learning environment at Abertay and protecting the contribution its students make to Dundee.
Supporters are being asked to sign a petition at www.handsoffabertay.co.uk.
03.57pm - 26.09.2011 Student - Fife, Scotland Report This
First it was scrapping student debts, then it was changing loans to grants. Students have now had their ears boxed by another SNP low blow, the disappearance of their University.
04.02pm - 26.09.2011 Cory Douglas Campbell - Maryfield, Scotland Report This
Abertay Supporters...Get registered to vote here in Dundee for the next election. Vote out the SNP and send a clear message to Holyrood & Westminister........ HANDS OFF ABERTAY! Go online, register and get ready to Save Abertay!
06.15pm - 26.09.2011 RJ - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Couldn't back the campaign more! The SNP government have really let students down with this hatchet-job of a spending cut!
10.09pm - 26.09.2011 Stuart Allan - Dundee, Scotland Report This
I went to Abertay when it was Bell St Tech. Never knew why it had to change and don't see what the problem is here. Even if the Uni's merge, Abertay will still exist. It will be backroom functions that get shared. Everything else is scaremongering. I sense a desperate Labour Party at the back of it.
03.30am - 27.09.2011 Jay - Manchester , England United Kingdom Report This
Wow, I went to Dundee Uni two decades ago. How can these young people be expected to have faith in politicians when they do things like this? Politicians only know one message so don't vote SNP again and that will teach them. The power is yours..... Use it.
01.41pm - 27.09.2011 Elderlie - Edinburgh, UK Report This
@ Stuart. If you honestly think that this opposition is Labour only then my friend you are seriously deluded. And if you do live in Dundee as you say then you should back The Courier's campaign, because the threat will be to others across Scotland.
05.35pm - 01.10.2011 Jimbo - Glenrothes, Fife Report This
I agree with Stuart. Scotland simply isn't big enough to run 16 government universities. Cutting back to one per city is more than adequate.
06.35pm - 02.10.2011 Proved Right - Edinburgh, Scotland Report This
If this was such a good idea then why wasn't it an issue 16 months or so ago? The reason it is an issue now is because Swinney's numbers don't add up. The 'scaremongers' were right about the shortfall. Salmond said he could fund the gap without any mention of mergers. Get on with it then.
06.41pm - 02.10.2011 vi - Dundee, UK Report This
@ Jimbo Given it's open season on FE institutions, I vote for Adam Smith college closing. Satisfied?
11.49pm - 03.10.2011 Jimbo - Glenrothes, Fife Report This
Adam Smith isn't a university, and is already the outcome of the merger of two Fife colleges. I'd be satisfied with my original comment, which says nothing of closing. I also include St Andrews in the Abertay and Dundee collective, probably HQ'd in Dundee. Satisfied?
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