Owen Bonnici
Malta needs a better University
The future of our country and the answer to the question of whether we will succeed in the face of the threats and opportunities of the modern-day economy lies within the classes of our schools.
Within the four walls of every classroom, in the sparkle of the eyes of every single student of ours, in each minute during which the teacher patiently educates our children, lie the keys to the success or failure of our country.
Since we obtained our sovereignty, our economy has grown from strength to strength under successive governments. However, when compared to our colleagues in the European Union – not to mention other micro states outside the European continent – we are still not competitive enough, not creative enough and our economy is definitely small when compared to its potential.
A brief look at some nominal GDP per capita figures says it all. Our nominal GDP per capita is at €14,000 per person, well below the EU average of €23,600 per person. Other small European countries like Cyprus (€21,200) and Iceland (€27,200) fare much better than us while other small states which are outside the European continent, like Singapore and the Bahamas, have a nominal GDP per capita akin to that of Finland and South Korea respectively.
Our future definitely lies with education, education and education. And leaving aside all the cheap, political talk and catcphrases about the terrific new schools we’re building and the loads of millions the Finance Minister is allocating each year to education in the Budget, we have to ask ourselves: are our schools succeeding?
There are a number of international benchmarks and assessments which allow us to ascertain the level of progress of our educational systems.
For instance, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Programme for International Student Assessment presents the results of testing 28 million 15-year-olds in 74 educational systems that together account for 87 per cent of the world economy. Malta, unfortunately, does not feature in this study.
In the field of higher education, there are three important benchmarks for universities: The Times Higher Education University Rankings, the QS World University Rankings and the Academic Ranking of World Universities. These benchmarks are effective because they directly help international students to diligently pick and choose a particular foreign University on the basis of the success it obtains in those results.
Unbelievably, despite all the talk about Vision 2015+ and of excellence, the University of Malta, is not even listed in any of the three leading benchmarks in the field of higher education. Apart from the fact that by not being listed in any of the three leading international benchmarks we as a country are effectively rendering ourselves invisible to potential prospective foreign students (the University needs to attract foreign students in order to survive financially in the long term); this unfortunate reality does little to enhance the reputation which we all believe the University should have in a modern, knowledge-based economy.
Our University is one of the oldest in Europe – it was enacted on November 12, 1595 – and has produced along the years a number of leading academics. However, the fact that our University has failed to appear anywhere on the radar of the three most important benchmarks is definitely something not to be proud of.
Let me breeze through the rankings one by one. The QS World University Rankings is a ranking of the world’s top 500 universities by Quacquarelli Symonds using a methodology that has been published annually since 2004. According to the last research (2010-2011), our University does not feature in a list of 600+ universities.
The QS also provide a hotlist of countries which offer the best tertiary education to foreign students. While small countries like Singapore are prominently featured in this list, Malta is not mentioned anywhere. Similary, the British Council-sponsored Global Gauge, which gives a list of “top countries” for foreign tertiary students, does not even provide a passing mention of Malta while another small country by the name of Malaysia is specifically listed among the countries to go to for tertiary studies.
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings is the second international ranking study of the world’s top universities, published by Times Higher Education. Our University is not listed in the top 200, nor is it listed by region or by reputation.
Finally, the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), commonly known as the Shanghai ranking, is a publication that was founded and compiled by the Shanghai Jiaotong University. There is a whole list of 500 universities. Our University is not mentioned anywhere in this list.
Not being at least mentioned in those leading assessments does not only harm our collective aspiration of being a centre of excellence in the field of higher education but it takes away from us a golden opportunity to identify our strengths and weaknesses compared to our competitors.
We cannot keep acting as if we’re happy to think that our University is the educational equivalent of a traditional parish church in the middle of a Maltese village which takes care of the spiritual needs of the immediate micro community. I am sure the persons leading the University right now have a much broader horizon in their mind and are well aware that Europe’s economic competitors are improving their performance.
