DePaul ‘honoured’ to design American University of Malta's curricula

DePaul University, said that it is honoured to help the upcoming ‘American University of Malta’ establish its curricula.

In a newsletter, the Chicago-based university said that over 20 of its faculty staff have spent several months designing curricula for the new private university that is expected to start hosting students in September 2016.

DePaul have contributed curricula for 10 degree programmes, including business, finance and computer game development. In total, they have designed curricula for five bachelor degrees, one MBA and four doctoral-level programmes.

“The faculty staff offered ways to implement innovative pedagogies and approaches in higher education, an exercise that will help DePaul students as well as American University of Malta students,” GianMario Besana, associate provost for global engagement at DePaul , said. “Having the opportunity to start from a blank state and designing a curriculum is a liberating experience for DePaul faculty,” Besana said. “They’ve been able to reflect on their own curriculum here in Chicago and even bring back some new ideas from the process.”

DePaul, the largest Catholic university in the United States, also pointed out that Malta is a “predominantly Catholic country”.

“DePaul’s Catholic mission and values resonate with many in the area,” Besana said.

Earlier this month, the government signed an agreement with Jordanian construction firm Sadeen Group for the establishment of the ‘American University of Malta’ that Sadeen expects to attract 1,000 fresher students every year.

However, its earmarked site at Zonqor Point in Marsascala is outside development zones, provoking outrage from the Opposition and environmental NGOs.