First Minister Alex Salmond has repeatedly refused to deny that Dundee and Abertay universities will be forced to merge.
As The Courier prepared to launch a campaign to keep the two institutions separate and independent, the controversy also dominated Holyrood.
Labour leader Iain Gray launched a blistering attack on Education Secretary Michael Russell, insisting Abertay is on a ”hitlist” and due to be ”closed”.
During First Minister’s Questions he said: ”Let’s have the truth about which universities he has decided to close.
“I will give him a specific university cut. Abertay 550 staff and 5000 students. Their name is top of the list. Mike Russell is going to force them to merge with Dundee.”
Speculation has been building over the future of the two universities in the wake of a call by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) for Abertay to suspend its search for a new principal.
The Scottish Government has said it will seek powers to force through mergers if it believes they would make financial and educational sense. As one of the smallest universities in Scotland, Abertay has been seen as a potential target.
But the explicit allegation drew an angry response from Mr Salmond, who denied there would be ”closures” and accused Mr Gray of ”misrepresenting” the education secretary.
However, further questioned by Labour MSP Jenny Marra, the First Minister refused to rule out a merger between the two institutions.
”As I tried to point out a number of times, Iain Gray twice said that the cabinet secretary had proposed the closure of further and higher and university institutions,” he said.
”The cabinet secretary never did any such thing. He opened up the possibility of mergers as we’ve seen in the further and higher education sector, and indeed the university sector.”For extensive coverage of the future of the city’s universities, see Friday’s CourierAsked by The Courier to clarify the remarks, Mr Salmond’s official spokesman later confirmed a merger between the two universities is a ”possibility”.
He said: ”A merger is a possibility across the higher education sector but the allegation that was put today was one of closure and there will be no closures.”
Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick accused Labour of ”disgracefully talking up” the closure of Abertay, but said the universities should look at merging ”a number of functions”.
The Abertay graduate said: ”There has been no suggestion from the cabinet secretary or anyone apart from Labour’s failed leader that Abertay will close.
“They will not be thanked by the university or students for doing so and for seeking to use the future of the institution as a political football. It is too important for that.”
He added that the universities should be left to discuss how to secure a “bright future”. Mr FitzPatrick said that should include how to continue “the Abertay brand”, maintain student numbers, course choices and the quality of teaching and research.
But he added: “There is clearly an opportunity and imperative to look at the merger of a number of functions to preserve the frontline offer to students. That should be the priority rather than spending £1 million over five years to employ a new principal.
“I am confident that Dundee’s universities can rise to this challenge.”
Ms Marra, who worked at Dundee University before entering politics, will meet Mr Russell next week.’Uncertainty’She said: “The government has created a lot of uncertainty this week with its refusal to clarify their plans for Abertay. They need to put a stop to this uncertainty.”
She added: “Talk of mergers from Joe FitzPatrick is just smoke and mirrors. Any merger will mean that Abertay is effectively submerged. Abertay is critical to Dundee’s economy and for the education of hundreds of Dundonians who get an excellent education there.”
An Abertay spokesman confirmed the letter from the SFC had been received.
He said: “The letter makes no reference to merger or closure, so unless and until the government clarifies its position, court will consider its response in the context of the government’s white paper on post-16 education in Scotland, published last week.
“Court has also recently approved a new strategic plan for 2011-2015, which envisages Abertay continuing as ‘a vibrant and independent university developing across several crucial and exciting areas’. We believe this plan will equip us to make a unique contribution to achieving the government’s objectives.
“As with all its deliberations, court’s overriding concern is to do whatever is in the best interests of the 550 staff and 5700 students at Abertay.”
A government spokesman said: “We continue to discuss and listen to all options to further improve further and higher education. Where closer collaboration, partnership or merger between institutions supports those aims we want to explore them.
“Any mergers would be a matter for the SFC to take forward with relevant institutions.”
A Dundee University spokesman reiterated that no merger discussions had taken place.