"[36], As of 2020, the American University of Malta is housed in a renovated building at Dock no. [13], In January 2016, John Ryder was named as the head of the American University of Malta, assuming the dual roles of Provost and Acting Vice President of the AUM. aum [71], Sadeen Education Investment Ltd submitted a planning application to demolish the water polo pitch and construct the campus on 17 February 2017. Despite the university's small student body, high employee turnover and growing legal troubles, Malta's Education Minister Evarist Bartolo insisted that the AUM is not entirely a "garage operation. [126], There is no greater gift the present can give to the future than a new generation of talented and inspired leaders, Knights' Building and proposed extensions, Lack of transparency and violation of public trust, Locating university in higher education saturated Malta, Faculty recruitment for accreditation purposes only, Low student enrolments and inability to achieve targets, Mass dismissals and other personnel decisions, Legal and ethical wrongdoing by Board of Trustees members, Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Center for International Higher Education, "Get Closer to Your Dreams with an AUM Esports Scholarship", "Join us in congratulating Prof. Dr. Narcisa Roxana Moteanu on her new role at AUM as Interim Provost", "AUM student population is a fifth of promised number", "Investiment gan-naa t'isfel ta' Malta American University of Malta", "AUM Opens its Doors to the First Batch of Students", "Estimation of the Contribution to the Maltese Economy of the Development and Operation of an International Higher Academic Institution: Update Based on a Project Proposal Spread Over Two Sites", "Government to rent public land to American University of Malta on the cheap", "Heads of agreement for 4,000-student American university expected on Tuesday", "Faculty create curricula for American University of Malta", "Former Baku university rector to head 'American Institute of Malta', "AUM owner aspires for 'higher education diamond in the Mediterranean', "From Baku to the 'American University of Malta', "DePaul University denies involvement in site selection for proposed American University of Malta", "When is a university not a university? [19], Philip Altbach, Boston College faculty member and director of the Center for International Higher Education, expressed concern that institutions such as Sadeen-owned AUM are "business interests starting universities to make money using the American brand. This program will help students improve their skills in Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing to help them succeed once they start their degree. [48][52] Opposition to the project was mainly because public open spaces would have been built up, and the proposed extensions would have obstructed views of the Senglea fortifications from Cospicua. [103], The AUM officially began offering classes on Tuesday September 12, 2017, rather than Monday September 11, to avoid association with the September 11 attacks anniversary. [2], Members of the Maltese political elite, media, civil society, academe and the diplomatic community have all raised critical questions about the university.

aum [3] The university's administration also includes President Lewis Walker, Assistant to the President John H. Bing,[3] Interim Provost Narcisa Moteanu[77] and Vice President of Global Initiatives Khaled El Zayyat. This is regarded as destruction of cultural heritage,[41] but it led to the creation of an open space which was rehabilitated and opened to the public in 2014. [30] The EAP program at the American University of Malta is designed to help students who meet all the requirements for admissions except for the language proficiency and need to improve their English language skills in order to begin their degree program. The commission imposed a number of conditions on the AUM, including an annual audit by the Clemson University. The project was intended to regenerate the South of Malta and give said area an economic and social boost. accreditation. [38][39] In an interview with investigative journalist Lizzie Eldridge, Ryder confessed that although he was not among the faculty fired in January 2018, it was still the "worst day of my professional life by far. The latter claims that it did not commit financial or human resources to the AUM, and it was not involved in any discussions with the Government of Malta. All applicants can apply for their degree of choice online by submitting all the necessary documents. A natural park, partially funded by the university, would be set up nearby. [79], Sadeen Education Investment Ltd purchased Bowyer House, a hostel in Tarxien, to be used as the university's official student accommodation in September 2017, and this property is currently being renovated. [44][45] The building is now known as the Sadeen Building, and it houses the university's lecture halls, laboratories, administrative facilities and library. [53] There were also concerns relating to the project's potential impact on traffic and parking spaces,[54] and that the project was unnecessary given the small number of students enrolled at the AUM, with some residents being concerned that the proposed student accommodation would be converted into a hotel. [33] After the conditions were accepted, the commission issued a 5-year university licence on 16 September 2016. [17] The American standard for a liberal arts education combines a general and a specialized type of education. [118][119], In a two hour interview with investigative journalist Lizzie Eldridge, soon-to-be-retired Provost John Ryder admitted that the mistake that led to the mass dismissal of faculty from the AUM in January 2018 was his own, an error in forecasting the number of students, courses and instructors required for the first academic year: "Part of the problem was that we were way overstaffed because I had hired with certain assumptions about the number of students and we weren't even in the neighbourhood for the first intake of students . [21] Also, concerns have arisen that the university's presence threatens the heritage and quality of life in the Bormla community and Three Cities region. The dismissed deputy manager filed a judicial protest against Sadeen Education.

