Updated | Muscat meets academics to discuss appointment of new Rector

Members of the University’s academic staff met with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in two consultation meetings held today.

The meetings were requested by Muscat, to listen to what the academics had to say on the future of the University of Malta and the direction that academic staff would like the University to take in the future.

The Office of the Prime Minister said this was the first time that such an open dialogue was held with the staff.

The meetings also discussed the appointment of a new Rector, where lecturers were asked about the qualities that academic staff expect the new Rector to have and thus help the University’s Council in its choice.

Whilst welcoming the Prime Minister’s invitation, the University of Malta Academic Staff Association (UMASA) expressed disappointment over the lack of consultation on the new University Act.

In a circular to its members, UMASA said that such consultation on the University Act should precede any meaningful discussion about the University’s future direction.

In a statement issued later on in the evening, UMASA said it welcomed the dialogue initiated today by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Education.

"UMASA is a major stakeholder and its members will be directly affected by any future ‘University Act’. We were thus reassured to hear the Minister of Education state that UMASA will be directly involved in pre-consultation discussions in respect of the drafting of the proposed legislation. We look forward to further opportunities to work together in the development of our national University."