Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi visited the University for Freshers’ Week today and underlined the government’s commitment for ongoing investment in the institution.

He also inaugurated new laboratories in the Chemistry Department which were set up in an €800,000 project partly funded by the EU.

Dr Gonzi welcomed the fact that more than 3,300 students have joined the University. He noted that 18,800 students had this year furthered their education and were receiving stipends from the government.

Other countries had reduced their investment in education while Malta was investing more in the students, the academic staff and facilities.

Investment in the university was ongoing, Dr Gonzi said, noting the recent completion of the IT  services centre and the laboratories, enabling the university to accept more students and offer more courses.  Current investments, he said, totalled €50m.

Dr Gonzi said the new investment in the Chemistry laboratories were another link in the government strategy to set up a  BioPark with an investment of over €20m.