(Adds government statement)
Opposition leader Simon Busuttil this afternoon met lecturers at the university to discuss a legal notice regulating a university’s accreditation.
Dr Busuttil expressed concern that this legal notice was lowering the requirements for foreign institutions to be recognised as universities.
Another worrying clause, he said, was that if the government felt that an institution that did not meet the required standards, it could still give it university status.
Malta’s whole reputation in the tertiary sector would suffer as a result, Dr Busuttil said.
Lecturers echoed Dr Busuttil’s concerned with some remarking they were even worried about the name American University of Malta, being adopted by the proposed new university.
“If anything, it should be American University in Malta,” he said.
STANDARDS AND QUALITY WILL BE IMPROVED - GOVERNMENT
In a statement, the government said the Opposition was completely wrong to say that the notice removed the need for a University to have research activity to get a University status.
It clearly states that:
“Higher education, teaching, research and dissemination of knowledge are the primary activities of the higher education institution.
The Opposition leader was also wrong to say that a minister could overrule the National Commission for Higher Education and accredit a university.
It said the legal noted stated:
“Provided that an accredited Higher Educational Institute shall be eligible to apply for University status if the Commission considers that such application is in the national interest and in fulfillment of national policies, on the basis of a different combination of higher education qualifications.”
This made it clear that it was always the Commission which evaluated any applicant and which would eventually issue the respective licence.
"The minister is not in any shape or form empowered to overrule this process."
The Education Ministry said it acknowledged that research was a priority both for the economic and the education sector, and not only would it keep the current present standards, but aimed to strengthen them. This could be seen through the introduction of post-doctoral research scholarships launched for the first time a few weeks ago.
"The ministry has repeatedly said that standards and quality will be improved through this legislation, which has the ultimate aim of opening the doors to a wider and more pluralistic tertiary sector," it said.