WALES' education minister says he can't see why a planned super-university merger that would see Newport university dissolved should result in redundancies.

Leighton Andrews, speaking to the Argus, reiterated that he didn't expect mergers to result in campus closures either.

The University of Wales, Newport, has already agreed to merge with the University of Glamorgan, and a consultation is underway into the dissolution of the Newport institution.

However Mr Andrews hopes that the new university will also include Cardiff Metropolitan and a consultation into the dissolution of that institution is also taking place.

The Argus asked Mr Andrews to reasurre staff and students that facilities at the University of Wales, Newport, would be kept.

Mr Andrews told the Argus that he had made it clear: "We don't expect mergers to result in campus closures.

Asked if the merger could result in jobs losses, he said: "I don't see why the merger process itself should result in redundancies for staff."

He added that he was encouraged by the support of the staff union at Newport university.

"We have started a consultation on the dissolution orders for Newport University and Cardiff Metropolitan University and we will see how that progresses over the next 16 weeks," he said.

The education minister has previously stated he wants to see a higher education system in Wales that avoids unnecessary competition.

Research published earlier this year said that Newport University would need to merge with other universities in order to survive.

The merger between Glamorgan and Newport could be in place by Summer 2013.