Our University: (Maybe) the last institution standing?
We are on the verge of inaugurating yet another academic year.
Dr Andrew Azzopardi Dean Faculty for Social Wellbeing, University of Malta & Broadcaster – Għandi xi Ngħid www.andrewazzopardi.org
It is always an exciting time for students and staff alike with that crumb of apprehension to see how the year will pan out. I have been working with this institution for over twelve years. Prior to that for another 10 years I have been involved in delivering the odd lecture.
Not that I am one of those who hangs on to the belief that having a University degree is the ‘be all and end all’ (far from it) but I do recognise that the Alma Mater has a central role not only of scholarship and lecturing, supervising and mentoring but also to lead our communities and society – as a minimum to be, have and share a vocal opinion. But I will get back to this later. It is very strange that whilst our Country has evolved on a number of areas, yet we still struggle on many fronts, which is understandable. John Heywood, an English playwright, reminds us that, ‘Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day’! He’s right but neither do we expect that all the values and beliefs that have fostered our society should slip out of our grasp in a jiffy. Let me explain. It is a fact that Malta has progressed, whether it’s our economy, our civil rights agenda, especially when it comes to disability and LGBTQI minorities, the voting age that has been lowered for 16 year olds and family friendly measures that have made it increasingly easy for women to pursue their careers. We are also witnessing a revamp of our infrastructure, new industries and so on and so forth.
The well-oiled Government marketing machine is very efficient at reminding us of these achievements. This is all good. But that is not even enough to complete.
Our country is experiencing a massive challenge when it comes to a number of other matters. The thing is that once an economy is flourishing, when there are ample work opportunities we think we are done. But as I have highlighted in other Opinion pieces I have written for this newspaper, I believe that we are at a cross-road when it comes to our institutional well-being.
Democracy cannot and should not be measured by income only but by a myriad of other measures. Democracy is not just about casting your vote every couple of years but about the sense of protection that the State provides you with.
In my opinion, a modern society should depend less on Government and more on the State infrastructure, in other words, on the Institutions.
Let’s admit it. This isn’t the case in Malta.
From finding a job, to having your pavement repaired in good time for your daughters Holy Communion, to getting an appointment in hospital for a hip replacement, to having your son go to a Church school, to dealing with an overdraft for your business – all you get is people running around from one Minister or Parliamentary Secretary to another, from one close mayor, Parish Priest to another. All hell will break loose if they don’t see you in a day or two because either the vote warning will be thrown at them or miskin hu when it comes to the chinwag in the Piazza.
If you are able to respond to the ‘Ara tirranġalix xi haġa’ mantra, it will make you an efficacious (hence popular) politician, Parish Priest, mayor and MEP. The sad part of this narrative is that we accept this as de facto and we hardly contest it.
But in my opinion a number of our institutions are in crises or else are wobbling. Before talLejber get their knickers in a twist and tal-Maduma start clapping hysterically and the ones in between smile from ear to ear, this is what we have inherited along the years. It hasn’t really changed and we acceded to this culture of supplication from our colonisers who would give us a pat and at the same time shove us into a pit. We have never learnt the lesson it seems because we have always been quite happy to dance to the tune and get lured by the magic pipe of the pied piper as we are sent to our kismet, a fate of pleading for clemency and favour.
And this is where the University is obliged to be the standard-bearer.
Its advantageous position of having the empirical data at its back and call is fundamental. Not only that, it is clearly delineated in the job description of every academic that they should be at the forefront of engaging in the community. We have the privilege of having the time and the knowledge to stand up to what is happening in our country when necessary and relevant.
With 14 Faculties and over 140 Academic Departments, Centres, Institutes and Schools involving more than 1,700 academics I believe that the army of free thinkers (which is not an exclusivity of UM) needs to be mobilised. Now, imagine if all the academics would stand up to the myriad issues we are being faced with that require an objective, unbiased and unprejudiced voice. I am not expecting that we need to wrestle people with different thoughts to the ground. In my own Faculty there is a range of people with different ideologies. But that does not mean we do not produce genuine solid debate on issues ranging from the economic choices we make, to dealing with social issues, environmental matters, domestic violence, gender issues, education, morality, migration, human rights, diplomacy, alternative energy, infrastructure and planning to name just a few.
Academics need to put themselves forward.
Society needs to appreciate the resource that this State funded University can offer. Who knows, we might be the ones who could steer this country to another level of governance, a new way of conducting ‘business’, providing for a fresh outlook to make our Country not only prosper economically but flourish in its democracy.