Muscat moots setting up of second university
Labour leader Joseph Muscat today raised the possibility of the setting up of a second university in Malta to introduce competition in the higher levels of the education system.
He underlined the importance of competition to bring about efficiency in all sectors when he spoke at a PL conference on industry as the pillar of the economy.
He said that the government was lacking the political will to instill competition that brought about efficiency in the Maltese economy.
Under this government, Malta had had plenty of privatisations, some liberalisation, but hardly any competition.
Referring toGDP figures issued earlier this week, he said that Malta's nominal GDP showed that the sector which contributed most to the improvement was financial intermediary . The picture had also got brighter because the government had reduced its subsidies to Enemalta, a state monopoly. But that had not reduced inefficiencies at Enemalta, it only transferred the costs to the people.
He had no doubt, Dr Muscat said, that Malta and the rest of Europe would emerge from recession. But the reality was that in 2009, profits dropped in manufacturing industry, real estate, retail, tourism and transport, the sectors on which the majority of the people depended. Investment also remained negative.
Salaries last year grew by just 0.3% in nominal terms whereas the cost of living rose by 2.1%, meaning that wages went down in real terms.
Dr Muscat stressed that the public sector needed to be efficient and needed to create the right conditions for industry to flourish.
He said the education system was not of the level required in a European country , despite the professionalism of thousands of teachers.
"Perhaps the time has come, even in higher education, to have more competition. If competition creates efficiency, why should we not have space for a second university, ideally with global links, which would aim for the regional market while also being open for Maltese students," Dr Muscat asked.
All this could be done without in any way affecting the University of Malta, he added. Indeed, this would enhance the autonomy of the existing university and enable it to take more initiatives, such as on research and development, which would in turn help competitiveness.
In all this, Dr Muscat said, the basic concepts of free access to education and the stipends would be preserved.
In his speech Dr Muscat urged the government to counter corruption, curb inflation and instill greater transparency in public procurement.
He said the absence of intelligent incentives to stimulate the economy and a fiscal policy focused on investment reflected a lack of political commitment to industry.
Dr Muscat mentioned careful tax cuts as a way to boost the economy and said labour costs were also an important factor, but Malta would not be able to grow on the basis of cheap labour.
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d.attard
Mar 15th 2010, 14:04
Excellent idea. Not only will such university stimulate currently static intellectual energy, but will do so without government spending anything, anzi it will be an added source of income for the country by way for foreig direct investment. well done.
A Zammit
Mar 15th 2010, 13:43
Some are saying it is a hitch hiked idea, maybe that is why our current state of education is 'great' and does not need to be addressed! Other pn apologists are bringing the excuse of tarrifs etc! Can you at least agree with yourselves! @ Mary Ann Borg: Continue to live in disneyland!
m micallef
Mar 15th 2010, 12:57
of course we do need another university, or one which is more open minded!! hundreds of parents sending their children to semi private colleges or universities abroad!! why??? wouldnt it be better if our university could cater for pupils who are good or brilliant in a few subjects rather than those who are generalists? you can b brilliant at maths and not get into univ cos you cant reach the standard in one of the many compulsory subjects... you can be brilliant at english but not go to univ if you dont pass your maltese, ditto with maltese if you can't do well in english? ditto with so many subjects we are wasting our home grown talent and sending it abroad
C. Sapiano
Mar 15th 2010, 11:36
He should first consult with Dr.Sant if a reception class should be included in the second university.
Gervais Marcel Cishahayo
Mar 15th 2010, 11:15
Its amazing how this idea of the establishment of a second university is fuelling debate. Except the fact that it is being brought about to the floor by the leader of the opposition, it is certainly otherwise not new idea. It may not even be the first time and by others, but this idea was surely mentioned in the article "Bridging the e-gap by learning how to learn" published in The Times, Saturday, January 2000.
Alexander Farrugia
Mar 15th 2010, 10:26
It should be noted that MCAST is already competing with the University of Malta in the sense that it is offering degree courses in a few of its institutes. In the future, the amount of institutes offering Bachelor degrees will surely increase, and so would, with more time, the level of the courses offered.