If we truly believe that our University must become a centre of excellence in our region, then we should invest as hard as we can to portray ourselves as a truly competitive and modern University and thus a leading country with a strong and well-performing economy.
Benchmarking is the key to building a strong reputation of skill and competence.
Dr Bonnici is the Opposition spokesman for higher education, university, research and culture and member of the Foreign and European Affairs Parliamentary Committee.
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Mr edwin formosa
May 5th 2011, 11:28
Min jaf kieku ikollna 'Universita Qadima' u 'Universita Gdida' ?
Ms F Goodwin
May 5th 2011, 11:01
I agree with this, and it's disappointing that some commenters are making this a partisan issue.
I am currently following the Law course at the University of Malta, and while it's certainly an interesting and worthwhile pursuit, there are some seriously worrying aspects. For example, the materials we are provided with are up to 50 years old. In one resource I read that laws are not enacted until they are approved by the Governor-General on behalf of the Queen! Regarding that particular resource, lecturers have to constantly point out to students that it's out of date and incorrect, yet it is still the main required reading, and no one has made an effort to update it to reflect even something as fundamental as Malta's independence.
Meanwhile, in one class, an elderly and respected professor sits in a chair at the front of the class, reading aloud from the assigned textbook, having apparently given up on any real attempt to teach his students.
Students talk among themselves so loudly that it's difficult to hear the professors, and play solitaire on their laptops. It's clear that a lot of students don't want to be there. Perhaps some reforms could reinvigorate both students and professors to ensure a more stimulating educational experience for all.
On the positive side, we are taught about Constitutional law by Tonio Borg, who was directly involved in many of the landmark cases he speaks about and therefore has great knowledge and insight. We learn about Criminal defences from a practicing defence lawyer. This is invaluable - only in such a small country would future lawyers have access to teachers with such extensive real-world experience. On the whole I'd say it is a good university, but Dr Bonnici's points are extremely valid. Even if it were ranked highly on the international stage, we should always admit there is room for improvement. Malta's policy of promoting tertiary education is extremely admirable, and should extend to improving educational institutions wherever possible.
Mr Joseph Cassar
May 5th 2011, 08:06
Mr. Bonnici should go and find those students that in the 70s and 80s wished to continue with tertiary education and were stopped by your Party in government because according to Mintoff and KMB and half the present labour MPs. it was a luxuray to have a university. Those who could afford went abroad to study but the majority remained without a qualification. The LPs record in education is a total mess.
Ms T Scicluna
May 5th 2011, 07:58
The university is made up of academic and non-academic staff and students and then there are the buildings etc. They are in inter-dependant so talking of a better university will involve more than just benchmarking.
You only have to speak to lecturers and students and their views are very different. Many of you will have friends who either work or study at the university, I am sure I am not the only one. Students complain that some lecturers are not committed putting other employment first, or they are never available or turn up late. Timetables are changed and are organised in such a way that time is not properly managed.
Admin staff can often be curt with students and act as if the students are just one big inconvenience. But are they treated as though they are there to serve by the students. Some students do not even say please or thank you or simply walk into the office without so much as a knock. So one can understand the frustration felt by both sides.
In contrast, students can be lazy, disrespectful, in some cases arrogant and expect the world to fall at their feet since they know everything there is to know about the world. Some do not even know how to read for a degree let alone reference correctly…if they even bought the allocated texts. Is it their fault? Or have they been demoralised by the system? Or are the fed up of the pressure placed on them from such a young age by parents and all the homework from as young four years.
Of course, I am probably referring to a minority in all cases, but they spoil it for those on both sides who are dedicated and courteous and hard working.
So, what happens? Lecturers feel demotivated, students can’t be bothered, bad feeling flows and everyone has a negative mind set…it’s a whole catch 22.
