Students' charter approved

The university senate yesterday approved the Students' Charter, a document outlining the duties and obligations of the university, students and the University Students' Council (KSU).

Presented by the KSU, the document is intended to encourage the principle of partnership among staff and students, the KSU said.

The council said the charter addresses many of the problems that have been surfacing at the university for a long time, including the need for a pragmatic complaints and appeals system, which the university will now work to implement.

Among its other commitments, the university will also ensure examination results are published within a reasonable time and that students receive all the information pertaining to their course of studies.

Students, for their part, are expected to take their studies seriously and take full advantage of the opportunity to attend university free of charge. They are expected to attend all lectures, submit coursework on time, as well as look for opportunities to further enrich their knowledge.

Apart from recognising the KSU as the official student representative body, the charter spells out its responsibilities towards the student and the university and vice versa. The KSU will represent the student on university, national and international levels, while students are expected to provide it with input and the university will not interfere with the internal workings of any student association on campus.

Audrey Gatt, one of the original drafters of the charter, said: "I think it is a very big achievement for students and academia. This will hopefully enhance staff-student relationships and set the groundwork for future cooperation."