The University of Malta required a strong corporate identity and a unified strategic direction, Labour leader Alfred Sant said yesterday.

Without denying that there had been substantial progress over the years, Dr Sant said the University still lacked a strong corporate identity, despite numerous mission statements.

The Opposition Leader was closing a half-day discussion on the University's future organised by the Mikiel Anton Vassalli Foundation, at the MLP's headquarters in Hamrun.

Dr Sant said the Budget and resources allocated towards the University was good when compared with other EU states. However, when looking at the output of certain sectors such as technology, research and educational health, Malta did not fare so well in meeting the Lisbon targets.

He also touched on the need for a balance between the liberal education, professionalism, vocational and scientific education, because at the moment the University's thrust was unclear.

Delving into the debate over whether the University should be merely a teaching body or focused on research, Dr Sant said its strength was to provide first degrees and higher education, which, in a way, dictated the University's main mission.

He felt that the University was not focused enough on this and asked how there could be teaching faculties when there were so many part-time lecturers which reduced students' contact with their tutors.

"The University has to accept that its main mission is to be a teaching university," he said.

Speaking about research, Dr Sant said this had to emerge organically from the University's mission and had to reflect the island's realities and not personal preferences.