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Dartington College of Arts and University College Falmouth merger backed by SWRDA board yesterday (Monday 18th February). The RDA will invest up to £500,000 to allow further development of the merger project. Subject to the satisfactory completion of this work, board members confirmed a further investment of £3 million towards the development of a merged institution at Falmouth. Board members first agreed to make this offer in support of the proposed merger on 21st January. However, they agreed to take a fresh decision when it became clear subsequently that there were inaccuracies in the original information put before them. With information on these issues now clarified, board members fully reconsidered the investment proposal and decided to approve it. Said Stephen Peacock, Executive Director of Enterprise and Innovation at the RDA: "With so much at stake for the future of both institutions, and for higher education in the region, it is clearly very important that the South West RDA takes its decision to support any merger with all the correct information on the table. "We are now happy to be able to announce our position having taken a fresh look at the investment proposal. "The fact remains that DCA will close if it does not pursue this merger with UCF. The two colleges and HEFCE - the statutory funding body for higher education in England - have all confirmed to us that DCA does not have a viable future at its current location. "Therefore, we have faced the difficult decision between supporting the merger or seeing this valuable higher education provision and these funded student places lost to the region for good. "The equally important factor in the Board's decision is the opportunity presented to us by the proposed merger, particularly the exciting prospect of a vibrant and successful university for the arts in Cornwall." Governors of both DCA and UCF have indicated that they will take a final decision on their planned merger once the position regarding support and investment from the RDA and the EU Convergence Programme is clear.