The Dunedin College of Education has approved in principle a merger with the University of Otago to reduce "ridiculous duplication" in teacher education.
University chancellor Eion Edgar and college council chairman Stan Duncan said yesterday that in the interests of teacher education, students and staff, a merger appeared to be the best option.
College principal Dr Roger Green emphasised any merger would require final approval by the college council later in the year. The Minister of Education's approval would also be needed, he said.
Dr Green could see many mutual benefits in closer links, including "reducing this ridiculous duplication and money that's spent on competition".
The college, which has about 200 full and part-time staff and more than 1200 students, would benefit from the University's marketing strength and access to its facilities in main centres throughout the country.
The university's school of education, which also runs teacher education courses, has about 20 staff and 300 equivalent full-time students.
Dr Green said college and university students would also benefit, including through more study options. College staff would get more research opportunities.
He acknowledged that "with any change people are apprehensive" but he was positive about prospects for staff.
He expected overall student numbers to rise, creating more demand for staff.
"It would be a really exciting development for the college, the university, the Otago-Southland region and for teacher education," he said.
The agreement in principle includes:
• Creation of a new division of education in the university, based on the current college campus.
• Protection of the college's name. It could be called "Dunedin College of Education at the University of Otago".
• Safeguards for students and staff at both institutions.
• Several more months of consultation, due diligence and detailed negotiations and planning before possible ratification, perhaps about October.
• If final approval is gained, the formal merger will begin next year with "full integration" in 2004.
This week, both governing councils met and considered proposals from a working party formed in October last year after the two institutions had signed a memorandum of agreement, signalling their wish to develop a "co-operative strategic partnership".
Having invited and received submissions from staff, students and community members, and after receiving recommendations from the working party, the two chief executives believed a merger of the two institutions should now be explored in detail, the institutions said.
Mr Edgar noted that four years ago, an independent working party had recommended a merger.
The college had not agreed and a period of intense competition followed.
"Now it is time to put that behind us and work closely together again, as we have for most of the past 125 years," he said.
Mr Duncan said that combining the experience, expertise and reputations of the institutions would potentially be of "immense benefit to current and future students".