More people will be involved in the election of the Rector of the University according to changes to the proposed new University law, prepared by the Ministry of Education. The changes also see the scrapping of a proposed new governing board.
Legal advisors Simon Cachia and Dennis Zammit, on behalf of the ministry, explained on Wednesday that the Rector will be elected by a college of electors. The voting members will consist of 10 members of the academic staff, 10 members of the administrative staff, 10 students (four who sit on the University Council and six chosen by fellow students), the seven members of the University Council appointed by the prime minister and a member chosen by the National Skills Council.
To date, the rector was elected by all the 32 members of the University Council.
The chairperson of the University Council and the Chancellor will be directly appointed by the Prime Minister. The head of the council formerly used to be appointed by the Chancellor.
The originally proposed governing board has been scrapped following opposition from both the University Student Council (KSU) and the University of Malta Staff Association (UMASA).
The board would have been tasked with approving the University’s plans and decisions, including its annual budget.
A strategic and financial committee has been proposed instead. Acting as just an advisory body, the committee will prepare a business and academic plan every three years, including proposals on the budget. The plan would then be subject to Council approval.
The council will also see a structural review, with the Prime Minister’s appointees, reduced to seven rather than the current 14. The academic, non-academic and student participation will see an increase of one seat each from three to four in the council. Students will also see an increase of five seats, to 10, in the University Senate.
An appeals board was also proposed. The appeals board will allow both members of the University and those outside University to appeal decisions taken inside the institution.
“This means that even those who, for instance, applied for a post at the University but didn’t get the role can appeal the decision,” Dr Zammit explained.