Sole nominee for rector's job

Melita Cable CEO Juanito Camilleri is set to become the new university rector as he is the only candidate for the post after nominations closed yesterday.

Right up until noon yesterday - the deadline for nominations - it was still not clear whether the present rector, Roger Ellul-Micallef, would contest the post. Faculty deans had encouraged him, in a letter, to run for a third term, but he has steadfastly refused to comment on the issue throughout.

When contacted, council president Andrè Camilleri refused to confirm how many nominations had been received, saying only it was the council's role to nominate and elect a rector every five years. Prof. Ellul-Micallef's term ends in June.

Dr Camilleri said that irrespective of the number of nominations, the council would be meeting on March 21 to hold an election. Each of the 26 council members, including Prof. Ellul-Micallef, has a vote in the secret ballot.

The council is made up of a president, vice-president, the senate and student representatives, a member of the clergy and members elected from the academic and non-academic staff, apart from 13 government appointees. The Times reported last week that all government representatives on the university council had nominated Prof. Camilleri.

The issue has been shrouded in controversy, and earlier this week the University of Malta Academic Staff Association (UMASA) voiced concern that the government was seeking to influence the choice of rector through its appointees.

The University Students' Council said a new rector should bring about a necessary change in the institution's direction and management style.