The KSU University Students' Council has expressed disappointment that administrative problems may now inhibit students from benefiting from opportunities to study abroad.
The council was commenting on the decision by the European Commission to suspend Malta's participation in the Youth in Action Programme and the Lifelong Learning Programme.
Meanwhile, The Times reports that about 200 projects submitted by Maltese organisations and individuals could be derailed by the EU's decision.
The European Commission yesterday said it had taken this unusually harsh action after the Maltese authorities failed to rectify irregularities that were flagged in August.
The KSU noted that the mobility programme Erasmus forms part of the suspended programmes.
"Students have today (yesterday) received a communication from the International & EU Office of the University of Malta to inform them that this suspension will affect students who were going to benefit from the Erasmus programme for the next academic year. KSU believes this is an unacceptable situation, especially in the light of the fact that student mobility is going to be hindered because of administrative reasons."
The KSU explained that the current target for student mobility is that by 2020, at least 20% of those graduating in the European Higher Education Area should have had a study or training period abroad.
It was deeply concerning, it said, that Malta currently had an imbalance of incoming over outgoing students, with the student mobility rate for Maltese students still being one of the lowest in Europe.
"Thus it is clear that if Malta is to reach this target by the stipulated date, such constraints should be resolved as soon as possible."
It said that this year the Erasmus student mobility programme saw an increase in participation of students. "Thus it is quite disappointing to note that administrative problems may now inhibit students from benefiting from such opportunities."
It urged the Maltese authorities to take all the measures to rectify the situation and avoid placing Maltese students and youths at a disadvantage.
200 projects could be axed
Meanwhile, The Times reports that about 200 projects submitted by Maltese organisations and individuals could be derailed by the EU's decision to suspend funding for the educational programmes.
Although there was "no evidence of fraud", the European Commission complained about persistent lack of assurance as well as management weaknesses related to the accounting system and implementation procedures followed.
Some €4 million were earmarked for Malta in projects for this year and these risk being lost if the situation is not resolved soon.
The Education Ministry insisted yesterday it had started implementing the Commission's recommendations as soon as they were made. However, the EU was clearly not happy with the action taken because it warned that the programme would be suspended in March, then moved to suspend it on May 7.
The situation has thrown in limbo the plans of many students benefitting under one programme or another and who were advised by the University yesterday to hold any preparations "until further notice" and, in particular, not to undertake any financial obligations such as deposits for accommodation and flights.
Asked when the suspension was expected to be lifted, a spokesman for the Commission said the programmes would be resumed once Brussels was satisfied with the progress achieved.
A letter detailing all the requirements that needed to be addressed would be sent shortly, the spokesman said.
Asked whether the Commission was expecting any disciplinary action to be taken, the spokesman reiterated that no evidence of fraud had been found and, therefore, it would continue to cooperate with the Maltese authorities to address the problems and resume normal operations "as soon as possible".
He added that the Commission was aware of the impact of this decision and "deeply regrets" that a number of European citizens and organisations willing to participate in the programmes would not be able to do so.