PROPOSALS to merge three universities in South Wales were scrapped today, paving the way for Newport's University to join forces with the University of Glamorgan.

Leighton Andrews, education minister for Wales, said he has cancelled a consultation into the merger of Cardiff Metropolitan University, the University of Wales, Newport and Glamorgan.

He said bosses at both of the latter two universities had made clear their preference to merge to establish a new university by voluntarily dissolving Newport and transferring its assets to Glamorgan.

The statement from Mr Andrews says the two university's want to merge next April, and the minister says he now waits for the business case on the merger from the universities,.

Mr Andrews quoted Cardiff Metropolitan's own proposal in 2003 to merge with Glamorgan, saying that “Wales lacks, and needs, a university of the size, power and reputation of the leading new universities in England.”

“I could not agree more,” the minister told the Senedd.

“It is for that reason that I do not intend to hamper the excellent progress being made by Glamorgan and Newport.”