Then there is the variety of courses. There are so many A-levels missing that lead to the degrees to help build a foundation for better understanding. Some students study abroad simply because the course they want is not available here or space is limited. Thank goodness for MCAST offering more practical industry based degrees.
To have a better university, one must start by analysing the gripes of both staff and students, and not only listening but doing something about it. Many students and staff do not bother to complain since it falls on deaf ears. So those who are not performing get away with it, and those who do work hard are not recognised or valued whether they are staff or students.
Only when existing issues have been addressed, can one want to enter the university and take pride in it either as a student or a member of staff. Maybe some good old fashioned discipline and customer service (internally and externally) should be the first criteria to be implemented on both sides. I have studied both here and in the UK and also worked in the education system in both countries, every system will have its pros and cons. But, this is what I think is a positive starting point for creating a better university and I’m sure you don’t need a degree to work that out.
Alistair Farrugia
May 5th 2011, 16:28
Interesting post and I can say I would agree with your comments - having been a student at UoM as well as a worker for a few months, I can say that you hit the nail on the head pretty well with your comments too.
What I would add though is that what Dr. Bonnici said is still valid in terms of benchmarking and the need to expose our University better to the foreign market - it is a fact of life that foreign students can help finance expenditure at UoM and these won't come unless they know about us.
With respect to the other ills at UoM, these can and should be tackled if there's enough goodwill coming from all sides concerned, be it students, academic and/or non-academic staff.
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
May 5th 2011, 02:40
Congratulations to Owen Bonnici for telling it how it is. That heralds well for the incoming government.
Mr Paul Caruana
May 4th 2011, 20:12
Actually, I believe it is a big mistake to keep the focus on tertiary education. We still have far too many school leavers who at the end of their secondary school education can hardly read or write!
This is where the thrust of our educational effort should be - our state run primary and secondary school systems are simply non functioning properly. How about benchmarking our state primary and secondary schools with similar schools in the more developed EU nations?
Christian Sciberras
May 5th 2011, 03:00
How about this, students entering tertiary (University) education, *without* know how to read/write properly?
To add a little irony to the pudding, some of the brightest students seek education elsewhere (foreign universities most of the time).
Mr Alex Buds
May 4th 2011, 18:59
There are still plenty of things wrong with the UoM. There are several documented cases where qualified faculty candidates with dazzling qualifications were passed over in favor of incompetent and unqualified staff who were better connected in the university's political process.
Mr Joe Vella
May 4th 2011, 14:34
Dr. Bonnoci, yes, our schools are succeeding indeed. New Foreign investments in Malta never complain of not finding qualified workers to recruit. One reason Foreign Investment comes to Malta is because of its' educated workforce. That is thanks to our Educational Instituations. Like anything else there is always room to improve on everything. But when one hears the PL talks about reforming our education system, a shiver goes down my spine!!!
Mr Joe Vella
May 4th 2011, 14:27
"Since we obtained our sovereignty, our economy has grown from strength to strength under successive governments." Whom are you kidding? Unless in your eyes the "Korpi tax-xoghol" where the right answear for the unemployed in Malta. Il-Korpi tax-xoghol where a living example of the failed economic policies of PL Governments.
Mr Joe Vella
May 4th 2011, 14:22
Looking back at History, one cannot trust a PL Government to deliver a better University. Talk comes cheap, Deeds speak loud.
Mr Alfred Dimech
May 4th 2011, 13:58
If you want a good university then you need to start with the following
1) Transparent employment of academics.
2) Auditing by third parties of the courses being taught currently at the university.
3) Encourage academics to engage in CURRENT research, especially in the sciences/engineering/IT. A good number of the fields of research in these areas are nowadays considered fringe interest or dead fields. This is detrimental to the departments as external funding for research projects will not be available nor will students be willing to undergo PhDs in Malta.
4) Improve the library and get a comprehensive subscription to research journals.
The education situation at UoM is NOT good. In the sciences (which is all I can talk about) students are graduating without knowing fundamental topics. Just ask any student who does a PhD in a (good) UK university on how much work they have to do to catch up with the other students.