This is part of a process, but the project will result in a University". The American University of Malta (AUM) is a private, American-style liberal arts college in Cospicua, Malta.

[64] Muscat responded to the criticism by stating that the Malta Environment and Planning Authority would consider other sites in the southern part of the island,[65] and a public consultation process was subsequently made in order to select an alternative site for the university campus. There are plans to extend the campus into nearby buildings in Cospicua, while a second campus at onqor Point in Marsaskala has also been proposed.

In 1776, arcades were built over the existing building by Grand Master Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc. [8] Asked how many students the AUM admitted for the Fall semester (academic year 2017-18), then-Provost Ryder would only say that student recruitment was proving to be challenging. [46] Despite then-Provost Ryder's promises to eventually share enrolment figures with the media, none were ever officially released.

malta university ta universit universita project blockchain scholarship launched fund international permaculture module ups tie global eduopinions think type sharda [24] The beginning of the first academic year was later moved to 28 August 2017, with lectures held at the Dock No. [9][10] Initially the university was planned to be located in Spain, but the owner of Sadeen, Hani Salah, was persuaded to establish it in Malta by the then-Prime Minister of Malta, Joseph Muscat. [10] The government approved the granting of land for the AUM after a 15-hour long debate in parliament on 15 December 2015. [55] Other critics of the extension included Yana Mintoff[56] and Labour Party MP Glenn Bedingfield; the latter was opposed to the accommodation which would have a swimming pool on the roof.

[6] Since the proposal was announced, Dock 1 in Cospicua was chosen for the head campus, while extensions are being planned for other sites in Cospicua and onqor, Marsaskala. [47], This proposal was opposed by local residents, the Nationalist Party,[48] the Democratic Party,[49] the Catholic Church[50] and various NGOs. "[16] In 2018, the AUM hired an American president, Lewis N. Walker, as well. [40] Its architect was William Scamp, who also designed the rest of the dockyard, and some alterations were carried out in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

[76], The American University of Malta has a Board of Trustees which is headed by Prince Jean of Luxembourg as Chairman and Hani Salah as Vice-Chairman as of 201920. This was the first step in the process to acquire a university licence. [40] Plans to restore the Knights' Building to house part of the AUM were announced in 2016, and the renovation was originally planned to be complete by 201718.

[62], The proposal to use ODZ land raised concerns among environmentalists, and multiple NGOs, the Alternattiva Demokratika (AD) political party,[61] the Malta Developers Association,[63] and the Church spoke out against the proposal. . malta study [83], In a series of articles on the AUM, titled 'When is a University not a University?,' investigative journalist Lizzie Eldridge suggested that one possible explanation for why the AUM retains its American identity is to "maintain appearances" as a legitimate higher education enterprise: "Sometimes, as, for example, in instances of money laundering, where a company is deliberately set up as a front, appearances are crucial. A spokesperson for DePaul University issued a statement, qualifying the legitimacy of AUM's curricula: "Faculty designed degree programs in areas that were requested, with the dual goals of being academically well-designed and meeting regulatory requirements in Malta. Currently the AUM is accredited by the Maltese National Commission for Further and Higher Education, but has not been able to meet the more rigorous standards of U.S. Soon after the mass firing of faculty in January 2018, the AUM recruited, hired and employed a lecturer with a history of committing plagiarism, clearly having violated the principle of academic integrity. [15][16], The university was supposed to accommodate 4000 students, primarily from the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. . The latter occupy the site of a water polo pitch and 18,000m2 (190,000sqft) of adjoining ODZ fields, and it would consist of three faculties and student dormitories, with a maximum height of five stories.

[25][43], AUM offers 10 undergraduate and 3 graduate degrees in the areas of Business, Engineering, Technology and Arts. Individual faculty members were selected with the help of teams -- composed of associate deans, school directors and department chairs -- in the relevant colleges. An early promotional video presented the new university's plan to admit 1,000 students in its first year, eventually reaching a total enrollment of 4,000 students by its fourth year. [26] In January 2016, the National Commission for Further and Higher Education announced that Sadeen Education Investment Ltd had been given a licence to operate a Higher Education Institution under the name American Institute of Malta. [citation needed], In July 2019, Provost John Ryder announced his resignation, stating that he had fulfilled his contract with the AUM but would have "loved not to have had some of the problems or [made some of the] mistakes" he did. [60], When the university project was announced in May 2015, the government offered Sadeen Group 90,000m2 (970,000sqft) of Outside Development Zone (ODZ) land near onqor Point in Marsaskala on which to build the university.

