The National Commission for Further and Higher Education (NCFHE) said it has recently issued a licence to the Sadeen Education Investment Ltd to start operating as a Higher Education Institution under the name of ‘American Institute of Malta’.
"The NCFHE has also been informed by the applicant that the intention remains to further pursue a fully-fledged University licence with the name ‘American University of Malta (AUM)’. The Higher Education Institution licence is a necessary first step towards establishing a University."
The NCFHE has also been informed by the applicant that the intention remains to further pursue a fully-fledged University licence with the name ‘American University of Malta (AUM)
The commission said a Higher Education Institution is defined by Subsidiary Legislation 327.433 (Further and Higher Education (Licensing, Accreditation and Quality Assurance) Regulations) as an entity with a distinct legal personality, which has obtained a license by the NCFHE to provide higher education programmes. Higher education programmes include all non-compulsory, formal, non-formal and informal learning or research, which serves to obtain qualifications at Level 5 or higher within the Malta Qualifications Framework, or a foreign qualification at a comparable level.
For a Higher Education Institution to operate, it needs to have at least one accredited course or programme of studies. In this case, the NCFHE has successfully completed the accreditation process of three courses at MQF Level 6. Moreover, due diligence has been carried out on the Head of the Institution and its tutors for the approved study programme.
"The Higher Education Institution licence issued is a temporary licence of one year which the American Institute of Malta can use to start its operations from premises which are fit for educational purpose.
"The venue, which is still to be confirmed by the applicant, should be in line with MEPA regulations in order to be accepted by NCFHE and before any tuition can start taking place.
An impression of a branch of the institute alongside Dock 1."The issuance of this license is one of the steps for the applicant to possibly meet the eligibility criteria required for a University status. In parallel, the NCFHE is continuing the rigorous evaluation process of the application submitted by Sadeen Education Investment Ltd for University status."
The commission insisted that the accreditation process and procedures followed in relation to this applicant were completely separate from and independent of the selection of the site or premises for 'the University'.
'AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF MALTA REMAINS SADEEN'S PROJECT'
In a statement this afternoon, the government said that the AUM was and would remain the Sadeen Education Investment project and what was announced today by the NCFHE was complementary to all this.
To obtain a higher education status, the institution went through a rigorous and independent scrutiny process on the quality of education it was willing to offer. This was a process which all institutions applying for this licence had to go though.
In parallel to this process that for the acquisition of a university licence, which was longer, continued.
NCFHE SHOULD TAKE ACTION - PN
In another statement, shadow minister Therese Comodini Cachia said the news was confirmation of the Prime Minister’s deceit.
The Prime Minister had been stating this was a university for a year but this was not the case. He also deceived Parliament which passed a resolution to transfer public land to a entity he described as a university when this was never the case.
He also mentioned it in his New Year’s Day message act.
Dr Comodini Cachia said the Opposition was still waiting to learn what action was the National Commission for Advanced and Higher Education to take against the entity, which advertised itself as a university.
Unless action was taken, she said, it would be failing in its job to safeguard standards.