Excellence at country's service

This summer several academics presented papers at international meetings and distinguished themselves with the high quality of material delivered. Many have chaired workshops and their extensive reputation and leadership in their field of specialisation have led them to honourable appointments including that of presiding scientific committees of European associations responsibile for leading, organising and preparing whole scientific programmes.

Other academics have published in peer reviewed journals or completed texts for books, some of which will be published by the highly reputable international publishers in their field.

Few would dispute that our University can provide excellent services of benefit to both students and the country. Yet academics often complain that the University's full potential is not being exploited. Why is there a poor track record of academics and the University being commissioned to provide services to government and other organisations?

One organisation that can shed light on the subject is the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) which has now established contacts with the government, University and industry. Some MCST officials believe that some of the problems are historical. In the past, the University was seen very much about as a teaching teaching institution and not as part of the mainstream services to the country.

For example, one would have expected the Institute of Health Care to be asked to deal in a professional and scientific manner with the current nursing dilemma on prescribing of medicines in an emergency, and the government to discuss with the pharmacoeconomists at our University, the problem facing our country on how to run the NHS with regard to the selection and distribution of medicines. It is taking time for the many new directors within the NHS to see that the University not only produces the professionals but is in itself also a centre of excellence in the provision of research and services.

This needs to change dramatically. Joining the EU should have led to a considerable change in the way the University is regarded especially with regard to research and technology. Understanding the country's priorities is crucial. Current priorities include funding issues, redesigning and improving the quality of services and shifting the balance of industry from that of pure production to that which involves research and development.

The University needs to become an integral part of the country's core thinking and discussions including those on such areas as the privatisation of the dockyards and the reorganisation of transport services.

The government is moving from an era of financial largesse to one of tighter funding and the University should actively contribute towards improving efficiency and in redesigning services not only in its own organisation but also at a national level.

The University needs to be more active, take more initiatives and get involved in more organisations. Academics need to understand the country's priorities and come forward with suggestions on how the University can help in tackling them.

The way to achieve greater involvement is not to sit and complain that the University is being ignored but to come forward with solutions. The worst thing the University can do is to be entirely defensive, seeing only threats, and be focused on itself, rather than on opportunities to deliver more.

University academics who have demonstrated excellence in teaching their students to the highest standards can also excel in the areas such as research and development as well as in providing service to the country and in this way render the best possible example to the 10,000 students returning to, or joining the University in the coming days.