THE University of Wales, Newport, is to be dissolved on April 11, it was announced today.

Leighton Andrews, Welsh education minister, says he has signed the order to dissolve the institutions ahead of its merger with the University of Glamorgan.

From then they will be known as the University of South Wales.

He said additional funding of £24.8 million will be made available over the next three years to enable a smooth transition.

The order will dissolve the University of Wales, Newport, and transfer its property, rights and liabilities to the Glamorgan institution.

Mr Andrews told AMs: "Having considered the institutions' business case for the merger, together with the issues raised by stakeholders and all other relevant information available, I believe that the decision to dissolve Newport and merge with Glamorgan is the right one.

"The creation of the new institution marks a significant achievement and is a big step towards meeting our commitment to establishing a smaller number of stronger universities in Wales. "I wish the University of South Wales every success."

A spokesperson for the new University said: “We are delighted that in today’s announcement the Welsh Government has taken the next formal step by laying before the National Assembly the Order required to move our legal integration forward.

"We also welcome warmly the funding that is being made available directly by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales specifically to support the integration process.

"It is consistent with our business case which set out the steps we will take to make the new University functional and sustainable, and identified funding to support our initiative. This is a vote of confidence in the new University and in the leadership we are showing to bring about this major positive change in Welsh higher education.”