The university collective (dis) agreement

This is the time when we students take sides. This is the time when we support the Academics' cause.

Government, UMASA and MUT have been at loggerheads over an issue which has taken way too long to solve. The situation in a nutshell is as follows: Academics, most of whom are well equipped with PhDs and valuable on-field experience, feel they are not getting enough and want more. The request is justifiable.

Despite being justified in asking for better conditions, the unions representing the academic staff took a wrong turning in June when they requested their members not to submit any exam result. The move was miscalculated because students were never properly informed on what was happening on the lecturers' side.

Six months after the June directive, students seem to be more aware that academics do have a point in what they're saying. This means that the unions stand a greater chance of obtaining backing from the student population than before.

However, we, students, need guarantees. We need to be made partners of a process of change gathering all stakeholders on campus. Together, we can achieve what others are procrastinating to deliver on.

We elected this ggovernment with a view of creating a Centre of Excellence in education by 2015, but, this same administration is still procrastinating in settling a collective agreement for the academic staff which is only making the risk of brain drain come true.

Facts speak volumes. In a report published last March by the World Economic Forum, Malta ranked 72 out of 134 countries in innovation, a far cry from a centre of excellence. Furthermore, Malta ranked 73rd in availability of scientists and engineers while Cyprus ranked 23rd.

Therefore, can we afford losing innovators who already live here? Shouldn't the ggovernment be providing a more lucrative package attracting more researchers to settle and work here?

The university is a place of research and tuition. Given the lack of research centers in Malta, it is the only place where proper research can be carried out.

Higher education is at the moment just like City Gate – a big, shabby construct obstructing the beauty of knowledge. Our higher education is in desperate need of capital investment: not only in terms of brick and mortar investments but also in human capital.

A new collective agreement for academic staff is just a first step in the direction of a complete overhaul of the higher educational system in Malta.

As main users of the system, we, students, are all well aware that our university, rather than providing a challenging experience, is currently structurally challenged. This is an opportunity to give our University new impetus.

We should start by showing solidarity to the cause of the academic staff, yet demanding that measurable commitments for the provision of higher quality education are made.

We can be the spark that makes Tonio Fenech render to Ceaser the things that are Caesar's and to Victor what's Victor's.

Matthew Mizzi is a fourth year Law student and is Chief Executive Officer of Insite – The Student Media Organisation. www.insiteronline.com