So yeah, a country of 400,000 people has already two main ways of getting a Bachelor's degree, believe it or not!
greg guccione
Mar 15th 2010, 11:57
i am doing a higher national diploma (which leads to a bachelors degree) at MCAST but it is completely different from the one offered at university. There isn't one same degree plus, the one at MCAST in my line (which is business) is much more difficult then the B. com at university. So its still a different story. You still cant compare MCAST with Uni. The ammount of work (at least in business) is much more at MCAST and probably even harder (at least in the first year) plus there isnt one same course
J Attard
Mar 15th 2010, 09:44
It would be a great idea if you can enter without Systems of Knowledge!
r pace
Mar 15th 2010, 08:15
is this another hitch hike? this idea has been on the cards by a private successful educational institution for years, thus it is no new brain wave by the PL, its just another hitch hike of an idea.
C. Scerri
Mar 14th 2010, 23:20
@roberta cauchi santoro
Just for your info the University is already running Masters courses together with James Madison University, San Diego State University, Western Michigan University and George Mason University. The tuition fees – almost 13000 Euros per year (this would be slightly lower – 10000- for undergraduate courses. Whilst these Universities see that there might be a market for Master courses, the market to establish a local campus is will never be present and this is just due to economies of scale.
As for the Valletta palaces – is it so difficult to understand that the Valletta palaces are privately owned/ How can the Government use them, by requisitioning them?
@M. Bartolo
If we hardly have enough funds for one university, how are you going to fund a second one and get the best lecturers with the best available technology? Look at the UK – universities there have high tuition fees- the only way that they can compete with each other and these fees have not gone down (competition), but have gone up as each university tries to outcompete the other in research and facilities. Are you ready to have a fee paying University?
Annette Camilleri
Mar 14th 2010, 23:02
Is he serious? Is he in his right mind? Does he really think that a country of 400,000 thousand people needs 2 universities??
JM can't get any funnier, then again, every time I say this, he does! Ooohh...I wonder which hilarious plan he's coming up with right now!
Pierluigi Mollicone
Mar 14th 2010, 19:03
Comments directed at me are clearly from persons who do not know what they are talking about.
I actually do speak from experience, both locally and abroad.
I will not add any further comments here.
E.Cassar
Mar 14th 2010, 15:39
@P.Mollicone: On what basis are you static that the UoM gives a high standard of education? To my knowledge the UoM's rank is over the 1000 mark (in europe). That is far from "high standard", the only course which could compare to the EU standard is that of Medicine.
Get your facts right.
Christian Sciberras
Mar 14th 2010, 12:34
@Pierluigi Mollicone - Please, don't kid us.
Lecturer funds...are low? Which part of Eur 500 per student, sounds low to you?
High level education? You have no idea what you're talking about. I wonder, have you actually traveled outside of Malta?
@Other regarding funds;
Since when UoM is in need of funds? I thought otherwise when they started the case with the condom vending machines.
m farrugia
Mar 14th 2010, 12:21
L-assignments f'din l-universita se jkunu bl-Ingliz kif qed issir dan il-mument fl-UIniversita ta' Malta. Qed nistaqsi għax fost dawk li qablu ma din id-decizzjoni hemm membru parlamentari laborista li qabel ma din id-decizzjoni.
Christian Sciberras
Mar 14th 2010, 12:19
Dr Muscat, how about setting a serious one in Gozo?
Oh wait, I forgot, Gozo is uninhabited, is it?
Joe Micallef
Mar 14th 2010, 09:30
At face value this is as bad as it gets (although I am braced for more) and really shows how detached from reality Joseph Muscat is!
Pierluigi Mollicone
Mar 14th 2010, 09:16
Dr. Muscat and anyone commenting that this is a good idea should come around and see how lecturers struggle with the current level of funding.
University of Malta students are already given a high level of education compared to foreign universities.
Also, links with foreign institutions are present, again thanks to the hard work of many lecturers albeit the low level of funding.
M. Bartolo
Mar 14th 2010, 00:18
While WS makes a good point that without partnership in the EU, us students would have less opportunities than we do now, I am strongly in favour of Dr. Muscat's suggestion.
@Mario Farrugia,
On what basis is the University of Malta on par with the EU level? I have no idea what the EU level is but if it is anything like the level (of education - not infrastructure, labs, etc) in Malta, it is a very poor level indeed. I have watched many lectures from foreign Universities on Youtube and they have always been well delivered and presented and best of all, interesting. The vast majority (we do actually have some excellent lecturers) of lectures here are boring and dragging, delivered either in broken English or with a heavy Maltese accent and occasionally the lecturer can't even be heard beyond the first few rows. The administration could also do with vast improvement.
