A proposed new law focused entirely on the University of Malta was this morning opened to public consultation by Education Minister Evarist Bartolo.

The University of Malta Act seeks to provide long-term structures for the institution and will modernise the standards of “good governance” in order to improve the University’s autonomy and accountability, the minister said.

The new law would also ensure that students are offered high-quality experiences while safeguarding social inclusion, free higher education, social equality and opportunities.

Under the new law, the University will enter into a [funding] contract with the government for three years.

“We cannot be short-sighted or complacent. Our University is old and has been a success story for many years but it is not guaranteed that this will go on forever and that is why the Act is so important,” the Minister went on.

The University’s funding will also be improved and while in the past an annual budget was always allocated, under the new law, the institution will enter into a contract with the government for three years.

This, the minister said, will make planning in the long-term easier and more effective.

“Transparency in funding will be a requirement for the government and the higher education institutions at all levels,” Mr Bartolo said, adding that it was crucial that the University was not merely a resource pool but a system that also encouraged the involvement of academics and students in serving as critics of society.

No changes to the Junior College are planned.

The public consultation will go on until June 30 and any feedback can be sent to uom.consultation@gov.mt.