Kent and Greenwich have announced they will be joining forces to create the UK’s first-ever ‘super-university’.
Both universities are planning to merge next year and have said their plan will be a ‘blueprint for other intuitions to follow’. The name of the establishment is yet to be made official, but the ‘London and South East University Group’ has been proposed.
News of the scheme comes as universities across England face severe financial strain. According to figures published in May, more than two in five higher education institutions forecast a deficit for 2024/25.
Against this backdrop, the Department for Education is expected to publish a White Paper in the next few weeks outlining plans for higher education reform.
Commenting on the news of the super-university, the Department said the collaboration ‘shows how strong partnerships in higher education can help enable delivery of world-class teaching and research whilst maintaining the best interests of students’.
The BBC have reported that while the universities are set to team up, the new institution will operate across existing campuses including Medway – where students from both Greenwich and Kent already share facilities.
In future, students will also continue to apply to study at either Kent or Greenwich University separately.
Professor Jane Harrington is set to become the UK’s first vice chancellor of such an establishment, though she already has the expertise given she currently works in the role at the University of Greenwich.
‘Our vision is to deliver education without boundaries, from city to coast,’ Professor Harrington said. ‘Combining the strengths of two proud institutions gives us great foundation to transform lives and unlock opportunity across London and the South East
‘Students will remain at the heart of everything we do, as we continue to provide innovative teaching, personalised support and a culture that celebrate individuality.’
Going forward, both Kent and Greenwich admit more detailed work on the merger needs to be completed but they have said a timescale of their proposals will be published by the end of this year/early 2026.
If the plans are accepted, the super-university would be up and running just before the beginning of the next academic year.
Photo by Iñaki del Olmo via UnSplash
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