Creating a university for the future

The University of South Australia (UniSA) and the University of Adelaide (UoA) have agreed to undertake a formal feasibility assessment including development of a business case for the creation of a new university for the future.  At this point, no decision has been made by the respective Councils to create a new university.

This step has been taken in response to the Government of South Australia’s higher education policy calling for the consideration of a merger between universities in order to strengthen the contribution of higher education to the growth of the economy and society. The universities signed a Statement of Cooperation with the State and Federal Governments which sets out the commitment of the South Australian Government, the Australian Government, the Council of UniSA and the Council of the UoA to work together towards the next phase of the creation of a new university for the future in South Australia.

A university for the future would have a shared vision to create Australia’s new for purpose university - a leading contemporary comprehensive university of global standing. It would be dedicated to ensuring the prosperity, well-being, and cohesion of society by addressing educational inequality through its actions and through the success and impact of its students, staff, and alumni. Partnered with the communities it serves, it would conduct outstanding future-making research of scale and focus.

If the business case is approved, necessary support is provided, and legal and regulatory approvals are obtained, the universities have also agreed to a number of governance and related matters. These are as follows:

• The combined university is intended to be operational from January 2026.
• There would be no net job losses as a consequence of creating the combined university.
• The combined university would be called ‘Adelaide University’. A new brand would be developed for the combined university informed by market testing and brand experts, careful consideration of the appropriate recognition of the legacies of both institutions and the preservation of the favourable profiles of the existing institutions.
• The combined university would be created and governed by legislation modelled in large part on the University of South Australia Act.
• The respective Councils of the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide would continue to govern their respective universities until such time as the new university commences operation.
• A Transition Council would be created with up to 14 members plus a Chancellor. Each existing university would nominate 50% of the members of the Transition Council.
• The University of South Australia would nominate the Chancellor of the Transition Council subject to consultation with the University of Adelaide.
• The Transition Council would determine the process and time frame to identify and appoint a new Chancellor for the combined university whose term would commence no later than on the commencement of the second year of operation of the combined university.
• The Transition Council would also commence and oversee an open and competitive process to appoint a Vice-Chancellor for the combined university.
• A co-leadership model would be implemented initially, with the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide each appointing one of two co-Vice Chancellors.
• The-co-leadership model would operate until the appointment and commencement of a Vice-Chancellor for the combined university.

If a decision to amalgamate is made, the Councils of the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide have agreed that the combined university would be called Adelaide University.

If there is a decision to establish a new university, it is intended to be operational from 1 January 2026. 

The Councils of the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide have determined that the strategic ambitions of both institutions could be furthered, faster, by harnessing the best of both organisations.

We believe a combined institution would possess the scale to sustain a Top 100 university ranking in the long term, would be a stronger magnet for the best research, teaching and student talent, and demonstrate clearly that excellence and equity are not mutually exclusive but synergistic. Combining the strengths of our institutions would unlock enormous benefits and ensure that we are future fit and adaptable to the increasingly changing and competitive higher education landscape.

While no decision to amalgamate has been made yet, the universities are now conducting a detailed feasibility assessment for decision by the Council no later than the end of June 2023.

The State Government has committed to working with the two universities to secure the necessary financial investment, including with the assistance of the Federal Government, to support the new university.

No decision to amalgamate has been made yet. The universities are now undertaking a detailed feasibility assessment.  Any change will take time and will not happen quickly. The universities are engaging in detailed due diligence and planning in order to bring a business case to their Councils in the middle of 2023. If there is a decision to proceed and legal and regulatory approvals are obtained, the new university is intended to be operational from 1 January 2026.

The feasibility assessment phase is anticipated to run for approximately six months from January 2023. It will examine the potential financial, infrastructure, operational and various other implications of combining the universities, as well as legal, regulatory and legislative considerations. 

Contributions from staff, students, unions and the broader university community will also be sought during this six-month feasibility assessment period.

At the end of the feasibility assessment period, the business case will be presented to the two university Councils for consideration and potential approval to proceed further.

Note that a decision to proceed to form a new university is subject to the outcomes of the feasibility assessment and due diligence, including consideration of appropriate resourcing and government investment to ensure a financially sustainable future university.

The combined university would ultimately be formed through legislation of the South Australian Parliament. It would also be subject to legal and regulatory approvals.

Until a decision is made, nothing changes. The University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide will continue to deliver quality education and research, engage with the communities they serve and produce outstanding graduates.

Both universities have always remained open to the idea of re-engaging on this opportunity, and to learning from previous endeavours. While an amalgamation of our universities has been considered seriously in the past, the environment we find ourselves in today is vastly different. Foremost in this is the policy position of the State Government and its preparedness to invest significantly for success. There is an opportunity now to create something new, stronger, and unique for the State.

Recent years have highlighted the potential fragility of our sector and the constant need to adapt, and, in that light, we must think to the future and explore how best to serve our students, staff and partners, and what is possible to ensure future sustainable growth.  The strong and constructive working relationship of the two institutions, coming together at this time has furnished a clearly defined and agreed mission and ambition of what a university for the future could provide for the State, achievable through a synergistic, trusted, and respectful large-scale partnership.

