Settling the industrial relations agreement

The University of Malta Academic Staff Association (UMASA), the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT), the Government and the University leadership now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to settle the industrial relations agreement without any further delay.

Education has a new minister with whom the UMASA could develop fresh ideas to benefit both the staff and education. The change in the ministry presents a unique chance for academics to unite with one voice for the benefit of both themselves and students. Here lies a significant opportunity for the various groups of academics, including those represented by the association and the MUT, to take a leading role in this change.

The change presents many important opportunities as well as risks for all involved - both experienced professors and younger lecturers. In the change there is certainly room for all ideas, both the fresh ones and those coming from many years of irreplaceable experience.

It is time for UMASA to take a risk, to take a chance and make a difference. It now has an opportunity to take a leading role in the University's development. The Government and the public clearly want competent and skilled academic experts and practitioners at all levels who can teach, practise their profession, carry out research, as well as advise the Government and industry.

Academics have now their greatest opportunity for decades to embrace new service roles. The country's quest for zero tolerance towards corruption, for greater efficiency and for new intelligent ideas in all areas, opens the door to a flood of opportunities for academics. Wise leadership involves recognising the need for development of all levels at the University, recognising the experience of its experts in the field, and recognising the expertise of all concerned in the evaluation and promotion of staff; It involves supporting and recognising what academics do as teachers and researchers, promoting postgraduate education and research in all areas, and supporting all academics, young and old, junior and senior, generalists and specialists.

What the University no longer wants is a fragmented, disengaged body that does not promote academia effectively at the highest levels of influence, or does not ensure that the right person speaks at the appropriate place on relevant issues related to the University.

Wise leadership would allow all academics to unite around a common theme - the good of the whole University. If the University leadership does not provide the academics with what they essentially require, they will lead themselves through the established groups, even though in this way they may not have one voice, or simply continue grumbling in the University corridors and canteen.

UMASA must also keep its promise of informing its members of developments at all stages of the negotiation process. The association, which was born not long ago, should not and cannot betray its origin. Sadly it appears to be falling into exactly the same trap and is currently behaving in the same manner that it used to criticise MUT about. It is strange how, when in power, one chooses to ignore one's commitments.