Tertiary education memorandum

The University of Malta Academic Staff Association (UMASA) and the University Academic Staff Committee (UASC) have presented a memorandum to the political parties for their consideration in the light of the general election.

The two organisations said public expenditure on education in 2001 stood at 5.4 per cent of the GDP, which compared well with the EU average of 5.1 per cent.

However, the percentage of the population, between the ages of 25 and 64 with tertiary education in Malta, currently standing at seven per cent, was three times lower than the EU average and the lowest among all EU candidate countries.

As income levels and the standard of living of the Maltese continued to rise, Malta's only hope to remain competitive in the world market was to continue to transform the economy into a knowledge-based one and to do this with increased vigour, they said.

For this to be realised, the number of graduates must be drastically increased.

Umasa and UASC said that in the same way that it was imperative to ensure a quality education at the primary and secondary levels, it was equally imperative that tertiary education be brought in line with European standards in terms of funding methods.

Umasa and UASC are inviting the political parties to consider the following general approach to tackle these problems:

¤ University funding should be increased in order to maintain and improve the current academic quality levels;

¤ Funding levels as agreed between the MUT and the government in the last collective agreement should be maintained and increased;

¤ A formula funding scheme should be introduced to address the issues of adequate funding by priority area and there should be more efficient use of available funds. In such a funding arrangement, the government enters into a contract with the university to provide the agreed funds, not on a yearly basis but at least over three-year periods;

¤ Through increased funding, the university will be in a position to ensure improvement in its academic auditing;

¤ Incentives should be introduced to enhance academic excellence and contributions to Maltese society;

¤ Changes in the Education Act to reflect changes in society.

The organisations said that in line with these objectives, the rector should be elected by and from the academic staff; the representation of academic staff on the University Council should be increased; the university's administrative structures should be reorganised to enable a wider executive power, so as to increase efficiency and reduce bureaucracy; academic status should be given due consideration in this regard; and adequate funding should be ensured, to raise national educational levels to European norms, with particular emphasis on the tertiary education sector.