BTW I disagree with Mr. Muscat's claim. The UK tertiary education is far from being a shambles. It is highly regarded (though less than american universities). I am not sure why you would think the British education system considers foreign students "undesirables" seeing that they are paying same as (and sometimes more than) UK students. Please also remember that some of the best academics in the UK are foreigners.
Emanuel Muscat
May 4th 2011, 20:33
By undesireables I mean especially UK students who cannot afford now UK university rates but can come to Malta and study free of charge on courses such as engineering and the sciences which are very expensive to run just because they have the entry requirements,the funds to live on the cheap locally,and also because they are EU citizens.
We will get cases like we got recently of somebody settling here by buying a property of 100,000 and then getting treatment locally free of charge for 500,000.
It is a well known fact that UK SEC exams have been made so easy that today's A level grade is actually equivalent to yesterday's O level in depth of learning.That is the measure of the shambles I am talking about.
Ms F Goodwin
May 5th 2011, 10:47
@Emanuel Muscat: How can you classify young people seeking tertiary education as 'undesirables'? Do you use the word 'undesirable' to mean poor? Just because a young person wants to be educated but also to be independent and avoid accruing massive debt, doesn't make them 'poor' or in any way inferior to you.
Just think of EU students as long-term tourists - they stimulate the local economy and support local businesses without taking Maltese jobs.
Emanuel Muscat
May 4th 2011, 11:26
The british council should look nearer home for its statistics:the UK education system is in shambles because of their constant tinkering with dubious experimentation:it hates seeing education in continental europe progressing while theirs is mired in controversy.
What is wrong with our university?:ah,we are not featured in abstruse publications originating in the far east!
We are wanting to further educate profitably our maltese students or just trying to make money from the amount of foreign students who study and pay for their education here,as the brits are doing to their chagrin because it fills them with all kind of undesireables?
Wait till next october when we will get all kind of undesireables 'invading' our university coming to receive free education because they live in the EU.Just introduce heavy fees and give many scholarships to the maltese students as the rector is proposing:visions are made of this,not delusions from untried politicians!
Ms Melissa Bagley
May 4th 2011, 15:47
Will 'heavy fees' provides fee-paying students with a first-class university library - including post-grad level?
Emanuel Muscat
May 5th 2011, 07:05
What you need first for postgrad. is not a first class library but excellent thinking skills which mature into great ideas made now more possible by the internet.Most books that are in libraries are already old when published.
Christian Sciberras
May 4th 2011, 09:49
Also, Dr Bonnici, take note; if the university is set on gathering a good reputation, it must stop discriminating, believing in monopoly as well as treat the students as it should.
First of, times changed and the UoM isn't the only one all students must attend, there are other both local and foreign, the University simply must realize this competition.
Secondly, and most importantly, it must cease sending student invitations in such an horrible manner.
I mean come on, does it really have to send a hand-cut half-A4 printed in a way such that one could count the number of copies and the original long gone?
It's no secret the University tries to purposefully kick students out, and they even successfully deter prospective ones with shenanigans like this. And lets not even talk about discrimination against Gozitans....in this day and age...
Cecil Herbert Jones
May 4th 2011, 10:51
The UoM needs to translate all its textbooks to Maltese!
Mr Damian Agius
May 6th 2011, 08:06
Thermodynamics would be great fun in Maltese...
I am sorry but certain faculties need to know English, some jobs just need it. We should consider ourselves lucky, talk to any exchange student and they think that our ability to effectively communicate in English is a great advantage.
Mr joseph saliba
May 4th 2011, 09:38
A well researched stunner by Dr Bonnici first presented in parliament during a recent adjournment. Something real to be acted upon with urgency by those responsible. If I understand well, comparison with other educational institutions abroad will uncover the pluses/minuses showing us the way forward towards an excellent Vision 2015+ in education.