KSU coming of age

The newly composed University Students' Council was presented to the press this week as incoming and outgoing presidents portrayed the council as a growing force for student welfare and in higher education policy-making.

The KSU's work in terms of providing student services, proposing policies, organising social and cultural activities and within international student bodies is likely to be consolidated further this year, since the council members enjoy the unanimous backing of 22 student organisations including, for the first time, both left and right of the political spectrum.

In fact, the council's executive posts were uncontested after Id f'Id Ghalik, the organisations' umbrella body, selected what it felt were the best people for the job to stand for election.

This degree of consensus is expected to strengthen the KSU's hand in reaching out to university students and in influencing policy-making both at university and on a national level. The new executive takes over on June 1.

Paul Gonzi is the new president, having been secretary general this year. In his first public speech in his new position, he stressed how the council had grown and reformed over the years to be able to represent a growing number of university students, now nearing 10,000.

"No doubt it has also grown in its ideas and in its contribution...," he said in an address to the press and sponsors, the main one being HSBC (Malta), at the Westin Dragonara Hotel.

"But I stress, the council is not going to stop here. We will continue to grow in order to exploit the opportunities and face the challenges ahead.

"I insist that students, families and the media must stop and listen, analyse, criticise and give value to the council's contribution.

"Should it not be a matter of interest whether or not the KSU becomes a union? The council will continue to discuss its future. Should we expand to take in MCAST? To what degree should we grow?

"Should it not be of interest that we will be at the forefront of discussions on the reform of higher education, on the financing of the university and Junior College, on the reform of the Education Act, on the changes that must take place at the university in line with European regulations?"

He said the council would only get stronger, and he wanted it to be known for its contribution to advancing the quality of education. The KSU would play a part in the decision-making.

Outgoing president Justin Fenech gave an overview of the multitude of activities engaged in by the KSU over the year on academic, social and cultural levels, emphasising the volume of work that had been undertaken in its efforts to be of service to the student.

Among the more significant initiatives were:

¤ Boosting its Information and Communication Centre for students, InfoCom.

¤ The setting up of a committee on the future of KSU.

¤ The building of a Students' Hut on campus for use by student organisations and NGOs.

¤ A report on the university's progress in conforming to the Bologna process, towards setting up a European higher education area.

¤ The drawing up of an academic policy.

¤ The setting up of think tanks on the Education Act and quality assurance in higher education.

¤ Succeeding in having a Student Charter adopted by the university.

¤ The resolution of 80 per cent of student complaints against the university.

¤ An SMS service aimed at keeping students informed.

¤ KSU's election to the chair of an education working group within the European students' union.

¤ The organisation of the first official board meeting next September of MedNet, a network for Mediterranean students of which KSU is a founding member.