The union representing University of Canberra staff is eager for a merger with the Canberra Institute of Technology, declaring it would be an excellent outcome for students to bring the two tertiary education providers together.
But the unions representing staff at CIT are far less enthusiastic about the idea, with the union for the institute's teachers saying they were not interested in a takeover.
Australian Education Union ACT branch president Angela Burroughs said she would meet with Skills Minister Michael Pettersson and CIT representatives on Friday to discuss the issue.
"There have been no formal discussions or consultations with members to date," Ms Burroughs said.
"I know AEU members are passionately committed to providing high quality education and training for students of the ACT and the broader community. What they are not interested in is a 'takeover'."
Community and Public Sector Union ACT regional secretary Maddy Northam said the first reaction from staff at the institute was that now was not the right time for a merger.
"They don't need more confusion. Let's just keep our CIT in ACT government hands. Absolutely, there needs to be changes. No one disputes that. But having another organisation come in and take it over, it's not good news for anyone," Ms Northam told ABC radio.
National Tertiary Education Union ACT division secretary Lachlan Clohesy said a single front door to tertiary education in the territory would be an excellent outcome for students.
"UC and CIT have long-standing partnerships and have worked together on credit transfers and recognition of prior learning. This would build on that existing work. For a student, it is much easier to navigate these processes within a single organisation rather than going between two educational institutions," Dr Clohesy said.
"Dual-sector universities already combine vocational education and training and higher education interstate. At places like RMIT, Victoria University and Swinburne University this works well. It is not a new idea and may well be the best way forward for Canberra's students."
Dr Clohesy said the main questions that needed to be answered were whether the financial case could be made, how negative staff outcomes could be avoided and whether the governance structure was fit for purpose.
"The NTEU is currently consulting with UC and across the political spectrum on strengthening UC governance arrangements with sensible reform proposals," he said.
"We believe that reforms, if implemented, would make UC an exemplar of excellent university governance and can proceed prior to any decisions on the way forward for UC and CIT."
University of Canberra vice-chancellor Bill Shorten on Thursday said he supported a merger and would make the case to the ACT government, which is examining the governance of CIT.
"The point is I haven't invented the circumstances where there was a $30 million loss last year [at CIT]. I haven't invented the circumstance where you've lost two CIT CEOs," Mr Shorten said.
"You can ignore the news or you can deal with the news. I have learned that leadership is not just about telling people what they want to hear, but to say what is in the best interests.
"UC has turned a corner in the last 18 months. CIT is a jewel in the crown for the ACT educational system. They would preserve their own identity. ... Leave aside the personalities, it would just enrich, I think, the total academic and learning and industry offerings in the ACT."
The ACT Greens said they were open to the merger proposal if both students and staff at CIT and UC were fully consulted and backed it.
Opposition Leader Mark Parton said the Liberals would examine all options and had asked more questions of UC to understand the merger idea.
The Canberra Institute of Technology this month opened expressions of interest for voluntary redundancies as it moved to cut costs.
Margot McNeill this week announced she had resigned as chief executive and the board confirmed she would be paid a settlement of about $445,000.
A push for the University of Canberra to take over the embattled Canberra Institute of Technology has gained momentum, with the federal Education Minister, Jason Clare, declaring a merger should be considered.
