Anglia Ruskin University has announced plans to merge with an agricultural institution, Writtle University College.

ARU said that the union would ¡°secure a long-term, sustainable future for Writtle, and unlock significant opportunities for growth and development by bringing together the two institutions¡¯ strengths across education and research¡±.

ARU has a campus in Chelmsford, the Essex city which Writtle is located on the outskirts of. In future the 130-year-old college will be known as ARU Writtle, alongside ARU¡¯s other campuses in Cambridge, Peterborough and London.

Tim Middleton, Writtle¡¯s vice-chancellor, said that joining ARU would ¡°provide a sustainable future for further education and higher education at the Writtle campus¡±.

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¡°It ensures continued provision of our specialist courses and a commitment to support the development of the estate for the benefit of students, staff and the wider community. ARU has extensive expertise and resources, and is able to promote Writtle¡¯s unique strengths to a wide, international audience,¡± Professor Middleton said.

Writtle offers courses in agriculture and animal sciences, as well as life sciences, sport and health, and boasts a working farm, specialist small animal unit and equine centre on campus.

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ARU said its expertise in areas such as health, animal and sport sciences would ¡°help to support and grow both education and research at Writtle¡±.

Writtle¡¯s full range of higher and further education courses ¡°will continue to be delivered on site, supported and enhanced by the wider resources of ARU¡±, the university added.

¡°We are delighted to announce our intention to merge with Writtle University College,¡± said Roderick Watkins, ARU¡¯s vice-chancellor. ¡°With our shared values, considerable resources and geographical proximity, we are uniquely positioned to sustain and build on Writtle University College¡¯s excellent reputation and vision.

¡°I look forward to achieving sustained growth and continued success at both higher education and further education levels.¡±

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The announcement comes amid continued financial pressure on the UK higher education sector, and just weeks after St George¡¯s, University of London and City, University of London confirmed that they proposed to merge.

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com