Of lecturers with the University of Malta (1)

With regard to the news item Tribunal Decision Welcomed (January 30) which refers to the Industrial Tribune's judgement in the case instituted by Umasa (University of Malta Academic Staff Association) for official recognition to represent the University of Malta Academic Staff in future industrial discussions, I would like to point out the following inaccuracies and corrections:

The news item states that "The Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) welcomed the Industrial Tribune's judgement making a distinction between University of Malta academic staff and Junior College teachers."

a) The University of Malta Junior College staff is part and parcel of, and employed by, the University of Malta.

b) All of the full-time lecturing staff at the University of Malta Junior College were employed after going through an interview with University of Malta lecturing members and received appointments of assistant lecturers and lecturers, and today include an associate professor, with the University of Malta and are required to deliver lectures at the University of Malta Junior College or at the University as the need arises.

c) All of the lecturing members at the University of Malta Junior College are employed as part of the academic staff of the University of Malta, enjoy the same conditions of work, and are paid by the same University of Malta Finance Department like all the academic staff of the institution.

d) As far as I know, never has the MUT expressed any "welcome" to any difference between the academic staff lecturing at the University of Malta Junior College campus at Msida and the academic staff lecturing at the University of Malta campus at Tal-Qroqq, pointed out by the Tribunal.

e) The lecturing academic staff at the University of Malta Junior College is definitely involved in preparing the students for their Advanced and Intermediate levels for entry to the University. However, many members of this same staff do in fact have a shared time-table of lectures at both campuses - that of the University of Malta Junior College (in Msida) and that at the University (at Tal-Qroqq). There are also members who have been entrusted with supervising students reading for bachelors and masters at the University.

f) At present, among the academic staff of the University of Malta Junior College there are 28 members furthering their studies for a Masters, an M.Phil., or a Ph.D., and 33 members who already hold a Ph.D.: 21 appointed lecturers, 11 senior lecturers, and one associate professor. Moreover, many of these academicians are keen researchers and have authored scholarly papers published in both local and foreign journals, and books which have enriched the research academia campus thus proving to be truly part of a University where academic members are expected "to publish or perish". The regular publication of Symposia Melitensia featuring refereed contributions mainly by members of the University of Malta Junior College is a tangible and visible proof.

So much for any difference between the academic staff lecturing at the University of Malta Junior College and the academic staff lecturing at the University.