I believe that competition would bring about the necessary change and my vote will definitely by heading in Dr. Muscat's direction next election if he presses this point on!
roberta cauchi santoro
Mar 14th 2010, 00:09
The idea of attracting a foreign university ( a private one ideally) which operates on our island and attracts Maltese students as well as students from all over Europe is, in my view, excellent. I would go a step further and propose that the govt. incentivize such an initiative by leasing land at attractive prices especially in areas which would highly benefit from the cultural vibe created by the presence of students from different backgrounds. What I have in mind is old palaces in Valletta which are in dire need of restoration and which the govt. could restore to former glory by roping in the contribution of such investors. And before we start insulting each other and clamouring that this is not doable let's start seriously thinking about it. Other European countries, capital cities in particular, have succeeded in attracting American universities to set up campuses ( Rome is one case in point). Why cannot we?
B Briffa
Mar 13th 2010, 23:32
Where is he getting the lecturers from. Certain departments struggle to find lecturers and have to employ part timers. Most prob the lecturers would have to be lent from the University of Malta to Muscat's University, which would have negative repurcussions on the institution itself.
We should strenghten our existing resources first, rather bring about competition. I attend a foreign university, and I believe that had there been more organisation in the University of Malta, it would be one of the best.
cyril spiteri staines
Mar 13th 2010, 22:39
Presently, the UoM lacks sufficient funding both for its day-to-day running and research. How could Malta possibly support two universities? Concerning quality of education at UoM, most of our graduates perform very well when pursuing post-graduate degrees or research abroad. This is not only the merit of the student but also of the preparation given in his undergraduate degree. What should be suggested is to increase support to University to assist it to become more competitive wrt other foreign universities and help it secure external research funding. Although not generally appreciated by the public, dedicated academics carry out many tasks in parallel eg fund finding, proposal writing, administering funds and supervising research, apart from delivering their lectures and their normal administrative duties. Academics should be supported to concentrate better on research and training students to become the future professionals and researchers of Malta. A second university would simply absorb funds to try and recreate what already exists. The authorities and opposition should recognise the importance of the role the UoM plays in the training of Malta’s professionals and its involvement in the creation of innovative markets and new ventures in local industry.
J Bajada
Mar 13th 2010, 22:09
At first you think its a good idea, but after some thought you realise that this is not feasible. It would be better to restructure the current university, and associate the university and the private sector with the R&I.
May I remind you all that the current government already tried to do a college to compete with university (and failed miserably) named MCAST.
denis attard
Mar 13th 2010, 22:06
If one tries to analyse Joe Muscat's speeches, one gets rather confused. There is plenty of demagogy, populism and rhetoric.... some very superficial.
It is very obvious that if he were to implement all these promises, the country would go bankrupt, but, in opposition, he has a nice word for all of us. He wants to cut down deficit, improve wages, pay back VAT registration on cars, cut down taxes, dish out cheaper electricity and water, set up a second university, re-introduce spring hunting and please environmentalists at the same time, Send illegal immigrants back home on their boats, curb inflation...etc....In other words, Heaven on Earth.
What he fails to say is how is he going to finance all this........................God forbid we go down the road of other European Socialist-led countries....Greece, Spain, Portugal.....on the verge of bankruptcy.
All this
Simon Mizzi
Mar 13th 2010, 21:33
part 2 - This happens because at outset there are multiple universities. The research quality is good because a competitive process is what secured the funding in the first place. I can only see benefits from setting a second university, it would one step in the direction of competitiveness that we very much need in the academic circles of Malta. If anything this would prick the gargantuan bureaucratic institution of Tal-Qroqq. Having foreign universites that offer courses by proxy are not a solution (mentioned in comments) . Students will want to engage their professors and lecturers and stir up the discussion that leads to good research. These instituions are riddled with visiting professors that are more keen to visit sunny malta for the week rather than leaving an academic legacy a university campus enables. If they are not visiting lecturers they would most likely be part time lecturers that are keen to make an extra buck. So yes a second university with a campus that is in direct competition with the other university would definitely provide a better environment for research.
C.Scerri
Mar 14th 2010, 22:32
@ T. Camilleri
Please do not spread untruths. Those Universities that are accredited with foreign universities e.g. Leicester, London, are fully recognised in Malta and abroad, so much so that the graduation is held in thr foreign university and the degree conferred is identical to those offered on the actual campus.
C.Scerri
Mar 14th 2010, 22:45
Your really do not have an idea what you writing about. One of the reasons that the University has a small research portfolios is that we lack research funds. The internal UOM research fund is of between 4000-7000 Euros per applicant per year. If you think that this is enough, please think again. In the sciences, one needs anywhere from 60000 to 200000 Euros per year for just one research project. We can only perform high level research (and some of us have international patents or have been featured in International research news) with EU funds - basically we have to utilise our free time (usually evening, Saturdays and Sundays) to write around 10 proposals per year so as to maybe, to obtain one project.
