Archives and records management

Reference is made to a recent call for applications issued by the Malta Broadcasting Authority and published in the newspapers. The call is for an information and records manager to be responsible for the management of records of the authority and also issues of data protection and data management.

Surprisingly enough, the qualifications requested exclude completely what we feel is the most adequate qualification, the Diploma in Archives and Records Management. It is worth mentioning that, in October 2005, the University of Malta offered the first ever records management courses locally. In November 2007, the first four students graduated at diploma level. In two months' time another 12 students will graduate with a bachelor's degree in information, library and archive studies.

Notwithstanding, these students have been deprived the opportunity to apply for a post which, after all, was set up under the National Archives Act (V, 2005) and which requires skills and academic training that is solely offered by the course mentioned. We expect the Malta Broadcasting Authority to answer to the preoccupations of these students and also to amend the call and make it possible for these new graduates to have the possibility to apply for this post.