THE University of Wales, Newport and the University of Glamorgan are set to join together to form a new institution.

The two universities will enter into a period of talks now to outline details, such as staffing, how course provision will be divided, and the name of the new university, but no timeframe has been set for when the new university would be formed.

The move has come after Education and Skills minister, Leighton Andrews, set out in March three options for the reconfiguration of universities in South East Wales.

These included the dissolution of two institutions from Newport, Glamorgan and Cardiff Metropolitan, into one university.

A spokesman for Newport University, said: "It is still very early stages but we are delighted to be going in on an equal footing to a new institution and not as part of a takeover."

Newport made clear both universities had made the choice proactively and had not been forced to do so by the Assembly.

Talks over staffing positions have not yet begun, nor have which courses would be based at Newport’s Caerleon and City campuses.

The new university would be of a similar size to Cardiff University.

Andrew Wilkinson, Chair of the Board of Governors at the University of Wales Newport, said: "Our guiding aim is to build a new institution which will create a step-change in higher education provision and will have a far greater impact on the region than the sum of its parts."

Mr Andrews, said: "Today’s news from the University of Glamorgan and the University of Wales, Newport is the first major step in strengthening Higher Education provision in South East Wales. This sends a strong message to the higher education sector in Wales."