Can you please tell me where you are going to get the research funds to have two Universities that are competing for the funds and thus be able to have Research Assessments. You mentioned funds from Science Councils – the MCST’s research fund is around 700,000 Euros per year – enough for 2/3 decent research projects! Are you suggesting that we should have a special tax for research?
Simon Mizzi
Apr 3rd 2010, 01:29
Part 1 - If the UOM was so much of a success story albeit under funded as has been suggested here then the level of peer review and the number of articles published would be more substantial than what is today. It saddens me to state that the UoM is nowhere near the publishing levels achieved by Universities abroad. I wish it was different. I also appreciate o however that this is down to a legacy of mishaps; becoming an associate professor at UoM required a ministerial signature rather than a broad portfolio of publications. Everyone is aware of people that merely have a Bachelor's degree and made it to senior lecturer or better. Calling this a scandal is an understatement. I understand that philosophy is changing and however still retain that it is still not enough. It still gives the opportunity to the institution to eventually get complacent and remain unchallenged. Research in itself is a challenge and that environment is near being non-existent either because it is under-funded or there is no objective into setting large research teams of the likes seen abroad.
Simon Mizzi
Apr 3rd 2010, 01:50
Part 2 - The pertinent question here is what was/is the scope of the UoM? To the wider economy it is merely dishing out students that are somewhat suitable for professional jobs. To me that does not sound good enough. I have yet to come across a sustained wide-ranging vision that sets research at the heart of what a University should be, and the under-funding mentioned here is a testimony to this assertion. Although lecturing is important, it is research that characterizes a university Research is fueled by competition for good funding, hence the need for an alternative institution.
@C Scerri. You completely missed the point of what I am advocating. I never said go ahead build an extra university with the present levels of funding. Increasing the ridiculous funding levels would be a natural requirement. What is being suggested is that increase in funding levels would be justified by ensuring the best possible research through a competitive process, not merely funneling extra money to an institution that remains unchallenged. If anything you justify the extra allocation by a good quality research outcome.
Simon Mizzi
Apr 3rd 2010, 02:08
Part 3 - The make-belief that somehow we have an under-funded institution that is somehow stellar is obviously nothing else than a case of acute denial. If anything the students that eventually go abroad are hard-working people that survived four years of a make-do academic experience that look for greener pastures abroad purely because the universities are better equipped.
The library is a stark example of what struck me the most. Writing up a suitable under graduate thesis using references from the UoM library is near being impossible and in contrast to the never ending selection of 24-hour libraries in universities abroad. If the book you are after is not owned by the library, the library arranges for it to be secured from somewhere else. Enough said?
Many people mentioned that Maltese students makes us proud abroad. Did someone ask the question why in the first place they have to go abroad? Hard as it may sound, the local research opportunity is very limited and the number of posts that are funded yearly is little and are snatched up through connections rather than credentials.
Simon Mizzi
Mar 13th 2010, 21:25
part 1 - Indeed this a good idea I have mulled over about many times. Having been exposed to the academic 'modus operandi' abroad for quite some time I always had the niggling regret of why things do not work out the same way in Malta. Indeed I want to see my country move forward. In terms of academia I see regression more than anything else. It is true that though under-funded the academic ability of the Maltese students is superior. However as an institution the University of Malta is a non-entity on a European level. It posesses a very thin research portfolio because it has no urge to broaden it. It does not have to fight for a piece of the cake because the cake is all theirs. Case in point is engineering research in the UK. Universities that are rated via a research assesment (RAE) compete with one another to secure funding from the one of the science councils (EPSRC) that are allocated a pot of money by the goverment. Each research endeavour is well peer reviewed and most of the times yields good quality work.
dfarrugia
Mar 13th 2010, 20:46
I fully agree with Dr Muscat regard a second university. I actually had this idea from long time ago. In our current university there is too much bureaucracy, some lecturers are self oriented - no care for student needs. Many private tuitions are taking advantage of this thing and offering foreign university course at crazy prices.
R. Caruana
Mar 13th 2010, 19:49
Good idea, Dr Muscat.
Now we wait with bathed breath to hear from you where the money is going to come from!!
dusty williams
Mar 14th 2010, 11:17
I assume you are a PN apologist.
