Walter Humes, head of professional studies at St Andrew’s, has won the contest to head the key department of education studies. He was chosen over Eric Wilkinson, head of the existing university department, who was recently given a personal chair.

The merger, which is expected to be given the go-ahead shortly by the Secretary of State, will also see St Andrew’s staff at the helm of two other departments: Jim Conroy at religious education and Hieronim Kwiatkowski at curriculum studies department.

Professor Maria Slowey, head of the university department of adult and continuing education, will become vice-dean of the faculty, which will be led by Bart McGettrick, principal of St Andrew’s.

Educational studies - comprising the college’s departments of professional studies and support for learning, plus the university education department - will “bring together everything from initial teacher training to post-doctoral work,” Dr Humes said.