The European Higher Education Area - new rector indicated

The European Higher Education Area, or the Bologna Declaration as it is better known, has become an increasingly concrete and relevant reality for tertiary education in the European Union with relevance to Malta.

It is good to note that our university has now organised its curricula according to the ECTS system (except in the Course of Medicine and Surgery).

The Declaration states that "a Europe of knowledge" is now widely recognised as an irreplaceable factor for social and human growth, and as an indispensable component to consolidate and enrich European citizenship.

Last week the university's European Unit, together with the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST), the Institute of Tourism Studies, and the KSU, organised a Bologna Promoters Conference.

The Bologna Process, and Malta's full membership in the European Union, oblige leaders in all sectors of Maltese society to have clear visions, objectives and responsibilities.

Higher and vocational education institutions are key players in this challenging scenario. The rector of the university, Professor Roger Ellul Micallef, has played a main role in the development of the Bologna Process from its conception.

Dr Joseph Mifsud, director of the European Unit, besides overseeing that the university participates actively in programmes like Socrates and Erasmus, was instrumental in organising this Bologna Promoters Conference.

The number of ambassadors present at the principal sessions, as well as the participation of the chancellor and rector of the university, and the principal of MCAST, demonstrated a great interest in the conference.

The history of higher education in Malta dates back more than six hundred years. Vocational education evolved in a formal way in the last century. This sector was recently revamped with the setting up of MCAST.

Leaders of higher and vocational education institutions must together consider the newly emerging changes in vocational and professional education in the context of the Bologna Process and examine challenges and identify best national policy to respond to them.

University Senate, in particular, must take cognisance of the present realities and stop dragging its feet in taking action to recognise that professional courses - which entail a period of five years study - must now change the nomenclature from Bachelors to Masters.

This, amongst other actions, will probably be the first job of the newly nominated rector. The hot subject of discussion during Wednesday's opening of the Bologna Process Conference was the government nomination of a new rector designate; the indicated person is Professor Juanito Camilleri.

Although at least three other possible contestants were mentioned for this month's election of rector by council, the election of Professor Camilleri may be taken as a foregone conclusion. He has the support of the all the government members for his nomination, so will probably be voted rector designate later this month, and take the post of rector in June.

Although the present rector had the written support of the deans of the faculties, encouraging him to contest for the rector's position for a third consecutive period, it is probable that he will opt not to challenge the government's indications.

The other two mentioned possible contenders were Professors Peter Xuereb and Alfred Vella. However their chances of being elected, if they really intend to contest with Professor Camilleri, are now very remote.

In addition to the government nominated members on council, one cannot exclude that a significant number of the elected members on the council will now toe the government's line and show their support for Professor Camilleri.

In this atmosphere it would be wise for Professor Camilleri to rally as much support as possible. It would also be equally wise for the university staff to unite and support the new rector in his quest to obtain the necessary resources that are badly needed by the University.

Professor Camilleri will have to deliver the goods now urgently required by Malta - namely the talented human resources essential for the success of the newly announced major project: SmartCity@ Malta.

Through his academic background in IT, his experience in commerce in his roles as CEO of two major companies, and having the full backing of the government, Professor Camilleri already has a good number of the ingredients necessary to make the post a success.

There remains now the difficult, but possible task, to enrol the full confidence and support of the university staff and students.

We take this occasion to thank the present rector for all his work for the university in the past 10 years, and wish him well in all his future endeavours. He has still a lot to give to society, and the university.