‘Significant’ numbers of higher education mergers mapped

An analysis of mergers of higher education institutions across Europe over the past 20 years has revealed a “significant” degree of activity.

Using its University Merger Tool, the European University Association analysed 129 full or partial mergers that took place across 22 countries between 2000 and 2019.

There were fewer than 10 mergers per year for the first 13 years of the period, before a three-year spike that peaked in 2014 with 16 mergers, the EUA reported on 8 May. After that, Europe saw fewer than five university mergers annually from 2015 onwards.