Although some students find the university and its library well-equipped and lecturers helpful, others feel the need for better resources, longer library hours and better career guidance. University students speak to Veronica Stivala.

Rebecca Callus
Age: 20
Degree: B.Ed., fourth year

Do you know what career you want to pursue after ­university?

I would like to teach home economics at secondary level.

Do you feel you have enough guidance on career and studies?

The Home Economics department prepares us for the future and holds relevant meetings each scholastic year. However I don’t feel guided enough by the university itself. The B.Ed. course if not given enough importance by the university. I would like better talks about what the course entails as well as having smaller groups in general.

Do you agree with the stipend system?

I feel the B.Ed. students are at a disadvantage and €85 is not enough to cover the resources we need for teaching practice. Home economics is not considered a science and we are not given enough to cover our expenses for, for instance, food demonstrations.

What are your views on the facilities offered by the ­university?

I find the IT services comfortable and well-equipped. The canteen can be a bit noisy at times and the choice of books in the library is a bit limited.

Does the University Students’ Council serve the students’ needs well enough?

I wish we had a representative from the B.Ed. course as I think this would help make our voice heard more.

Andrew Portelli
Age: 21
Degree: B.Sc. Nursing, graduating this year

Do you know what career you want to pursue after ­university?

After I gain the necessary experience as a nurse I would like to specialise in infection control.

Do you feel you have enough guidance on career and studies?

I felt guided in the part of the course which entails work experience in hospital. However, I wish some areas in the course were better structured. For instance, the dissertation process was not explained in enough detail.

Do you agree with the stipend system?

Yes and I think we are given enough to get by.

What are your views on the facilities offered by the ­university?

They are fine, although most of our lectures are held at the lecture room in hospital and the staff there always help to sort us out.

Does the University Students’ Council serve the students’ needs well enough?

The council has been very helpful in getting us extra time in exams and accommodating our needs. For instance, they set up a system whereby we could get our Smart Card refunds directly from hospital.

Daniel Spiteri
Age: 22
Degree: B.Sc. Chemistry, second year

Do you know what career you want to pursue after ­university?

Hopefully I would like to be a higher education teacher.

Do you feel you have enough guidance on career and studies?

I know what I want so I did not really feel the need to seek guidance.

Do you agree with the stipend system?

We do have to buy some expensive books but I think we are given more than enough. We are lucky to get a stipend since students in other countries don’t get a stipend.

What are your views on the facilities offered by the ­university?

I appreciate the fact that there are many places to sit outside as well as enough quiet places. Sometimes the library is full during exams but I always manage to find a place to study.

Does the University Students’ Council serve the ­students’ needs well enough?

It does not affect me since I don’t follow what the council is doing.

Jonathan Polidano
Age: 21
Degree: BA (Hons) Philosophy, third year

Do you know what career you want to pursue after university?

I would like to become a philosophy lecturer but before that I need to read for my MPhil and PhD.

Do you feel you have enough guidance on career and studies?

The philosophy course does not lead to specific careers but we are made aware of the tools and transferable skills the course provides us with. I like the fact that we are small groups, receive a lot of informal advice, are given a good reading list and have good contact hours with our lecturers.

Do you agree with the stipend system?

I agree with the system and don’t think there should be a payback system as this would defeat the purpose of encouraging young people to study.

What are your views on the facilities offered by the university?

If I’m not mistaken there will be a new canteen operator, which we need. The library needs to stay open longer, perhaps until midnight or even early morning during exams. In summer the fact that it closes at lunchtime is inconvenient for those working on their thesis.

Does the University Students’ Council serve the students’ needs well enough?

Outside Malta such organisations would have more power but I find the council’s initiatives, such as Freshers’ Week, helpful.

Reanne Zammit
Age: 21
Degree: BA (Hons) Maltese, graduating this year

Do you know what career you want to pursue after ­university?

I would like to become a secondary level Maltese teacher.

