Academics welcome pledge of more cash

The University of Malta Academic Staff Association (Umasa) has welcomed Parliamentary Secretary Tonio Fenech's intention to direct some of the extra Lm14 million collected in income tax to the university, where the budget has been over-stretched for some time.

The association said it valued Mr Fenech's recognition of the contribution the University makes to the economy and hopes that this will be reflected in investment in the research and teaching potential of the university. Umasa said this should be done, first and foremost, by providing adequate remuneration for its academics, whose last collective agreement expired four years ago, and who have struggled with increasing student numbers and diminishing research and teaching support for many years.