Finnish objection to merger go-ahead

More than 1,000 people in Finland have signed a petition against the merger of three of the country's top universities.

The Government has proposed to combine Helsinki University of Technology, the Helsinki School of Economics and the University of Art and Design Helsinki.

Some felt it was inappropriate to include the art institution in a new elite body designed to help improve Finland's economic competitiveness.

Others feared that the new university would suck higher education funding away from other institutions. The petition will be handed to the new Minister of Education this month.