Do you feel you have enough guidance on career and studies?

No. We were told there were no jobs for us. I have applied for PGCE but only 18 students will be accepted – I feel lost.

Do you agree with the stipend system?

Yes. It is fair.

What are your views on the facilities offered by the university?

The food at the canteen is good although I wouldn’t call it healthy. At least there is the healthy food shop as an alternative. The library is well-equipped and has good online resources.

Does the University Students’ Council serve the students’ needs well enough?

The council does its job very well. Its members are our friends and I feel very comfortable talking to them. I take part in the student fest every year.

Giulia Saydon
Age: 19
Degree: BA (Hons) International Relations, second year

Do you know what career you want to pursue after university?

Hopefully I will do something in diplomacy, maybe with an international institution.

Do you feel you have enough guidance on career and studies?

The course is not vocational so you are bound to feel lost. In terms of studies, I feel guided and the credits direct us to some sort of profession.

Do you agree with the stipend system?

I don’t think we should complain since other students abroad don’t even get paid to study.

What are your views on the facilities offered by the university?

There are ample articles at the library and many are available online. In terms of facilities, as arts students we don’t have the best lecture rooms.

Does the University Students’ Council serve the students’ needs well enough?

I am in a university organisation – the Malta International Relations Students Association – so I am obliged to represent the students’ needs. Social networking has made it very easy to reach people.

Alex Micallef
Age: 30
Degree: MBA, part-time, third year

Do you know what career you want to pursue after university?

I would like to advance in my career and work in hospital management.

Do you feel you have enough guidance on ­career and studies?

Not really. The MBA is more targeted at people working in finance. I feel left out. There is a need for all kinds of management to be covered.

Do you agree with the stipend system?

Yes. It gives young people an incentive to study.

What are your views on the facilities offered by the university?

The IT facilities are very good.

Jessica Edwards
Age: 19
Degree: B.Sc. Biology and Chemistry, second year

Do you know what career you want to pursue after university?

I will probably work in research in a lab. I am still trying to decide what I like and don’t like about the course and the subject.

Do you feel you have enough guidance on career and studies?

So far I don’t feel guided, although perhaps this will change later on in the course. I find my biology lecturers more approachable than my chemistry ones.

Do you agree with the stipend system?

We’re lucky we do get something unlike students abroad who get nothing.

What are your views on the facilities offered by the university?

I don’t really go to the canteen as I go to the cafeterias outside. The library and IT services are very good.

Does the University Students’ Council serve the students’ needs well enough?

I think the council members are approachable and do enough for ­students.

Matthew Gatt
Age: 21
Degree: BA (Hons) International Relations, ­second year

Do you know what career you want to pursue after university?

I would like to work either in human resources or public relations.

Do you feel you have enough guidance on career and studies?

At university level no. In terms of my career, for now the plan is to continue with my studies and read for a Masters.

Do you agree with the stipend system?

Yes – we are blessed to have it.

What are your views on the facilities offered by the university?

We have ample resources. The search facilities in the library are very good. However, the Old ­Humanities building where we have our lectures is not very comfortable.

Does the University Students’ Council serve the students’ needs well enough?

I like the KSU executive – its members are very reliable.

Edera Degabriele
Age: 21
Degree: B.Sc. Chemistry with Materials, second year

Do you know what career you want to pursue after university?

I would like to work in oil or car materials although there aren’t many opportunities in Malta.

Do you feel you have enough guidance on career and studies?

No. We have never had any meetings about what companies I can work for. I don’t know what I’m going to do after my studies.

Do you agree with the stipend system?

The amount is fair. But I don’t agree that students who don’t attend lectures should still receive their stipend.

What are your views on the facilities offered by the university?

The junk food is far more expensive than the healthy food available at university. The IT is good but I cannot comment on the library.

Does the University Students’ Council serve the students’ needs well enough?

I don’t use their services but they organise good events which I sometimes wish there were less of because they are a distraction on campus.