Lack of University funding

Amen to what Evarist Bartolo said in his Talking Point of January 6 regarding the dire straits in which our prime learning institution, the University of Malta, finds itself.

To better understand the financial situation the University of Malta is in, may I share the saga I am presently experiencing. In 2007, after graduating with an honours degree, I decided to continue my studies in biological sciences to Masters level. Last September, after spending the better part of summer collecting, dissecting and storing specimens of sea organisms, I started analysing the samples for my research and eventual dissertation. Alas, after a few weeks the equipment I was using - a thermal cyder - developed a fault. This apparatus is used to amplify DNA by in-vitro enzymatic replication, the basis of my DNA research. After informing my tutor about the situation, and after quotes for the repair of the equipment were obtained, I was informed that the University had no excess funds (estimate for repairs were several thousand euro), and that repairs would have to wait until new funds, I presume from the 2009 Estimates, were made available. Having an inkling of how government bodies work, this will probably take several months.

Meanwhile I am left in limbo without any clue of how I can finish my Masters by October. My only option is to ask for an extension and finish the Masters in three years instead of the stipulated two. Unfortunately this is not an isolated case, as during the tenure of my first year as post-graduate student I had to provide my own chemicals and other laboratory paraphernalia (surgical blades and gloves, test tubes etc). This alone has put a strain on my finances, because as a Masters student I am no longer entitled to a stipend.

I therefore cannot understand how the government is constantly harping on the need of graduates to continue their studies to higher levels, yet fails to provide the University of Malta with sufficient resources to cater for the influx of post-graduate students. As Mr Bartolo said, what is urgently needed is for the government to allocate more funds to the university, or at least allow it to raise funds from other sources. It must also ensure that the university is run in a more efficient and effective way in order that the management of resources is optimised for the benefit of all the university community, the academics, the administrative and technical staff and, last but not least, us students. Only then will it be able to keep up with the government's vision of turning Malta into a centre of excellence in education by 2015, and become, as Mr Bartolo aptly put it, "a top quality learning and research institute".