Education
UK’s first ‘super-university’ to be created as two merge from 2026
Branwen Jeffreys Education editor
Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesThe UK’s first “super-university”, stretching across an entire region, is to be created through the merger of the universities of Kent and Greenwich, the BBC has learned.
Under the proposed name of London and South East University Group, the single institution will have one vice-chancellor from the academic year starting in autumn 2026.
The Office for Students, England’s higher education regulator, welcomed the move and suggested more universities may explore similar options as they battle economic challenges, with 40% of English universities now believed to be in financial deficit.
But the University and College Union told the BBC there would “almost certainly” be redundancies as a result.
UCU’s general secretary Jo Grady says that what is being described as a merger is “a takeover by Greenwich” as Kent was on “the brink of insolvency”.
“I also think this is a broader problem for the sector. Both of these institutions should have been on the government’s radar, and rather than stepping in, we’re seeing that this is how a crisis is managed. This isn’t offering stability to students, to staff or to the sector”, Ms Grady added.
The Department for Education (DfE) said ministers “welcome innovative approaches such as this one”.
This is the first merger of its scale in the UK with the total number of students in the new institution reaching almost 50,000. Smaller mergers like the amalgamation of three colleges within the University of the Highlands and Islands network have happened previously.
The new university will operate across the existing campuses, including in Medway, where students from both Greenwich and Kent already share facilities, including the library.
Kent has one other campus, in Canterbury, about 30 miles (48km) from Medway.
Greenwich has two other campuses, one on the banks of the River Thames in Greenwich itself about 28 miles (45km) from Medway, and the other in Avery Hill, south-east London, about 24 miles (38km) from Medway.
The universities said the combined institution will provide a strong financial foundation to weather the economic challenges facing universities now and in the future.
Speaking exclusively to the BBC, the vice-chancellors of both universities insisted the move was not a takeover, nor driven by a financial crisis for either, although they argued the new university model would be “resilient and financially viable”.
Prof Georgina Randsley de Moura will remain the interim leader of Kent until the merger, when Prof Jane Harrington, who runs Greenwich, will become the vice-chancellor of the new institution.
Prof Randsley de Moura said the “trailblazing model” would enable the universities within the new group to retain their name, identity and campuses.
Prof Harrington said the universities had worked together on the Medway campus for 20 years and now wanted to go further to contribute to the economy across London and the South East.
“This is about taking the best of both universities and saying what do we want to offer to our communities,” she said.
BBC/Branwen JeffreysFor students, there will be no visible change, with applications continuing as normal to each institution and degrees awarded in the name of Kent or Greenwich.
Prof Harrington said she could tell students “absolutely categorically” they could complete any course they are already enrolled on, including those starting university this autumn.
The universities said there are no immediate plans for job losses, but both have had to make recent cuts.
After hearing the news, some staff in Canterbury this morning told the BBC that it felt “very last minute” and they were concerned for jobs.
Researcher Jack Davis said it was a bit too early to know exactly what it means in terms of restructuring but he could see the benefits of collaborating.
“If other institutions have other bits of kit, it might mean we’re able to foster relations and maybe do experiments there too”, he said.
In May, Greenwich confirmed it was cutting the equivalent of 15 full-time posts by August.
Kent has already started winding down some courses to reduce costs as it posted a deficit for another year in 2024.
The planned merger is likely to provoke anxiety about long-term prospects among staff.
Prof Harrington said she recognised there would be concern about posts, and said they would be saving costs by reducing senior roles.
Across England, job losses at many institutions over the last couple of years have been adding up, with the University and College Union (UCU) estimating the overall number of posts cut is about 5,000.
Mergers, once rare, have become more common, with City St George’s created from two separate parts of the University of London last year.
Most others have involved smaller or specialist institutions.
Alex Stanley from the National Union of Students said these decisions were being made to run universities efficiently and as a result, students were facing cuts to courses and staff ratios were getting worse.
“What we’re seeing with the tuition fee increase coming around the corner, is that students are being asked to pay more for less,” he said.
