The proposed merger of the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia has little support among staff, with most sceptical it will improve education or research.
A National Tertiary Education Union survey of 1100 staff across SA's three universities, including Flinders University, found only one in four backed the plan.
A smaller amount (21 per cent) were confident the merger would lead to better education, while less than one in three (29 per cent) thought it would result in better research.
The results have prompted the union to write to the state government seeking evidence to support the change.
"Merging the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia represents one of the biggest and most profound changes to higher education we are ever likely to see in SA," division secretary Andrew Miller said.
"There is no turning back once this decision is made. We must get it right."
Dr Miller said it was vital staff, students and community stakeholders were included in the merger process.
"Staff are demanding concrete evidence the merger will deliver better quality education and better-quality research, full stakeholder engagement and participation and complete transparency and public oversight protections throughout the process," he said.
"It is crucial for the government to guarantee university councils will adopt a process that is evidence-based, fully transparent and has complete public oversight."
In December 2022, the two universities signed a statement of co-operation with the state government to explore the feasibility of a merger.
They said the new entity would aim to be a university of global standing and conduct future-making research of scale and focus.
While no decision has been made, the state government continues to support the amalgamation.
As part of the proposal, any new institution would be called Adelaide University and would open from 2026.
