Joseph Muscat’s cry for good governance two years ago must certainly be finding it difficult to sit side by side the ‘making a quick buck factor’ that seems to have taken over this government. We have ended up with a top-bottom central command government. One that laughs at consultation; one that needs to insert ‘national interest’ clauses in each law that could otherwise hinder it from making that quick buck; one that distrusts its own players and so requires them to seek permission when they are actually under an obligation to deliver what is right.
The Sadeen University of Żonqor has led to the revelation of the true scam – the making a quick buck off Malta’s reputation of excellence in education, while destroying this reputation.
Let’s set the record straight. Malta does not need anyone to make it a centre of excellence in education. It already is. Its reputation of excellence is reflected in its graduates who further their studies abroad and excel. The recognition of our lecturers abroad, their capacity to compete internationally with their publications , research and ability to reach out to society with solutions, witness the merit of this reputation.
So it is unacceptable for any Tom, Dick or Harry (be they the Prime Minister, the Education Minister or the NCFHE) to speak in words that place our higher education institutes, not least the University of Malta, as some sort of player in the amateur division while launching foreign-funded projects as some World Cup winners.
Excellence in education is not bought with money but attained through the vision, efforts, sacrifices and search for knowledge of educators and policy makers jointly. Malta has had its fair share of educators being left alone to protect what was gained over decades and develop it further. It is shameful that the Prime Minister fails to see that educators ought to be his partners not only when he needs to use them but also when taking decisions on changing policy in this field.
The title of ‘university’ is not simply some cheap anchovy paper. It can certainly be bought in systems such as that established under the new Legal Notice 150. Anyone with money can decide to apply for such a licence under this system, buy out a few good names in the academic field and set up shop. In fact, we have the first ever construction company doing just this.
Malta does not need anyone to make it a centre of excellence in education. It already is
The pertinent question here does not find an answer at law. The question is: what type of due diligence of the applicant does NCFHE undertake for each and every applicant? When faced with an investor, or a school that prefers to obtain a licence from Malta rather than from its own national accrediting body, what type of due diligence does NCFHE undertake?
I am not after financial due diligence, for education is not bought with money. I am after a high standard due diligence from the education angle, which should be the first step even before checking the application against the licence criteria.
The minister and NCFHE may play down the changes as much as they want and may also hide behind examples such as the “outstanding London School of Economics”. What is astounding is that even this example proves them wrong. They fail to realise that a university is not about PhDs alone or number of courses. A university is about offering your students an academic or vocational path in an environment that allows them to seek knowledge through the learning and sharing of different fields. It offers its students the unique opportunity of finding an exchange of perspectives.
Moreover, a modern third-generation university worth accrediting should be one built on three pillars: teaching and learning, research and innovation, and active outreach to governments, industries and civil societies to transfer know-how and stimulate socio-economic wellbeing. Higher education is not exclusive to ‘universities’ but the title of a ‘university’ is exclusive to this type of institution.
Alas, the minister thinks it a positive way forward if we do not seek all this from someone who would like to get Malta’s accreditation. What is pitiful is that NCFHE, an independent authority entrusted with accreditation, is not only willing to play ball with the minister but is also very fanciful in organising a press conference to defend this scamming exercise. Any student applying to a university expects a multi-disciplinary environment with opportunities to learn, research and participate in outreach. It seems they will not always get this from Malta’s newly accredited universities. To me, this is a scam.
As for Malta moving on, it should be wisely moving on by making its reputation better, not risking it. It should attract specialised higher education institutes and license them as such. Basically, it should call a spade a spade. Within Europe, we recognise the importance of expertise and specialisation in studies and we hold those institutes who offer specialised studies in very high esteem. There is nothing wrong with offering and choosing specialised education by focusing on one field. But selling such an institution to students as a university is a scam. Can’t this government even be honest in education?
From all this there is one clear conclusion: the change in the law suits those who wish to make education a commodity and sell it to the international students (I dare exclude the European students who may not easily fall for this scam). Well, if making money from education is this government’s game, the NCFHE ought to have kept the high moral ground and stayed out of it. The government should realise that a quick buck in education is too expensive.
Therese Comodini Cachia is shadow minister for education and employment.