When Gabbi completed her second year of International Development at the University of Adelaide, she made a deliberate decision to transition to part-time study for her final year. Her plan to balance work, savings, and personal time was disrupted by an unexpected email in February.
“I got an email from the university saying essentially my degree ceases to exist, that my degree becomes a Bachelor of Arts majoring in International Development, not the straight Bachelor of International Development,” Gabbi explained. Additionally, her minor in gender studies was also altered. “They essentially told me that my minor will not be recognised. However, the credits will be transferred … I didn’t want to be stripped of my minor. I put lots of effort into my minor,” she said.
Gabbi is among tens of thousands of students at the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia facing significant changes as the institutions merge to form Adelaide University by the beginning of next year. This merger, effective from December 19, will create one of the largest higher education institutions in the nation, projected to serve 70,000 students and 11,000 staff.
Impact on Students and Staff
The merger, announced in July last year, is expected to contribute $500 million annually to South Australia’s economy. However, as the two-year process of merging the universities nears completion, many students, particularly those in arts and niche subjects, are facing disruptions. UniSA Student Association president Oliver Shephard-Bayly voiced concerns about the impact on students’ academic paths.
“We’re really concerned to hear that some students … will have their course greatly disturbed and changed going into the new university,” Mr. Shephard-Bayly said.
He highlighted uncertainties around course delivery locations, the extent of face-to-face teaching, and delays in study plans. Adelaide University acknowledged changes to most degrees, stating these adjustments are designed to meet industry needs.
Support and Transition Challenges
Adelaide University stated that more than 37,000 personalized study plans have been issued, with all students expected to receive their plans before December enrollments. A dedicated Student Transition Support team has been established to address individual inquiries. However, the transition is not without its challenges for teaching staff.
Dr. Andrew Miller, SA secretary of the National Tertiary Education Union, criticized the communication over course integration as “clear as mud.” He noted the distress caused by the 2026 timetable, which has left many long-standing courses unaccounted for.
“There are people that have run courses in their foundational university for many years that have found, without consultation, have vanished from sight,” Dr. Miller said.
The merger’s rapid timeline, following legislative approval in November 2023, has added pressure on staff to integrate approximately 1,700 systems, raising concerns about adequate testing and problem-solving time.
Future Prospects and Negotiations
Despite the challenges, Adelaide University claims to be meeting all major milestones. It has implemented additional staff resources and encouraged a focus on essential activities to ease the transition. A draft timetable was shared with academic staff for feedback on necessary adjustments.
Negotiations are ongoing for an enterprise agreement to harmonize pay rates across the new university. Dr. Miller emphasized the urgency of finalizing this agreement by December 19, highlighting disparities in pay for similar roles.
Gabbi, while acknowledging the potential benefits of the merger, expressed relief at completing her degree under the current system. “I understand that there’s a lot of effort on the teams within the university to bring this transition to be smooth,” she said. “However, I’ve unfortunately and many others have faced lots of bumps in the roads and we’ve been caught in the crossfire.”
As Adelaide University prepares for its official launch, the focus remains on ensuring a seamless transition for both students and staff, while addressing the ongoing concerns and challenges that have emerged during this significant restructuring.
