Teachers' college merges with Victoria next year

Wellington College of Education will merge with Victoria University from January.

The Government yesterday approved the amalgamation, in which the the 124-year-old Karori institution will become the university's fourth campus.

Victoria's vice-chancellor, Stuart McCutcheon, and college head Dugald Scott said the institutions had already phased in joint programmes and changes since signing a partnership deal three years ago.

There would be no job losses and few extra costs apart from rebranding. The move will create a university of more than 20,000 students and about 3000 staff.

The merger also includes $6 million to improve the new education faculty's research, said Dr Scott, now Victoria's first pro vice-chancellor education.

The college ranked second to last in recent tertiary research ratings.

"We are delighted that together we can now focus on delivering research-led teaching that provides a broader academic preparation for students and elevates teacher education to the status it deserves," said Professor McCutcheon.

The college, formerly Wellington Teachers' Training College, was founded in 1880. Former students include Education Minister Trevor Mallard, poet James K. Baxter, cricketer Jeremy Coney, playwrights Bruce Mason and Roger Hall, and Maori leader Sir Tipene O'Regan.

The Wellington merger follows that of Auckland College of Education and Auckland University. Dunedin's teachers' college and Otago university are considering merging.

Tertiary Education Minister Steve Maharey said such mergers were logical as teaching grew in status as a profession. He expected all colleges of education would eventually join with universities.

- NZPA