Graduates maintain IT institute's excellent track record

Of the 28 students graduating this year from St Martin's Institute of Information Technology, Hamrun, 14 obtained a First Class Honours degree, nine obtained a Second Upper Honours, and the remaining five students obtained a Second Lower Honours degree.

Eighty-two per cent of this year's graduates can easily continue to read for postgraduate degrees in any of the top universities around the world.

A total of 63 students have graduated from St Martin's over the past five years, some of whom have embarked on MSc studies with the University of Edinburgh, University of Liverpool, Birkbeck University of London, and Queen Mary University of London, apart from the University of Malta.

Today, the institute has 272 students enrolled on a full-time or evening basis, reading for University of London diploma and degree programmes in business, economics, computer science, information systems and management.

Charles Theuma, the institute's principal, said "We now have a brilliant four-year track record, which is confirming St Martin's Institute as a teaching institution whose methodology is unquestionably excellent. Since 2004, on average, over half our students have graduated with first class honours," he said.

In addition, 50 per cent of the institute's diploma students achieved a distinction, and a further 33 per cent obtained a merit. After proving their abilities in the diploma, these students will continue to study for a degree as from year two.

"Our institute's strength lies in giving students a second chance. Last year, even though many students did not have the necessary entry qualifications to pursue tertiary studies, the myPotential scheme encouraged them to pursue a career in IT by studying for an ICTacademic degree. The vast majority of them have passed all their first year examinations with flying colours."

Mr Theuma continued: "St Martin's is proud to offer Maltese and international students the opportunity of reading in Malta for degrees by the University of London, a world-renowned university, with a tradition of high quality tertiary education and research. These degrees are monitored by the UK's Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).

St Martin's Institute is a teaching institution for the University of London, which prepares and corrects all the examination papers that the institute's students sit for in Malta on the same day and time as their counterparts in London.