University braces itself for EU enlargement

The University of Malta had taken a number of steps since the Lauri report on the effect of EU membership, upgrading its services to ensure it could operate effectively within an enlarged Union.

It said yesterday the report spoke unequivocally in favour of the benefits the university would derive from full membership, also identifying challenges and how these could be met.

The steps taken include training, aligning the credit transfer system and taking part in EU projects.

The university had also established a European unit specifically to ensure it would benefit from the many advantages that would be derived from accession.

"The report mentioned the possible influx of a number of European students as an area of concern. It has been the university's policy to increase its student numbers and to internationalise its campus. It therefore welcomes the advent of European and other international students, especially as the former, through mobility programmes, allow Maltese students to study abroad through EU funds and support. Maltese university students stand to gain from the presence on campus of foreign students as the majority of students in any university do not go to study abroad," it said.

It added that it was definitely not its policy to counter an influx of students with the reintroduction of a numerus clausus.

The University Students Council (KSU) also reacted to allegations being made regarding the effect of EU membership on the university.

"Those quoting the Lauri report only in part, without giving any weight whatsoever to its conclusions and to the fact that this has been followed up by university action taken to implement its recommendations, are intentionally manipulating facts in order to suit their political whims," it said.

It clarified a number of points being raised by those who oppose EU membership, saying it was a cause of concern that "the more prominent amongst these are methodically spreading half truths".

One misleading message is that students from the EU will be able to study in Malta for free while Maltese students would have to pay in foreign universities.

"This is a half truth. The truth is that Maltese students too would be able to study for free in those universities in the EU that do not charge tuition fees to their nationals or nationals of other EU member states, leading to what is known as 'balanced mobility'.

"There are universities that do not charge tuition fees in EU member states including Ireland, Finland, Germany, Denmark and Sweden. In these countries the rule is that no tuition fees are charged for undergraduate courses. The opposite applies for postgraduate courses. At the University of Malta too tuition fees must be paid to follow a post-graduate course.

"In France, tuition is free in public universities but inscription fees amount to a minimum €129 and €150 on average. In Spain, generally there is no application or tuition fee but this depends on the university. In those universities that have registration fees, the amount varies greatly according to the specialisation and whether the institution is public or private. Universities on the continent generally charge registration fees which amount to approximately €150-300 per semester."

KSU said the national student unions in the above mentioned countries had not seen any large influx of students from other EU member states due to the fact that no tuition fees are charged.

"However, promoting contempt towards foreigners seems to us to be synonymous with far right nationalist politics and verges on xenophobia. Such an attitude cannot be reconciled with the aspirations of Maltese higher education students or the University of Malta."

On the issue of funding, it said it had no indication that tuition fees might be introduced.

"On the contrary, it seems far more probable that a system of formula-funding might be introduced. This means financing university according to the number of students. Once again, the issue of financing higher education is not directly related to EU membership but is an issue even irrespective of the EU. The strain on university structures is primarily due to the ever-increasing influx of Maltese students.

"The follow-up to the Lauri report mentions formula-funding as a possible solution to counterbalance the strain on resources being put by an increasing student population. This is also one of the recommendations made by the Lauri committee. Formula-funding is also one of the suggestions made in a KSU report. The KSU welcomes the indication given by Education Minister Louis Galea last week that the government is considering this solution."

It said it was not true that students will be able to benefit from the EU's education programmes even if Malta did not become a member of the EU, noting that it currently participates because it is a pre-accession country.

KSU is in favour of Malta joining the EU in the next enlargement. Most students are also in favour. It is up to those who have not made up their mind yet to decide on the basis of the information available."