Updated 8.10pm, decision reversed
The University has reversed a decision it had taken to confer this year's degrees and diplomas in absentia.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Senate said the decision to confer the degrees in absentia had been taken because of uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Student organisations quickly described the decision as insensitive.
The University had said that while the degrees would be conferred on November 20, thanksgiving Masses and formal ceremonies would be held in February/March 2021.
The University Students’ Council (KSU) and the Studenti Demokristjani Maltin immediately called on the senate to reverse the decision saying it was insensitive.
By 8pm, Times of Malta was informed the University had, in fact, reversed its decision and the ceremonies would be held as usual in November and December.
Sources said the issue seemed to have been related more to logistics rather than the COVID-19 pandemic.
The sources said that students were to be informed of the university's decision in the coming hours.