Always the same 'daqqa' where will JM get the money. Just ask Dr Gonzi from where he gets his?
Finanzi fis -sod? is'nt it? So when JM becomes PM he is going to find the millions that a 'bil ghaqal' PN government has left in the so called 'Kaxxa'. We'll see.
Or the money he finds to get foreign advisers or so called spin doctors just recently.
J Martinelli
Mar 13th 2010, 19:37
Is Muscat's idea a whitewash to cover up the past under Mintoff and KMB when the University was just about decimated, and later closed MCAST?
Is this his way of spending less to rein in the national debt and recurring deficits, by creating another burden on the taxpayer?
Is he proposing a different 'class' of University strictly for those who can afford to pay the full fare?
What happened to the LP's idea of curtailing students' stipends and/or converting them to loans?
Can the LP ever get anything right?
ray sacco
Mar 14th 2010, 20:20
the university was decimated under mintoff????????!!!!!!!! you must have been living in disneyland in those days! university was only limited for the few rich before mintoff. he did not only make it accessible for everyone, rich or poor, but he also introduced the stipends that you are bragging about!
K. Tabone
Mar 13th 2010, 19:26
Look who is talking about the economy....if it was to Labour we are with the North Africans league and not part of EU.
Stating the investment is negative or Dr. Muscat is living in another country. I suggest Dr. Muscat before staing such comments he switch on his TV and check the economical situation in Portugal, Spain and Greece, apart from the investment which is flowing in as part of the initiatives the goverment is working on.
Thank God we have internet and pluralism nowadays to surf, search and read what the real situation within our region and within the EU.
Dr. Muscat you may fool some but not all.
P.Pulis
Mar 13th 2010, 19:16
The idea of setting up another university is not new. Dom Mintoff did this during the late 70's when he re designated the then MCAST(at Msida) as 'The New University. I together with others did part of my teachers course there.
Mary Ann Borg
Mar 13th 2010, 18:57
Hold your horses.....so Joseph is suggesting competion with Malta's university right? As usual, he was not specific, but this 'other' university could be either governmental or private. If it's governmental, it makes no sense at all. If it's private, then it will be at a cost to its students. Sure, of all people, Lejber is complaining of lack of competition when each time the government introduced competition (remember before Vodafone came to Malta?) all it did was scare Telemalta employees that this government is going to drive them all unemployed. Just for the heck of it, MIA has no competition either, so why don't we build another airport so that MIA will have to face competition too eh? Can one imagine if this government chose to open another drydocks in competition with the one we had? What would have Labour said?
m micallef
Mar 13th 2010, 18:38
yes a real centre for creativity and learning...desperately needed .. great to have a good idea among all the bog standard pronouncements in recent weeks from the pn
V.Busuttil
Mar 13th 2010, 18:24
I believe that Dr Muscat is unaware of the financial burden involved in setting up a university. Malta lacks funds to sustain high standard research, let alone setting up another university. On the other hand though limited with funds the education system at University of Malta surpasses that of foreign universities. I hope that these bizarre ideas do not mean that the electricity bills will be even higher. I think what this country lacks is the proper political competition for the Maltese to have the opportunity to choose the right government.
T Camilleri
Mar 13th 2010, 20:27
V.Busuttil What on earth has another University got to do with higher electricity bills?
Do you have a comfortable University job and afraid of competition?
Why not stick to the subject and not start sowing doubts?
How about asking how the government is going to finance the Valletta project?
V.Busuttil
Mar 14th 2010, 10:47
Dear Mr. Camilleri
Looks like Dr.Muscat and even yourself do not have a clue about economics. Dr.Muscat is constantly preaching that the electricity bills are high and wants to reduce them - yet he also wants to splash out more money in setting up another university. How about spending the money in building a more cost efficient power station, connecting the electricity grid to Scicily, invest in greener energy etc etc? He must have a pot of gold which the maltese are unaware of. In that case could you please let the current government know where to find this?
Also rest assured that a university job is not a cushy one. There is a misconception that a lecturer only gives lectures. Well you are wrong - lecturers are competing with other foreign universities to get funding. In some instances they are successful. There is however lack of support to enable this.
M.Brincat
Mar 13th 2010, 18:19
Idea tajba. Imma trid tkun tal-privat ghax inkella li nghid huwa dan:
Ma lahhaqnix ma wahda ha nlahhqu ma tnejn?
Chris Fenech
Mar 13th 2010, 18:14
This is a very good idea
Marton Saliba
Mar 13th 2010, 17:42
Ahjar jizviluppa aktar MCAST u jzid id-degree courses hemm. Universita ohra jonqos biex il gwerra bjjurokratika tisplodi.