Arkansas State University reconsidered its earlier decision to collaborate with the AUM on dual degree programs after uncovering former employees' negative comments on the site Glassdoor describing the mass termination event. [116] According to Maltese Labour law, the six-month probationary rule stipulates that "[t]he first six months of any employment under a contract of service is deemed to be probationary employment, unless otherwise agreed by both parties for a shorter probation period. [5], AUM personnel decisions have also generated controversy, raising concerns about the legality of the new institution's employment policies and practices. [67] The group held a protest in Valletta against the development on 20 June, and it was attended by 3000 people. The general one focuses on a broad approach to education, while the specialized one is simply the major that takes an in-depth approach. [17], The original curricula of the AUM were provided by the DePaul University. "[84] Rumours that the AUM selectively recruited U.S. citizens to make the institution appear American are substantiated by an ex-staff member who claimed that in a Skype interview with provost John Ryder, he was told that 'the main thing you have going for you is that you're American.' "[89] A former lecturer at the AUM cited a confidentiality clause in the institution's standard employment contract that restricts transparency by threatening punitive measures against employees who leak information to the media. "[101], In August 2019, two former employees of the Maltese National Commission for Further and Higher Education, both directly involved in the AUM's accreditation process, were hired by the university as lecturers, suggesting the possibility of a revolving door or quid pro quo arrangement between the accreditor and the AUM.

[1][34], Two former employees of the National Commission for Further and Higher Education, both directly involved in the accreditation of the AUM, were hired by the university as lecturers in August 2019. [36] This episode became known as the accreditation-for-jobs scandal. Faculty then were asked to design the curriculum, and they were compensated for their work," also adding; "[t]he right to use our name (DePaul University) is specifically in connection to the curriculum. [1], The AUM welcomed their first small cohort of students in September 2017[8] while their main campus underwent major restoration. The designs of the proposed campus are by the architect Ray Demicoli. [30], Candidates without the proper documentation or low proficiency may begin their studies through the English for Academic Purposes pathway program. . [91], The Maltese government has also been criticized for permitting AUM, a foreign university, to establish itself in the small country of Malta, which is already home to several higher education institutions. [27] The commission has stated that a degree issued by the American Institute would have the same value as one issued by the University of Malta.

[73][74] Bartolo confirmed this once again in January 2018,[75] and in the following month AUM President Lewis Walker stated that development at onqor would only begin when the university has at least 2,000 students at its Cospicua campus.

[citation needed] Two months after the IT Administrator[who?] [99][100][35], The AUM has also been criticised for its poor quality assurance practices. [114][115] Five of the terminated faculty members sued the AUM for unfair dismissal and abuse of the six-month probationary period rule.

