The proposed merger of Dundee and Abertay universities has been handled in the worst possible way, a top education expert has claimed.
Lord Sutherland gave the damning critique of what he described as “merger by fax” while giving evidence on higher education funding to MSPs at Holyrood.
He told the Scottish Parliament’s education committee: “I cannot think of a worse way of doing it it looks like merger by fax. How do you give five weeks to draw up a plan for two institutions with very divergent systems, very divergent strengths? And don’t forget, it’s the impact on Dundee as well as Abertay.”
Lord Sutherland said Dundee had achieved “high excellence” in life and medical sciences, building an international reputation in this area over a number of years.
Lord Sutherland, who has held roles as principal of King’s College London, vice-chancellor of the University of London and principal and vice-chancellor of Edinburgh University, added: “How is a merger of this kind, fixed up in five weeks apparently, going to affect that strategy which has been so successful?
“It takes time and it requires the agreement of the institutions, not an instruction that comes as a sort of veiled threat. I feel quite strongly about how it is being done.”
SFC chief executive Mark Batho had earlier told MSPs he had asked the universities to begin merger talks after Education Secretary Michael Russell demanded “substantial efficiency savings”.
He said Abertay University had been targeted for merger due to the “opportunity” presented by the current principal vacancy at the institution.
Former principal Bernard King retired earlier this year after an internal power struggle that saw him suspended from the university for a period.
“Our experience in the past has been that when you have a vacancy in principal that opens up an opportunity to look again at the balance of provision,” said Mr Batho.
“Our statutory duty is to secure coherent provision. It is not to keep particular institutions in their particular circumstances for forever and a day.”
Mr Batho added that duplication of nursing and law provision had also been identified as an area for possible rationalisation.
But he conceded that the SFC does not currently have the power to force the institutions to merge and that, in any case, mergers work best when they are entered into voluntarily.
He said: “We are clear in our minds that we don’t have the legal powers to enforce a merger, and on top of that we are aware that institutional mergers have a much greater chance of success if there are willing partners who recognise the opportunity.”
On the issue of timescale, Mr Batho said he believed “some pace” was required in the process.
Mr Russell revealed the possibility of mergers in the higher and further education sector earlier this month in a prelegislative white paper.
It also suggested the government could change the law to give it power to force institutions to implement mergers if necessary.
Mr Russell said: “I have made it clear that merger is not the only option there are a number of options that must be explored and at no time has anyone said they must merge.
“The timescales involved are driven solely by the need for Abertay to move in a reasonable time to allow the appointment of a new principal. It is only sensible that the institution considers its strategic future before that decision is taken.”
Labour’s Dundee-based MSP Jenny Marra said Lord Sutherland’s comments were evidence the government had “very poorly handled” the merger issue.
She added: “Mergers only work when they are about education, not saving money. Mark Batho was quite clear that the Scottish Government does not have the power to force a merger between universities.
“So if Abertay and Dundee universities don’t find any areas where they can offer better courses together, I expect the Scottish Funding Council will quietly drop this proposal at the end of October.”
Tory education spokeswoman Liz Smith said: “It is deeply worrying when respected figures like Lord Sutherland believe that the consultation process has been very badly handled and potentially damaging to the best interests of the two institutions.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat spokesman Liam McArthur added: “I hope the cabinet secretary will now reflect on the evidence given to the education committee and put an end to shotgun mergers and merger by fax.”