John Tabone
Mar 13th 2010, 18:22
I tried to look up the word "bjjurokratika" in the dictionary but failed miserably.
James Inglott
Mar 13th 2010, 23:44
l-MCAST mhix Universita... u ma tista qatt tkun Universita...
Is-sisien ta kwalunkwe Universita huma bbasati fuq ir-riceka. L-MCAST ma tistax, ma tafx kif, u ma tridx tghamel riceka ta ebda tip - ghax hija skola vokazzjonali u mhux Universita.
Jekk irridu Universita ohra trid tkun privata u trid tkun bil-mizati bhal-bqija tad-dinja.
Smuscat
Mar 13th 2010, 17:39
Is it not just great when a Maltese politician talks so much sense. These are real solutions for Malta's economic woes!
G Bugeja
Mar 13th 2010, 17:18
This is a positive suggestion by Joseph Muscat. We students should have an option where to study even in Malta. A specialised uni should help Maltese students take new avenues in Malta and get more foreigners studying in Malta.
Makes sense.
Mario Farrugia
Mar 13th 2010, 17:09
I disagree that the level of education at the university is not up to EU standards....Mr Muscat should get some statistics of how many Maltese graduates were succesful in finding an employment in other EU countries thanks to the qualifications and good education level. Needless to say that there is scope for improvement, but that stands for anything and everything ...
C. Farrugia
Mar 13th 2010, 17:00
Has Dr Muscat forgotten the numerous local "campuses" of foreign universities already established in Malta. There are already a big number of private institutions offering a variety of degrees of foreign Universities in Malta in competition with the University of Malta.
T Camilleri
Mar 13th 2010, 20:30
How many of them are recognized? NIL.
Ludwig Flask
Mar 13th 2010, 16:44
Definitely some good points worth elaborating on. Fruitful if concluded!
James Borg
Mar 13th 2010, 16:44
Thank God. I hope this proposal sees the light of the day.
J. J. Borg
Mar 13th 2010, 16:41
I think this is a good idea.
WS
Mar 13th 2010, 16:40
Mr. Muscat if you would have a look around, you would notice that students today have a wider choice from where to seek eduction. Apart from the many private institutions offering higher education in Malta, thank to Malta's membership in the EU most students today find it affordable to study abroad, something which would have been very difficult if the country chose the PL's direction of partnership.
T Camilleri
Mar 13th 2010, 20:33
Affordable to study abroad?
Only those coming from rich families WS. This is apart from the fact that there was no need to join the European Union for Maltese students to be able to study abroad.
Why are you afraid of competition WS?
How many of the local private institutions are recognized abroad? NIL WS.
Patrick Camilleri
Mar 14th 2010, 09:03
Affordable???? I don't think you know what you are aware, last year I have paid 18,000 euros to study Music in London for just 9 months.
René Micallef
Mar 13th 2010, 16:39
I think a more interesting idea would be to restructure the UOM into a federal university. It could be broken up into a series of colleges, each with an endowment and board of trustees, and a central federal authority that monitors the quality of education given in the colleges and awards the degrees. Each college could establish prices for its courses within a range set by the central authority, and a grant could be added to the current stipend system to allow students to shop around for courses and degrees. Hence, the government would not finance the University directly, but offer grants to students to pursue university studies wherever they like, in public or private colleges affiliated to the federal University of Malta or in universities abroad. Sectors of the economy, such as the FOI, MHRA, the Church and private hospitals can set up their own colleges and schools and apply for affiliation to the UOM.
T Camilleri
Mar 13th 2010, 20:35
How many would be able to afford to pay Micallef?
You only want to go back to when University was only for the very rich as working-class parents could not afford to send their children to University.
ASpiteri
Mar 13th 2010, 16:37
A government simply cannot guarantee a free market economy, something which Dr Muscat is alluring he will work on, by having the same government playing a significant role in the same market. For example, if another private University is to open, as the same Muscat is suggesting, that situation would have nothing to do with a free market economy.
Free Markets can only be guaranteed when the government understands clearly what his role ought to be and that has nothing to do in operating a particular body or heavily regulating the same market.
Dr Muscat rightly so pointed out the financial services as the area which the country is being successful. And that’s exactly the perfect example of an authentic Free Market; where the government plays no important role within the market. The financial services are yet another prove of the victory of free competition over government policies.
Progress cannot be organized – Ludwig Von Mises