University students to be credited for work during common break

University students this year will have a two-hour common break every week where they will be encouraged to take part in extracurricular activities for which they will be credited.

No lectures will be held on Wednesdays between noon and 2 p.m. in the hope that, instead of going home or wasting time, students will take part in Degree Plus, a programme that began last year offering a structured system of activities and courses designed to give students a more holistic experience at the university.

After a Degree Plus programme is completed, students will be accredited on their transcript and diploma supplement accordingly, over and above the certification of their academic courses.

Degree Plus includes activities such as learning languages, doing voluntary work, working within student organisations, courses in entrepreneurship and ICT, and opportunities related to sport and music. The music stream was added this year with the intention of eventually forming a student orchestra.

The president of the University Students' Council (KSU), Roberta Avellino, said her aim this year was to develop a campus culture that would attract student activity and participation rather than a laid-back attitude focused simply on academia. Through such extracurricular activities, students become more employable and ready to join the real world of work.

This year, KSU will carry out a study across all university courses to assess the employability of fresh graduates and to ensure that every faculty and department is preparing its students according to the needs of each sector and industry.

KSU has always strived to give students a holistic experience at university by organising various activities and events aimed to engage students in areas ranging from culture to career opportunities.

Each year, KSU kicks off the first semester with Freshers' Week, a celebration of student participation where new students have a chance to orient themselves with campus and meet representatives of all student organisations.

This time, the academic year will begin while construction works are in progress around campus, with the library being refurbished and the administration buildings being extended. Two lecture theatres are earmarked for full refurbishment, following an ergonomics study carried out by KSU where various recommendations were made.

Ms Avellino said the library, which has already lost its famous pigeon-hole façade that was said to have become a hazard, will become "cosier and friendlier" in the hope of attracting more students.

She said KSU will focus more on communicating its message to the students, informing them of their rights while highlighting their responsibilities. A campaign titled Your Complaint, Your Gain is planned to empower students to insist on a quality education system.

KSU also put forward its proposals to the university canteen to provide a more varied salad and sandwich bar with healthier options. Proposals were also submitted to the Public Transport Authority (ADT) to continue increasing the bus routes for students.

Parking remains a problem for students following last year's sticker system, which divided parking areas for students, non-academic and academic staff. Ms Avellino assured students that the parking situation will be monitored to ensure that if any areas are not being used by the non-academic or academic staff these will be passed on for student use.

She stressed that stipends should not be a major issue for students. "Stipends are an investment in human resources. They are important, especially for those who would not be financially able to continue studying. But financial support is only one aspect. Students also need counselling, career guidance and other forms of support."

Ms Avellino did not comment on the talks between the university and the unions of academic staff, saying only that KSU was following these discussions. The unions and the university management are at loggerheads over the new collective agreement for academic staff at the University of Malta and the Junior College.