DePaul university gave Jordanians curricula, but not part of AUM operations

A private American university has insisted it is did not negotiate any part of the proposed ‘American University of Malta’ project with the government, and that Jordanian construction firm Sadeen contracted it to provide curricula for the 4,000-student campus.

DePaul, of Chicago, told MaltaToday yesterday that it had not committed any financial resources to the land being used, buildings being built, infrastructure, programmes.

The comments were also given to Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Arnold Cassola, who released a statement yesterday.

 “There is no agreement in place to provide DePaul faculty or staff to AUM at the moment. DePaul will not be involved in hiring faculty or staff for AUM and will not be involved in AUM operations.”

The university also insisted that it has no involvement, responsibility, authority, or knowledge related to the selection process for this university’s site.

Earlier this week, the government signed an agreement with the Sadeen Group for the construction of the ‘American University of Malta’.

Sadeen contracted DePaul to provide initial curriculum material for five Bachelor degrees, one Master’s degree, and four Doctoral level programmes.

“Such curricula were delivered by DePaul, as agreed, and submitted by Sadeen to the Maltese authorities on May 4, 2015, in order for Sadeen to receive a license to operate the American University of Malta as an institution of higher education and, subsequently, as a University,” DePaul said.

“We are willing to continue collaboration and cooperation with Sadeen and the American University, by providing consultative academic support to the project. No agreement in this direction has been signed yet, but one is under negotiation.”