A FUNDING official accused of trying to force two Scottish universities to merge has been given a senior role with one of the institutions involved.
Mark Batho, chief executive of the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), has been appointed vice-principal of Abertay University, in Dundee.
In 2011, after the former principal at the institution retired, Mr Batho wrote to Abertay asking for the post to remain vacant while discussions were held with Dundee University about the shape of future provision, widely interpreted as a merger.
The letter prompted claims from the Scottish Labour Party that the SFC was trying to push through a "shotgun wedding".
Further alarm was caused when it emerged that Mr Batho sent a second letter to the two institutions urging them to come to a decision within a matter of weeks.
At the time, Lord Sutherland, a former principal of Edinburgh University, criticised the timescale and the way the proposed merger had been handled.
He said: "I can't think of a worse way of doing it – it looks like merger by fax. It takes time and requires agreement on institutions, not instructions that come across as a veiled threat."
However, yesterday Abertay announcedthat Mr Batho had been appointed vice-principal in charge of university services, resource allocation and strategic planning.
Mr Batho said: "I am privileged to be joining Abertay at this time. I am already familiar with the university and its ambitions for the future and I am very much looking forward to joining the team that will make those ambitions a reality."
Professor Nigel Seaton, principal of Abertay, added: "My colleagues and I are very pleased that Mr Batho will be joining us. He brings a wealth of experience in higher education as chief executive of the SFC and through his work with the Scottish Government and shares our ambitions for Abertay."
John McClelland, chairman of the SFC, added: "Mark has led SFC through two periods of significant change and has ensured the council's continued delivery against the organisation's and the Scottish Government's priorities."
Mr Batho has held the post of chief executive of the SFC since 2008.
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