Time to take a step back
This newspaper has repeatedly declared its stance against the siting of the American University of Malta at Żonqor Point. We believe that unspoilt land – the little of it that we have left on these islands of ours – should remain exactly that; unspoilt. But we also declared from when the education project was announced, that we welcomed the idea of another university in Malta, which would lead to the widening of academic studies in this country.
Last weekend, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil heavily criticised the investment in the university in his speech at the PN General Council, and at times, the tone used was reminiscent of age-old politics that we thought were long gone. Dr Busuttil said that the investors had no background in education, but many other investors have come to Malta with backgrounds different to the businesses they eventually set up here. Some were success stories, and others folded. If a person or a group wishes to invest here in Malta, then they should do so, and the argument Dr Busuttil made is precisely why it should not be on pristine land. If the venture were to fold, then that land would never be pristine again.
Editor’s pick
The White Rocks complex is a perfect example of such investments gone wrong. But to go back to the university itself. The PN leader went on to say that the AUM should not be granted a licence to operate unless the authorities are sure that it has standards that match the Tal-Qroqq University. We have to ask why? This is a private venture and people will be paying to read for their degrees there. It is surely up to the prospective students to gauge the credibility and the reputation of the university, and not the government. Tertiary education in Malta was very limited when the PN came to power in 1987. The UOM has come a long way since then and the doors have been opened to all. Standards improved, as did the quality and quantity of degrees on offer for study.
If the university does not reach the standards which will see prospective students invest their time and money to study there, it will fold. But the Opposition cannot expect the government to bar a university from operating in Malta.
The nation has united against the proposed site of the AUM, but from all the press releases that have been issued, along with the statements issued by many organisations, it also seems to be clear that no one is against the set-up of a new tertiary education establishment in Malta.
Competition is healthy. The setting up of this new university could well jog the Tal-Qroqq University into upping its game and shifting up a gear. It would also make sense for the AUM to identify gaps that the Tal-Qroqq University has left in tertiary education in Malta and fill them, or even offer courses that would complement the ones on offer at UOM.
To cut to the chase, our argument remains the same. There is absolutely no reason to fear another university opening up in Malta. The only thing to fear is that more virgin land will be taken away to make room for investment. This government said from the get-go that it is unashamedly pro-business. This is a good thing. But at the same time, this government must acknowledge the fact that one of the rallying calls it was elected on was for more protection to be given to the environment. If it cannot see that after the hunting referendum result and this massive public backlash it has received over the Żonqor plan, then we very much doubt that it will ever do so.