The University of Malta

The University of Malta - traces its origins to the founding of the Collegium Melitense by the Jesuits in 1592. The College was raised to University status by Grand Master Manoel Pinto de Fonseca in 1769.

Situated at Tal-Qroqq, it is the highest teaching institution of the State by which it is mainly financed and is open to all those who have the requisite qualifications. Over the past few years, the University has reviewed its structures in order to be in line with the Bologna process which envisages the establishment of the European Higher Education Area by 2010. Conscious of its public role, the University strives to create courses which are relevant and timely in response to the needs of the country. The supreme governing bodies of the University are the Council and the Senate. There are some 10,000 students including over 750 foreign/exchange students from nearly 80 different countries, following full-time or part-time degree and diploma courses, many of them run on the modular or credit system. A basic Foundation Studies Course enables international high school students who have completed their secondary or high school education overseas but who do not have the necessary entry requirements, to qualify for admission to an undergraduate degree course at the University of Malta. The University is geared towards the infrastructural and industrial needs of the country so as to provide expertise in crucial fields. Over 2,500 students graduate in various disciplines annually. The degree courses at the University are designed to produce highly qualified professionals, with experience of research, who will play key roles in industry, commerce and public affairs in general. There are a further 3,000 pre-tertiary students at the Junior College which is also managed by the University.

The University today has ten faculties: Architecture & Civil Engineering; Arts; Dental Surgery; Economics, Management & Accountancy; Education; Engineering; Laws; Medicine & Surgery; Science and Theology. A number of interdisciplinary institutes and centres have been set up in various fields. These include Agriculture, Anglo-Italian Studies, Baroque Studies, Energy Technology, Forensic Studies, Health Care, Linguistics, Maltese Studies, Masonry and Construction Research, Public Administration and Management, Physical Education & Sport, Mediterranean Institute and Edward de Bono Institute for the Design & Development of Thinking while the Centres comprise: Centre for Communication Technology, European Centre for Gerontology, Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Educational Research, Centre for Environmental Education and Research, Centre for Labour Studies and the European Documentation and Research Centre which incorporates the European Documentation Centre established to serve as a repository of European Community documents as well as a resource centre for students and the general public. A Board of Studies for Information Technology regulates courses in IT.

Under the auspices of the University, the Institute of Conservation and Management of Cultural Heritage (the teaching and research arm of Heritage Malta) conducts undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Conservation Science while the Institute for Water Technology runs a course leading to the Diploma in Operational Island Hydrology.

A centre on Malta`s sister-island, Gozo, offers part-time evening degree courses in Arts and Commerce and facilitates short courses and seminars. Associated with the University is the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies which was established by special agreement with the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva. The campus is also home to the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) and the International Ocean Institute Malta Operational Centre (IOI-MOC). The public response to the University of the Third Age has been very encouraging with membership constantly on the increase and all activities being well attended.

There are a number of fields which the University has identified as priority areas. Chief among these, are relations with industry and the strengthening of the Engineering departments; the further development of information technology, computer science and artificial intelligence; the University contribution to the improvement of primary and secondary education and the forging of inter-university links to stimulate international educational exchange. A Link Campus has been opened in Rome in recent years. Initially, four Bachelor of Arts undergraduate degree courses are being offered in the areas of International Studies, International Management, International Legal Affairs and Communication Management while Masters programmes are offered in the latter two fields as well as Business Administration (MBA) and in the area of Intelligence and Security.

International conferences and seminars are organised by the Conference Unit of the Foundation for International Studies which is situated in the original University building in Valletta. In recent years, a number of Summer Schools and short courses for both overseas and local participants have been conducted under its umbrella. These have included English Language Courses, Summer Schools in Archeology and Near Eastern Studies, an Overview of the Mediterranean Environment and a Summer School in European Contract and Banking Law organised in conjunction with La Sapienza University, Rome. A number of programmes has also been organised jointly with Luther College, Iowa; James Madison University, Virginia; Bradley University, Illinois and South Texas College of Law (in collaboration with California Western School of Law, New England School of Law and William Mitchell College of Law) in the USA and in Australia, Australians Studying Abroad (The Sicilian Channel Programme). The FIS is also the home of the International Environment Institute, the Institute for Islands and Small States as well as the Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Insular Coastal Dynamics.

The University of Malta is a member of the European Universities Association, the European Access Network, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the Utrecht Network, the Santander Network, the Compostela Group and the International Student Exchange Programme (ISEP). Over the years, the University has participated in a number of EU Programmes and has won several projects under the 5th and 6th Framework programmes in collaboration with various partner universities. The University of Malta has a large number of bilateral cooperation agreements with universities overseas through whuch staff and students may also participate in programmes such as Erasmus, Leonardo and Comenius.

Links have been forged with the Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Industry and the Employment & Training Corporation in order to determine how the University, industry, business and the public sector can develop a mutually beneficial dialogue. Whilst acquainting potential employers with the knowledge and skills acquired by students at university, the University seeks to assess the needs of the various facets of the labour market in order to provide timely and relevant instruction.