00:00Two universities stood together in one campus, each a part of wider institutions, to become what they are calling the UK's first super university.
00:09Coming together under one structure, each will remain individual with their brand, identity and community presence.
00:16But with financial concerns in the past, leading to some courses being phased out, some question the reasoning of the announcement.
00:24So it's no secret that there's been lots of financial pressures for the University of Kemp, but also for many other universities in the sector.
00:30And we've seen universities respond to this in different ways.
00:34Again, you know, at the University of Kemp, we've had to make a number of changes to ensure that we're in a better financial position.
00:41But this new collaboration is about much more than that.
00:45So this is actually about how we can create new growth and opportunity that we can really make sure we're in a position that we've got security and resilience.
00:53And that enables us to continue that academic excellence and provision for our students.
00:59But also, we hope, provide our staff with more security, more certainty and better prospects in the future.
01:05Informed through email, some staff said they were also messaged over Teams.
01:09And others, including the MP, found out through social media and news outlets, leaving a feeling of uncertainty.
01:15I think, you know, I have regular meetings with the university.
01:18I have far more meetings with the university student, the union reps and the student union groups who have all been really concerned and really affected by all of the waves of redundancies that we've had over the last few years.
01:32It's often quite hard to get straight or direct answers from the university management.
01:38And yet again, this is going to make the staff and probably the students feel that everything is done behind closed doors.
01:44It's a public institution using public money and they really need to be more transparent.
01:49There was an all staff briefing at both institutions today.
01:52We know at the Kent briefing, no questions were taken, but there is a planned question forum for all staff tomorrow.
01:58It is quiet on the University of Kent Canterbury campus, as many students are still set to return from their summer holidays.
02:04But this morning, students and staff found out about the collaboration of the two universities.
02:09For those who have spoken to me, they've said that they've been left unsure what this means for them and their future.
02:15At the moment, it has no implications. For the next year, things will go on as usual.
02:21After that, we don't know. The whole sector is in a crisis, so I think it's safe to assume that all jobs are ever so slightly at risk across the sector in the UK.
02:38While there is said to be no changes for students, some on the campus see the prospects of the plans to help keep them studying in Kent.
02:45I'm part of the University of Kent, but my med school is already a collaboration between lots of different people, so I don't necessarily see it as a bad thing.
02:54The University has struggled previously, so I think it would be nice if that means that it can keep going.
03:00I walked into the lab this morning. My co-worker said that we're collaborating with them now, so I guess excited.
03:08We'll see. I'll pop over there, see what facilities they have and see if I can make use of it. Now that we collaborate, you know, it's only fair.
03:16If you combine two or three universities together and become one super uni, as I think it was scored on one of the posts, it would just have better management.
03:24If approved, it would be established for the academic year beginning autumn 2026.
03:29The change brings hope and concern for the future of Kent's higher education.
03:34Daisy Page for KMTV in Canterbury.
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