There will be many opportunities during March and April 2023 to have input in the course which may be charted for a potential Adelaide University. Should the Councils decide to progress with the creation of a new institution (post-July), there will be a transparent and open process of co-creation and engagement – the participation of our staff, students, alumni and stakeholders in this process will be crucial to future success.

There are a significant number of considerations to work through, as this would represent one of the largest changes to higher education in Australia undertaken over the past three decades.  Not all the answers to the many questions people will understandably have will be available in the first instance, but we are committed to providing updates regularly.

The two universities are also committed to engaging their communities in shaping the attributes of the new university, with the intent of catalysing the creation of the dynamic and inclusive culture that would be at the heart of the ambitions for a university for the future.

The two current universities and their programs would continue to operate until the new university becomes operational.

The ambition of the new university is to create an outstanding student experience, among the very best in Australia, and it will ensure that the continued focus on high quality teaching is informed by leading research and supported by industry placements, entrepreneurial opportunities and professional experience.

There is an equally strong ambition to ensure that the new university is a leader in equitable access and provides education of a global standard to students from all backgrounds.

As detailed planning is undertaken, there will be regular consultation and communication with students.

A new university, if it is to be progressed, is not anticipated to be operational before January 2026. In considering this opportunity, we are committed to no net job losses as a consequence of establishing the new university. We aim to create a stronger, sustainable, and comprehensive future university for South Australia. If we proceed to create a new university for the future, it will be with the ambition of creating a new institution with an increased workforce, and new opportunities for career development for both academic and professional staff would be created through the new, larger and more sustainable new institution.

If a decision is made to proceed, it is intended that the two current universities would continue operating up to the commencement of the new university’s operation and with existing employment arrangements remaining in place.  It is the intention that a new enterprise agreement would be developed for the new university.

There will be extended opportunities for consultation and co-creation with the staff, alumni and students from both current universities as we move through the feasibility assessment phase. We look forward to working and engaging with our staff and community through these opportunities.

The University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide will continue to operate, led by the existing Councils and leadership. Should a decision to create the new university be made, the two universities would work in partnership during this period, together with Government, to plan and implement arrangements for its creation.

At this point in time, no decision to amalgamate and to create the university for the future has been made and the two institutions will continue to operate as they do currently.

Alumni will always identify with the institution they attended as a student, while recognising that universities change and evolve over time. For example, Roseworthy became a part of the University of Adelaide and the SAIT and SACAE gave rise to UniSA in years past. From 2026, it is foreshadowed that registered alumni of the two universities would join the Adelaide University alumni community and be eligible to receive a new testamur of acknowledgement from Adelaide University, if they wish. 

A combined university would draw on the collective strengths of the existing universities, aiming to recognise and preserve their outstanding legacies. Adelaide University would be positioned as a university for the future with a strong global reputation able to adapt to the increasingly complex, competitive and changing higher education landscape. We believe the new university would attain an even stronger reputation than its two fine precursors and from 2026, it is foreshadowed that registered alumni of the two legacy universities would join the Adelaide University alumni community and our intention is that they will be eligible to receive a new testamur of acknowledgement from Adelaide University, if they wish. 

If the Adelaide University is established, it is anticipated that the Council of the University would commence a best-practice process to establish a new brand, including a logo and other branding elements. This brand would be informed by market testing and brand experts and would seek to recognise and build on the legacies of the existing universities. 

While the drivers behind global university rankings are complex, and there are no simple prediction measures for future performance, the new university would work to ensure the best possible standing in research, teaching quality and reputation and aim to be among the highest-ranked institutions in Australia. On its formation, it is anticipated that it would be among the top 1% globally, and its combined strength would ensure its long-term global standing as a university of choice. We believe the new university would attain an even stronger reputation in the medium to long term than its two fine precursors. 

If one or both University Councils resolve not to amalgamate, this decision will be communicated to the State government. The government has previously indicated that it would await the decision of the Councils before determining whether it would proceed with the establishment of a Merger Commission as outlined in its higher education policy. 

The universities are incredibly grateful to those individuals who have chosen to leave a gift in their will. It would be the intention for any legislation which would create a university for the future to have provision for honouring and transferring bequests made to the former institutions. The university for the future would be required to apply the bequest to the purpose for which it was accepted. There is precedent for this - when the amalgamations of South Australian institutions occurred in the 90s, deeds of gift and testamentary dispositions referring to the former institutions were specifically referenced in the relevant statutes as automatically transferring to the new or other institution upon amalgamation.

The universities are grateful for the ongoing support and generosity of our donors. It would be the intention for any legislation which would create a university for the future to have provision for honouring and transferring gifts made to the former institutions. This would apply to gifts received in the past or endowed, as well as gifts which have been pledged but not yet completely fulfilled. The university for the future would be required to apply the gift or endowment to the purpose for which it was accepted. The university for the future is intended to have Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status, and so the tax status of any gift would not be expected to be affected.