Aston students vote for end to merger plans

Plans for a merger between Aston and Birmingham universities suffered a setback this week when Aston students signalled their opposition to the move.

Two-thirds of students voted for an end to merger negotiations at a forum to debate the proposals.

The results of the ballot are contained in a response from Aston Students' Guild to the university-wide consultation on the merger plans. The response paper says students at the forum expressed "grave concern" that "the unique Aston experience" would be lost in a merged institution.

The students shared worries expressed by Aston's senate over an "unsatisfactory" paper considering the pros and cons of a merger provided by Birmingham University, the paper says.

News of Aston students' opposition to the merger proposals could prove a significant stumbling block for Aston chiefs, who have said the plans are a "dead duck" if students and staff reject them.

Staff responses are being analysed and the results will be presented to Aston's council next Wednesday, when a decision is expected to be made on whether to proceed to the next stage of merger talks.

David Packham, Aston's secretary-registrar, said the university would take the students' vote into account, but that it had to be weighed against the views of "the whole Aston community".

Helene Patounas, president of Aston Students' Guild, said it seemed likely the merger talks would go ahead without student backing if staff were not strongly opposed to the plans.