Along with Dundee College, which also offers higher education in the city, the institutions agreed that they would ¡°remain autonomous and independent bodies, with distinctive missions, visions and values¡±.

The statement was issued following a request by the SFC in September that the two universities discuss the possibility of merger.

This came after the publication of a pre-legislative agenda by the Scottish government which said that there was ¡°room for some consolidation¡± in the country¡¯s higher education system and highlighted ¡°overlaps in provision¡± in some cities.

The suggestion of merger had provoked a hostile reaction from Abertay, which said it represented an ¡°unprecedented degree of direction¡± from the government, while Dundee emphasised the ¡°significant differences¡± between the institutions.

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After a ¡°very open and positive discussion¡±, the institutions said yesterday that they will ¡°look at how to align more closely the academic curricula of the three institutions¡±.

Starting with life sciences and sports education, they said this would help to create a ¡°seamless learner progression¡± from further education to higher education.

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¡°In addition, Dundee College will welcome opportunities for closer collaboration with other colleges in the region,¡± the statement says.

In 2009¨C10, Abertay had 4,200 higher education students, while Dundee had almost 16,200.

Responding to this week¡¯s statement, Michael Russell, the Scottish education secretary, told the Press Association that ¡°this is precisely the kind of collaborative thinking that lies behind the Scottish government's post-16 agenda¡±.

¡°I am delighted to see three institutions of such repute cementing their relationship in such a way that will improve the delivery of further and higher education locally but also have a bearing on Scotland's international reputation for excellence in education,¡± he added.

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david.matthews@tsleducation.com