The government is to introduce a new University Act separate from the current bill under which the University of Malta currently falls, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told a meeting of lecturers last night.

Dr Muscat met with lecturers for a discussion as the term of the University Rector Juanito Camilleri draws to an end.

In a statement, University of Malta Academic Staff Association said it welcomes the dialogue initiated by the Prime Minister and the Education Minister with regards to the future direction of the University.

"UMASA is a major stakeholder and its members will be directly affected by any future ‘University Act’. We were thus reassured to hear the Minister of Education state that UMASA will be directly involved in pre-­consultation discussions in respect of the drafting of the proposed legislation."

In an email sent earlier to its members, the had association said it has not yet been consulted on the new University Act. 

The meeting was requested by Dr Muscat, to listen to what the academics had to say on the future of the University of Malta and the direction that academic staff would like the University to take in the future.

The Office of the Prime Minister said this was the first time that such an open dialogue was held with the staff.

The meetings also discussed the appointment of a new Rector, where lecturers were asked about the qualities that academic staff expect the new Rector to have and thus help the University’s Council in its choice.