The Curtin Student Guild and Murdoch University Student Guild have launched Stop The Uni Merger, a joint campaign opposing the proposed merger of Curtin University, Murdoch University and the University of Western Australia.
The campaign comes amid growing concern about the WA Government’s consideration of a more than $1 billion university merger that would disrupt higher education in Western Australia for years to come.
Already, the Guilds have had hundreds of conversations with students, staff, parents and community members who are deeply concerned about what a merger would mean for WA. The message has been clear: opposition to this merger is strong, and it is growing.
Students are worried that a mega university would mean less choice, course cuts, staff cuts, weaker teaching quality and the loss of the distinct university communities that make WA’s higher education sector strong.
Curtin Student Guild President Dylan Storer said the proposed merger would be a costly mistake.
“This merger would be a billion-dollar government pet project that students and staff would be forced to live with for decades,” he said.
Murdoch Student Guild President Tshering Gyeltshen said students deserved more choice, not less.
“Public money should be invested into students, staff, housing and education quality, not poured into consultants, restructures and years of disruption,” he said.
The campaign will include student outreach, public advocacy and direct engagement with decision makers in the lead up to any formal government decision.
But to stop this merger, students, staff and the broader WA community need to make their voices heard.
Visit stoptheunimerger.au to sign up to the campaign, get updates and help send a clear message: WA needs investment in students, staff and education quality, not a billion-dollar merger that risks making universities bigger, less accountable and less connected to the communities they serve.