ECA merger moves a step closer
A planned merger between the Edinburgh College of Art and the University of Edinburgh has moved a step closer today with the award of a £13.8m grant by the Scottish Funding Council.
The proposed tie up still has to receive the blessing of the Scottish Parliament but with public funding secured the chances of an eventual pairing are greatly increased.
Nevertheless education secretary Mike Russell expressed has “regret” over the merger, stressing that the move had been prompted not just by “compelling” academic reasons but “very significant weaknesses” in ECA’s financial management.
For their part ECA staff have said that they expect the move to attribute a greater research focus to their work.
In a statement Edinburgh University affirmed that both organisations would retain their respective names and brand identities following the merger.