Dundee University says it is willing to discuss ”enhanced collaboration” with Abertay University.
Its statement on Monday offered no detail about what that might mean, but insisted it was not committed to any outcome and expected any talks to be kept confidential.
The announcement came as Abertay University Students’ Association called for renewed efforts to prevent a merger. It also emerged Abertay management have met officials from the Scottish Funding Council, which suggested merger talks.
Dundee University court, the governing body of the institution, met on Monday to discuss the letters it has received from the council.
A spokesman said: ”The court expressed concern over the manner in which this matter had been handled to date, particularly the public leaking of the initial correspondence and the unrealistic timescale suggested for discussions.
”The university has a strong history of developing collaborations across a wide range of its activities and has always been happy to discuss partnerships and collaborations where they have potential to create opportunities and benefits.
”The court decided that the university should be prepared to take part in talks on enhanced collaboration with Abertay, provided all parties were willing to do so, and in the context of the Scottish Government’s pre-legislative paper on post-16 education in Scotland.”
”The university is not committing itself to any particular outcome from these discussions and expects any talks to be held in strictest confidence.”
The spokesman added that the court remained ”acutely aware” of the different missions of the two universities and how these impacted on their nature and character.
There were many aspects to what made Dundee University distinctive and which had established its reputation and profile at home and abroad.
”Court is clear it would not be prepared to see these lost as the result of any discussions regarding potential collaborations,” he said.
Meanwhile, Abertay University confirmed it was in talks with the Scottish Funding Council last week.
A source had claimed that the SFC was seeking a ”quick win” on the merger proposal, with the universities set to remain independent in name only and facing job losses and department closures. Staff morale was described as being at an all-time low.
However, an Abertay spokesman said: ”This view of the meeting is completely inaccurate and does not bear any relation to either the tone or content of what was discussed.
”The meeting was the first of a series of meetings that the SFC will be having with ourselves and Dundee University, both separately and jointly, over the next week or two.
”These meetings are preparation for the ‘Tayside Conversation’ that the cabinet secretary for education wishes to take place with the aim of thoroughly reviewing all aspects of post-16 education provision in Tayside.”
The spokesman said the SFC had characterised Abertay’s suggestions as measured, reasonable and positive, and the university expected that discussions would continue in this vein.
He added: ”Mergers, job losses and the fate of the Abertay ‘brand’ were not discussed at all in last week’s meeting.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said it was for individual institutions and the SFC to discuss any possible mergers.