The plans unveiled on Wednesday are on a bigger scale, with two universities offering a full range of courses and spread over a wider geographical area.
The merger will be watched with interest by other universities looking at ways to collaborate to stabilise their finances.
Tuition fees have increased to £9,535 this academic year, but the real value to universities has fallen because of rising costs since the big uplift 13 years ago increased fees from just over £3,000 to £9,000 a year.
In the last academic year, the number of applications from international students, who pay higher fees, was 16% lower than universities had hoped.
It followed visa restrictions introduced in 2024 which prevented international students bringing family members.
Vivienne Stern, from Universities UK, said the merger was significant, and a sign of how universities were thinking differently.
She said the “slow erosion” of university finances needed to be stopped and the government “was needed on the pitch pretty fast” with longer-term solutions.
Those government plans for the future funding of universities in England are expected later this autumn.
Ministers have already said they are looking at applying a 6% tax on income from international students.
A DfE spokesperson said: “This collaboration shows how strong partnerships in higher education can help enable delivery of world-class teaching and research whilst maintaining the best interests of students.”
Any change on this scale has to be overseen by the OfS, which regulates universities in England, and makes sure students’ studies are not disrupted.
“In any merger, effective communication with students will be crucial,” a spokesperson said.
“Current students will continue to study for the courses they signed up for, and should continue to expect excellent teaching and support.”
Education
Harnessing AI thoughtfully will be critical to prepare for tomorrow’s workforce, says US Education Secretary Linda McMahon: Here’s what students must learn
The American classroom is standing at a historic crossroads. For decades, the defining debates in education were about funding formulas, standardized tests, and curriculum design. Now, as artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes industries at a pace unseen since the Industrial Revolution, the urgent question is not whether schools should adopt technology—but how they should wield it responsibly to prepare the workforce of tomorrow.That was the core message delivered yesterday by U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon during her visit to Austin, Texas, a stop on her Returning Education to the States Tour. Touring Alpha School—a private K–8 institution that has embedded AI into its instructional model—McMahon witnessed firsthand how algorithms can tailor learning to a child’s individual pace and strengths. Later, at the University of Austin, she sat down with President Carlos Carvalho to explore how higher education is cultivating innovation in the age of machine intelligence.“Harnessing AI thoughtfully will be critical to expanding opportunity and preparing students for tomorrow’s workforce,” McMahon said in a press release. “During my visit to Austin, I saw how AI can open doors, but also how curiosity, critical thinking, and open debate that drive learning. As we return education to the states, it’s vitally important that innovation is guided by the fundamentals, so that the classroom remains a true marketplace of ideas.”Her words carry weight at a moment when both the promises and perils of AI in education are becoming more visible. Proponents see AI as a force multiplier, personalizing instruction, automating routine tasks for teachers, and exposing students to digital tools they will inevitably encounter in future careers. Critics, however, warn of algorithmic bias, privacy concerns, and the risk of reducing education to data-driven efficiency rather than human inquiry.McMahon’s choice of Austin as a showcase is telling. The city is fast becoming a national hub for tech-driven education reform. Alpha School has built its reputation on leveraging AI platforms that adapt in real time to student performance, freeing teachers to focus on mentorship rather than rote instruction. The University of Austin, still young but already carving out a niche as an innovation-focused institution, is experimenting with ways to integrate ethics and humanities into technical training—reminding students that technological progress must be anchored in human values.Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath, who joined the Secretary during her visit, underscored the point: “I am grateful to have joined Secretary McMahon at today’s visit and appreciated the thoughtful discussion on the responsible use of innovation in schools. At the Texas Education Agency, we are always searching for transformational best practices that can be shared with Texas public schools to help them best meet the needs of students and help our dedicated educators focus on what they do best – teaching,” as reported in a press release of US.
What students must learn in the AI era
McMahon’s remarks touch on a critical recalibration. The workforce of tomorrow will require a blend of digital fluency and human-centered skills. Experts increasingly argue that AI literacy should sit alongside reading, writing, and mathematics as a foundational competency. Yet knowing how to “use” AI is only the starting point.Students must also cultivate:
- Critical Thinking: The ability to question outputs generated by algorithms rather than passively accept them.
