More than the sum of its parts: a university for Cumbria

Arising from the influential report by Sir Martin Harris in 2005, the University of Cumbria was created on August 1, 2007. It was formed from an amalgamation of St Martin's College, Cumbria Institute of the Arts, and the Cumbrian campuses of the University of Central Lancashire. The vision and mission of the new university is to widen access to higher education in Cumbria where traditionally there is low aspiration, socioeconomic disadvantage, and lack of opportunity. This article reflects on the process of merger from the perspective of one service department, Learning and Information Services (LIS), and discusses in brief the various integration projects and the impact on staff during the many changes. It benchmarks lessons learned against a similar library case study (of which there are few in the literature) and poses questions about the role of culture in such processes. Finally, the article reflects on the institution-wide response required in bringing about successful management of change through its leaders and concludes that effective communication and development of staff are essential ingredients in shaping the future of the university.