[17], The American University of Malta is open to receiving both domestic Maltese students and international students from all over the world. [citation needed] Ryder was promptly replaced by another American higher education administrator, Jeremy Brown. [59] The formal refusal of planning permission was made on 21 November 2019. [15], The project, which was also entrusted to Edwin Mintoff Architects, was to include alterations to the Knights' Building which consisted of the demolition of parts of its interior as well as the construction of an additional floor and a new wing. ", "When is a university not a university? "[117] The five lecturers reached an agreement with Sadeen to settle the case before it reached adjudication, the terms of which were never made public. [81], The university also has an esports team which is also known as the AUM Knights,[82] and it offers esports scholarships. Dollars), mismanaged the student recruitment process and, upon completion of the employees' service, failed to pay final salaries in full, "presumably from loss of currency exchange. [30], The American University of Malta currently offers accommodation in apartments in Kalkara, a town located close to the campus in Cospicua. [citation needed] Former AUM employees have expressed concerns about the fledgling higher education institution. 1 in Cospicua. An anonymous source at the university divulged to the Times of Malta that six new students had been admitted in the fledgling institution's second year of operations. Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia noted that "the man the Jordanian outfit has chosen to be rector of this questionable 'university' is John Ryder, who is the only American aspect of the project. It is a co-educational institution and its launch was announced in May 2015. (1)", "Sadeen's five-year licence 'dictated by law', "Xhieda li l-American University of Malta bdiet tagti spinta lin-naa t'isfel ta' Malta", "Cottonera activists urge residents to petition against AUM extension", "Cottonera residents unite against over-development", "House approves 'American University' property motion after night-long debate", "American University of Malta formally becomes American Institute of Malta, process to acquire university licence in process", "American Institute's degree 'equivalent to university's', "Watchdog fines Sadeen for marketing unlicensed 'university', "American Institute courses could start this year", "American University of Malta gets accreditation at last", "Conditions imposed on Sadeen Group for university licence 'are not negotiable', "No university licence for Sadeen, one month before 'first student intake', "Sadeen granted 5-year licence to run American University of Malta", "American University of Malta Hires Two Lecturers from Its Own Education Regulator", "Interview: The Man who came from Baku (3)", "American University Of Malta's Head John Ryder Will Retire This Month", "Concerns halt partnership between AUM and US university", "American University of Malta Company Reviews", "Cospicua's Dock No. [114][99][100], On 23 January 2020, Adrian Hillman, former Allied Group managing director, was removed from his role as the government's representative to the AUM board. [6][9] The project has an investment of over 115 million, and it was intended to create around 400[6] to 750 jobs. 1 and what it replaced", "AUM British Building Campus by Edwin Mintoff", "Edwin Mintoff Architects win top international award for AUM's British Building", "American University of Malta will not divulge number of new students yet", "Planning Application Case Details: PA/07496/16", "American University Malta's extension plans opposed by residents, PN", "PD 'to safeguard public interest' in relation to AUM extension", "AUM extension threatens residents' wellbeing and area's historical heritage, Curia warns", "Watch: Cottonera activists use Paris and Rome to make their point", "Civil action group urges people to sign petition against AUM expansion", "Planned AUM extension will have 'direct detrimental impact' on Cottonera, FAA warns", "American University parking spaces should be given to Borlma residents, mayor says", "Last ditch attempt to 'safeguard' skyline from American University Malta plans", "Yana Mintoff files objection to American University expansion in Bormla", "Labour MP: 'No Space For Swimming Pool And Dorm At American University Of Malta In Bormla', "Proposed dormitory 'too big for AUM's dozen students,' MP Glenn Bedingfield says", "Planning Authority to reject American University extension", "Jibda l-appell sabiex jitkabbar il-kampus tal-Universit Amerikana fil-Kottonera", "Church slams government's handling of university bid", "University plan 'puts pressure on Jerma site', "Fort San Leonardo may be incorporated in new university campus", "Tan-nofsinhar jibru petizzjoni favur il-proett tal-universit", "The American University of Malta Preliminary Alternative Sites Evaluation Report", "Godfrey, Marlene Farrugia join 'Front Harsien ODZ,' group says Zonqor project can be stopped", "Government announces reduced university plans for Zonqor", "KSU disappointed by the governments adamant decision confirming the American University of Malta at Zonqor Point", "Cospicua Heritage Society qed tappoja l-proett tal-universit", "Front slams vote for 'American University', "Developers of American University of Malta request planning permission to start Zonqor campus", "AUM should not build onqor campus yet Education Minister", "AUM Zonqor campus only once first phase is completed Muscat", "No Zonqor campus until Dock 1 reaches full complement is condition, not opinion Minister", "Plans on Zonqor will only start when Dock 1 campus nears full capacity new AUM president", "American University developers Sadeen buys Tarxien hostel for 2.5 million", "Join the World of Esports with the American University of Malta! It was also damaged during World War II and it remained in a dilapidated state.