- Ethical Reasoning: An understanding of privacy, fairness, and bias in digital systems.
- Adaptability: Comfort in navigating a labor market where roles may evolve or disappear as automation deepens.
- Collaboration: Working with machines and with each other to solve problems that no single tool—or person—can resolve alone.
- Curiosity: As McMahon emphasized, genuine learning emerges not from pre-programmed answers but from asking better questions.
The larger pictureBy anchoring AI adoption in “curiosity, critical thinking, and open debate,” McMahon is pushing against a reductive narrative of education as a race to master tools. Instead, she appears to be calling for a model where innovation complements, but does not eclipse, the timeless goals of schooling: fostering independent minds and cultivating democratic discourse.As the Returning Education to the States Tour continues, the message from Austin reverberates well beyond Texas. States, districts, and schools will soon face decisions about how aggressively to integrate AI into classrooms. Those choices will determine not just the contours of learning, but the character of the next generation of workers and citizens.In the end, the challenge is not whether schools can keep pace with technology—it is whether they can ensure that technology serves learning, not the other way around.
Image credit: Adobe Stock/Comeback Images.
As generative AI continues to reshape education, Adobe sees AI not as a replacement for thinking, but as a catalyst — for accelerating ideation, enhancing creativity, and fostering deeper engagement in learning. We’re energized by the White House’s Pledge to America’s Youth to invest in AI education as a critical step in putting essential AI and creative skills in the hands of the next generation of learners and we are proud to contribute to this critical area.
Adobe is providing the approximately 50+ million K-12 students and teachers across the United States with free access to Adobe Express for Education — Adobe’s all-in-one creativity app with generative AI tools designed for the classroom. Adobe is also providing professional development and training for all U.S. educators to help them better equip their students with AI skills.
The world of work is changing fast, and AI skills are no longer a nice-to-have; they’re a must-have. That’s why Adobe is committed to preparing learners of all ages for the AI-driven world we live in now.
Why AI skills matter more than ever
Early access to AI skills is essential to ensure students aren’t left behind in a rapidly evolving workforce. Embedding these skills now builds a more innovative future. The data is compelling: According to Lightcast, AI-skilled roles offer a 28 percent salary premium, with demand growing across industries — including 800 percent growth in generative AI roles in non-tech industries and a 200 percent increase in education-related roles since 2022.
At Adobe, we see firsthand how AI is already revolutionizing the creative process. Adobe Firefly is supercharging creativity and productivity with features such as Generative Fill and Generative Extend. Acrobat Studio is revolutionizing documents for the AI era, turning static files into conversational knowledge hubs, with a personalized AI Assistant for deeper insights. And Adobe Express is bringing AI-charged ideation and creation to everyone. AI can help consumers and business professionals work more efficiently and raise the bar of what they create.
Adobe is committed to empowering learners at every stage
For decades, Adobe has been dedicated to supporting creativity and digital literacy in education. Adobe’s commitments as part of the White House Pledge to America’s Youth are part of our broader mission to empower learners of all ages and in all stages of learning to ideate, create and collaborate with AI.
Through programs like Adobe Creative Campuses, we partner with universities to bring creative education and design thinking into higher-ed curricula. For specialists investing in their careers, the Adobe Certified Professionals program offers formal credentialing and certification in Adobe tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, Firefly and more. The Adobe Digital Academy is preparing learners with creative and technical skills and is focused on AI literacy, content creation, and digital marketing. The program aims to reach 30 million next-generation learners and educators by 2030.
Last year, Adobe invested $100 million to expand access through product donations, scholarships, and partnerships with schools, nonprofits, and platforms like Coursera. Learners gain hands-on experience with Adobe Express, Acrobat, and Creative Cloud, developing in-demand skills that help them stand out in an increasingly digital world.
I was honored to take part in the White House Task Force meeting on the AI Education Pledge, which underscored the urgency of equipping every learner with the knowledge and tools to thrive in this new era. And as part of the Pledge to America’s Youth, students and educators interested in participating in the Presidential AI Challenge will also be able to use Adobe’s AI tools, including Adobe Express, in their submission.
