Update with reaction from the MUT below – University of Malta lectures will be streamed online and where possible, a physical option on campus will be available, Kunsill Studenti Universitarji (KSU) said on Thursday.

In a statement, the KSU explained that following today’s University of Malta Senate meeting, during which the upcoming academic year was discussed. KSU student representatives advised that guidelines by the Health Authorities regarding University will be published in the coming days.

Lectures with a large number of students will be taking place entirely online. The number of students has yet to be defined, KSU said, however it believes that this number will be around 70 students.

Lectures with a smaller number of students will be taking place online with the possibility of joining physically.

Following the issuing of the guidelines, Faculties/Institutes/Centres/Schools will be analysing which study units can occur physically, depending on available spaces which are large enough to cater for the number of students allowed in a classroom according to social distancing guidelines, the KSU said.

Following a request made by student representatives on Senate, KSU said that all methods of assessment for the upcoming semester must be decided upon and presented to Senate for approval by the 22nd of October.

KSU presented its Pandemic Response Policy (https://bit.ly/3c9zKhy) to Senate with an appeal to all academics to “strive to improve online learning and online assessments and to ensure that communication with students is timely, effective and constant.”

Discussions are currently underway on feasible alternative options on graduations, that retain the dignity of such a momentous occasion, whilst also safeguarding the health of graduates and their families, the KSU said.

It was decided that by the 20th of November all students will be considered as graduates, with the possibility that the ceremonies take place at a later date. This allows students to present their certificates for funding purposes or future academic endeavours, where applicable.

Further information about the graduation ceremonies will be communicated at a later date.

KSU urged the Health Authorities to release guidelines for tertiary education institutions “without further delay to ensure that students have enough time to prepare for the upcoming academic year, especially those who have to make arrangements for housing.”

KSU’s letter to the Superintendent of Public Health and the Minister of Health, which it had presented on the 10th of August with questions related to the upcoming academic year, has until now remained unanswered. it said.

The Council also appealed to the University of Malta to finalise the specific logistics of the upcoming academic year. “This ensures that students are able to prepare for their return to University in a few weeks’ time, reducing anxiety and avoiding logistical issues,” it said.

Update –  The University of Malta reopening guidelines have still not been agreed upon by the Malta Union of Teachers, it said in a statement.

The MUT noted that it will be giving its feedback to the University of Malta during a meeting scheduled for Friday morning .

The MUT said that it has already obtained feedback from its members and guidelines have not yet been agreed upon.

The MUT augured that the UM will consider the feedback provided before publishing its guidelines.

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