A consultation paper on the state of the University was launched by the government last April.  Caught up in the run-up to the electoral campaign, very little has been written about it, though some “murmurs” have been going on behind the scenes.

Of course, there are various points brought up for discussion in the consultation paper.

I would, however, like to concentrate on the supposed autonomy of the institution.

In its preamble on autonomy, the document states: “The objective of the University of Malta Act is to promote institutional autonomy, operational flexibility and efficiency. The University of Malta fosters diverse organisations characterised by a fundamental philosophy with autonomy as a core principle.

“Increased independence, financial security and sustainability, appropriate governing structures, strong management and leadership are essential elements for any university to accomplish its diverse missions and respond to the current challenges in an increasingly complex academic environment.”

According to this brief, autonomy should be the core principle. 

Of course, this is blatantly untrue.

I get the impression, when leafing through the text that the real autonomy the writer of the text is really concerned about is financial autonomy rather than academic autonomy.

In 1994-95 I had written several times that a University, whose rector is elected exclusively by a University council made up in its majority of members directly or indirectly appointed by the government of the day, is not autonomous at all. 

I had argued the University should be more autonomous.

This implies less representatives of the State on the University council with representatives from students and staff being increased.

Academics and the people working at the University, those who know better the University’s needs and its best interests, are being left out

The University rector and other high posts within the institution should be elected directly by the academic corps, elected representatives from the KSU and representatives from the non-academic staff. The rector should be directly accountable to the academic and non-academic staff and students.

Ironically, I find myself repeating the same thing 22 years later:  the call for real academic autonomy fell on deaf ears in Ugo Mifsud Bonnici’s time; it has likewise been given the cold shoulder by Education Minister Evarist Bartolo. 

The Maltese malady of ministers wanting to be in control of everything persists. But Bartolo is going two steps further in eroding the academic autonomy of the University.

This consultation paper is proposing two new bodies, a governing board and an executive board which, in theory, should serve as a trait d’union between the University and society in general. 

In reality, these two new boards – nearly totally made up of non-academics – risk undermining completely the role of the University council and senate.

The executive board would have a majority of non-academics, being made up of the rector (elected by the council, nominated in its majority – directly or indirectly – by government), a non-academic executive chosen by the council (ditto, as for rector), and a non-academic chief operations officer.

The governing body would be made up of a minimum of three to a maximum of five members, including the chair (the rector, elected by the council, nominated in its majority – directly or indirectly – by government) and two to four members, who should not have any direct interest in the University, governmental ministries or be members of Parliament. 

Basically, therefore, a governing body made up in its overwhelming majority of people coming from the private industry or world.

This would mean that the academics and the people working at University, those who know better the University’s needs and its best interests, are being left out of these two new bodies which, in reality, will be the ones calling the shots.

These new proposals are being presented under the pretext of modernising governing structures. Mr Minister, I do not buy that: these proposals are being made to further divest the University of its academic autonomy and to give the governing politicians – with their pro-business mentality – a stronger grip on its functioning.

Those wanting to increase University academic autonomy, rather than seeing it further diminished, should publicly speak up… now.

arnoldcassola@gmail.com

Arnold Cassola is chairman of Alternattiva Demokratika.

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