At the White House Task Force Meeting on Artificial Intelligence Education.
Demystifying AI in the classroom
The positive impact of bringing AI into the classrooms is already being felt as Adobe’s AI-powered creative tools make learning more engaging and collaborative. Using Adobe’s AI tools, which are designed with safety and user control at their core, teachers are seeing deeper learning and increased motivation. For example, teachers using Adobe Express to integrate generative AI into hands-on projects found that the curriculum boosted student creativity, prompted ethical discussions about the application of AI, and sparked teamwork and engagement beyond traditional assignments.
Source: Leanlab Education x Adobe educator survey, spring 2025.
Building together
To fully realize the potential of AI in education, we’re committed to working alongside governments and education leaders to empower both teachers and students with AI skills and capabilities and help train an innovative, future-ready workforce that can thrive in the digital age.
Educators can learn more about using free Adobe tools and curriculum resources to unlock creative potential in your classroom.
We urge policymakers to invest in early AI skilling and equitable access for all students. Learn more about the commitments Adobe and others have made to the White House AI Education Pledge and join us in supporting a future where every learner is prepared for the opportunities ahead.
And we urge everyone to share stories of AI in the classroom. Let’s inspire each other and build a brighter future together.
Education Minister Erica Stanford
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
The government has announced a number of new secondary school subjects and a new emphaisis on artificial intelligence it says will help prepare young people for the jobs of the future.
Education Minister Erica Stanford said those working on the changes will investigate having a new Year 13 subject on Generative AI “for later development”.
“With the rapid development of AI, students will also be able to learn about and use generative AI in a range of subjects. This may include learning about how digital systems work, machine learning, cybersecurity, and digital ethics.”
Stanford said the new subjects, being developed for the Years 11 to 13 curriculum, reflect the growing importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, often referred to as STEM.
The subjects include: automative engineering, building and construction, and infrastructure engineering.
“Students will be able to specialise in areas such as earth and space science, statistics and data science, and electronics and mechatronics. There will also be a range of new specialist maths subjects including further maths.
“When our young people leave school, we want doors to open for them whether they’re going to tertiary study, learning a trade, or heading straight into work. These refreshed subjects will provide students with choice, purposeful pathways and opportunities for specialisation that set them up for success,” Stanford said in a statement.
It was vital students had access to “innovative and dynamic subjects” that would help the country’s future, she said.
Other new subjects include: civics, politics and philosophy, Pacific studies, Te Mātai i te Ao Māori and music technology.
Te Marautanga o Aotearoa will be resourced with a first ever detailed curriculum in te reo Māori as well as new subjects including new Tātai Arorangi (Māori traditional systems of Earth and Sky), Te Ao Whakairo (Māori carving) and Te Ao Māori subjects.
The subjects are planned to be phased in from 2028.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
-
Business2 weeks agoThe Guardian view on Trump and the Fed: independence is no substitute for accountability | Editorial
-
Tools & Platforms4 weeks ago
Building Trust in Military AI Starts with Opening the Black Box – War on the Rocks
-
Ethics & Policy2 months agoSDAIA Supports Saudi Arabia’s Leadership in Shaping Global AI Ethics, Policy, and Research – وكالة الأنباء السعودية
-
Events & Conferences4 months agoJourney to 1000 models: Scaling Instagram’s recommendation system
-
Jobs & Careers2 months agoMumbai-based Perplexity Alternative Has 60k+ Users Without Funding
-
Education2 months agoMacron says UK and France have duty to tackle illegal migration ‘with humanity, solidarity and firmness’ – UK politics live | Politics
-
Education2 months agoVEX Robotics launches AI-powered classroom robotics system
-
Podcasts & Talks2 months agoHappy 4th of July! 🎆 Made with Veo 3 in Gemini
-
Funding & Business2 months agoKayak and Expedia race to build AI travel agents that turn social posts into itineraries
-
Podcasts & Talks2 months agoOpenAI 🤝 @teamganassi