[24] Front arsien ODZ and the University Students' Council spoke out against this proposal because it would still involve construction on ODZ land, although the former stated that it was better than the original proposal. [43] The renovation was carried out by Edwin Mintoff Architects between November 2016 and March 2019,[44] and the project included conservation of the existing building, reconstruction of the parts which were destroyed during the war as well as the construction of an intermediate level and additional floors with a contemporary glass-and-steel design. [107], At the start of the subsequent academic year (201819), the AUM's provost and the director of student recruitment only disclosed the number of countries from which it received applications, but not the total numbers of applicants or enrolments. [25], In December 2015, Leader of the Opposition Simon Busuttil stated that since the AUM applied for the licence of a "Higher Education Institution", its marketing of itself as a "University" is illegal. "[113], On 4 January 2018, Provost John Ryder informed the 12 remaining AUM faculty members by e-mail that their employment with the university had been terminated without cause. [28], However, on 11 March 2016, Sadeen Education Investment Ltd was notified by a judicial letter that licensed higher education institutions are prohibited from using the word "university" in their advertising and publicity, unless they have been granted that status formally. [3][78], AUM holds a university license from the NCFHE (License Number: 2016-002). So long as the AUM maintains an incomplete application, it can effectively hide from public view the planning documents for the controversial second campus at onqor Point. "[36], In the AUM's first two years, refusals by then-Provost John Ryder to publicly release the official enrollment figures was a recurring flashpoint of controversy. Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was accused of a lack of transparency with regard to how government agreements with Sadeen were made. [125] In an interview with investigative journalist Lizzie Eldridge, Provost John Ryder admitted that foreign students had used the AUM as a launch board into Europe. "[104] In November of the same year, the Times of Malta reported that the AUM's revised plan was to enroll 330 students in its first semester, but the "university managed to attract 15 students. [48] The NGO Flimkien gal Ambjent Ajar was also opposed to the internal demolition of the Knights' Building, and it stated that the project would have a negative impact on the quality of life of Cottonera residents. [123][120][124], In February 2018, it was revealed that four AUM students never attended any lectures and they were believed to have used their student visas to travel from Malta to other countries in the Schengen Area. Candidates must provide proof of English proficiency in order to receive full admission to the University. "[102], The Maltese press raised concerns that the National Commission for Further and Higher Education (NCFHE) turned a blind eye to the mass dismissal of faculty in January 2018 in a quid pro quo arrangement with the AUM. [88], Former AUM employees have criticized the AUM for its lack of transparency. Students are required to take a set of courses outside their major to develop their understanding of broad disciplinary areas and the connections between and among them.

[6][11][12], The National Commission for Further and Higher Education (NCFHE) officially accredited the AUM on 30 June 2016, after a 14-month process which included financial and academic evaluations. [citation needed], The university was originally intended to create a social and economic boost to localities in the South Eastern Region of Malta, which is regarded as being less developed than the rest of the island.

DePaul University provided the original curricula of the AUM. Arkansas State University, which signed an agreement with the AUM in March 2019 to offer dual degree programs, decided in September 2019 to freeze and scrutinize the AUM agreement after discovery of the mass firing of faculty in January 2018. [106] Four days later, Ryder acknowledged in a Television Malta interview that the AUM student body numbered 23. The General Education requirements are a total of 41-42 US/82- 84 ETCS credits. Two former employees of the NCFHE, both directly involved in the AUM's accreditation, were hired as lecturers by the university in August 2019, less than two years after the dismissal of the university's entire faculty: "Manuel Vella Rago was until recently Head of Quality Assurance at NCFHE, while Audrey Abela was its Head of Accreditation, both key roles in the regulation of the AUM.

[citation needed], One criticism is that the AUM is not authentically American. [5] By the time all campuses are complete, it is hope the university will have schools of business, architecture and design, engineering, arts, sciences, and information technology, each offering one or more Bachelor Degree Programs. The Planning Authority's policy has since come under scrutiny by the Ombudsman.

A former staff member has called the AUM's social media and marketing campaigns "smoke and mirrors," meant to hide the "AUM's activitiesfrom the public eye, behind a Facebook page designed to make you believe you've entered an idyllic higher education wonderland, in which it's nearly impossible to distinguish between fiction and fact, fantasy and reality, glitz and horror. A new water polo pitch would also be built to replace the one demolished to make way for the university. (3)", "Is Newest 'American U. of' Really American? 1, which was being constructed for the British Royal Navy. [66], Opponents of the onqor Point development set up the Front arsien ODZ (Maltese for Front for the Protection of ODZ) on 23 May 2015, and its founding members included then-Labour MPs Marlene and Godfrey Farrugia and former AD politician Michael Briguglio.

[87] NGOs have called for the publication of the agreement between the government and Sadeen Group. [108], In his role as Chairman of the Cottonera Rehabilitation Committee, Maltese Parliament Member and Labour Party insider Glenn Bedingfield expressed scepticism that the AUM would fulfil its contractual obligation with the Government of Malta to reach the agreed-upon number of students four years after the building phase of the Cospicua campus is completed: "I am beginning to doubt whether they [the AUM] will ever be able to attract the 4,000 students in the promised timeframe [2025 to 2029]. The apartments are co-ed, such that males and females can live in the same apartment but they cannot share a bedroom unless they are a married couple. "[85], Criticism has also been levelled at the AUM and Maltese Labour government for keeping the contents of its agreements secret from the Maltese public. "[109] On the 13 October 2019, the Times of Malta reported that the AUM had only recruited one-fifth of the targeted number of students, 143 of the 710 it had promised the Maltese government. [citation needed] Despite suspicions of ethical impropriety, an inquiry was never conducted.

Sitemap 25