The University Students Council, KSU, has expressed concern on the introduction of the proposed American university, flagging lack of consultation and the negative impacts on the University of Malta.
It first had to be ensured that the University of Malta had reached the level of a third generation university based on the pillars of teaching and learning, research and innovation, and outreach services, the KSU said.
The introduction of a second university could lead to a situation where two average universities were present, denying Malta the chance of ever catching up with the rest of Europe and the world.
None of the stakeholders – including the University of Malta or the KSU itself – were consulted on the matter, with information only being given in bits and pieces by the media.
Such a claim raises a number of questions as to what kind of university is being set up
The students’ council appealed to the government to come clean with all the details on the project, providing the public with information regarding the entity and the involvement, or otherwise, of the DePaul University. This, especially in light of reports saying that DePaul would only be providing advice on the curriculum and would not be opening a Maltese branch or be in any way involved in running a campus.
“Such a claim raises a number of questions as to what kind of university is being set up and whether the government is rushing with this project when it may have concluded an agreement with a more prestigious foreign university,” the KSU said.
No adequate study whatsoever had been carried out on how this second university could affect the running and operations of the University of Malta and higher education in the island in general, it said.
The similarity of the name American University of Malta might also, in itself, lead to confusion with foreign students who might be led to believe that this new university was an extension of the present University of Malta, when in fact no such connection existed.
The KSU said it was also worried that, given the lack of planning and foresight, the introduction of the second university would create a price war for academics, with both institutions fighting over the best academic minds on the island by offering better wages and conditions.
“This could yet again potentially lead to poaching of academics from the University of Malta, to the detriment of its student body.”