Academics condemn non-transparency of ‘American University’

150 academics have issued a joint statement condemning the lack of transparency in the proposal to construct a private university at Zonqor Point, Marsaskala.

“We express concern on the lack of transparency in the process and careful assessment in the selection of the project itself as well as of the proposed site,” the academics said in a statement. “We urge the government to exercise due prudence with a view to enhance the common good including through the strengthening of quality education and through the protection of land which lies outside development zones.”

Earlier this month, the government signed an agreement with Jordanian construction firm Sadeen Group for the latter to construct a private university, the ‘American University of Malta’.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) have recommended that the project be sited at Zonqor Point, a controversial decision that drew outrage from the Opposition, environmentalists, hunters, and the Church. Sociologist Michael Briguglio has set up a new movement ‘Moviment Harsien ODZ’ to safeguard Zonqor Point and other ODZ areas.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has insisted that he remains open to hearing out alternative sites for the university.

The statement signees include 120 academics at the University of Malta, 40 of whom are professors, along with other academic staff from the Junior College, MCAST and the Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary School. 

The UOM academics who signed the statement are:

Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Agius, Prof. Marie Alexander, Dr Stavros Assimakopoulos, Prof. Maria Attard, Rev. Dr Stefano Attard, Rev. Dr. John Avellino, Dr. Michael Axiak, Dr. Jacqueline Azzopardi , Rev. Dr. Joseph Bajada, Dr. Ruth Baldacchino, Dr. Mario Balzan, Dr. Albert Bell, Dr Alexandra Betts, Dr. Ing John Betts, Carmel Bezzina, Dr. Anne-Marie Bezzina, Dr. Elise Billiard, Prof. Anthony Bonanno, Dr. Charles Bonello, Dr. Anna Borg, Maryann Borg Cunen, Prof. Albert Borg, Rev. Dr. Joe Borg, Dr. Vince Briffa, Prof Charles Briffa, Dr. Marie Briguglio, Dr. Michael Briguglio, Prof. Lino Briguglio, Prof Joseph Brincat, David Calleja, Dr. Anne-Marie Callus, Prof. Ivan Callus, Joseph Camilleri, Mario Camilleri, Prof. Frank Camilleri, Dr. Michelle Camilleri, Dr. Marcello Carammia, Dr. Andrew Borg Cardona, Dr Mireille M. Caruana, Dr. George Cassar, Dr. Joanne Cassar, Dr. Maria Cassar, Prof. Arnold Cassola, Prof. Deborah Chetcuti, Prof. Paul Clough, Dr. Maureen Cole, Dr. James Corby, Prof. Vicki Ann Cremona, Dr. Dr. Jean Paul De Lucca, Dr. Manwel Debono, Dr. Nadia Delicata, Joanna Depares, Andreana Dibben, Dr. Pauline Dimech, Prof. Alexiei Dingli, Rev. Dr. Joseph Ellul, Prof Ray Fabri, Prof. Mark Anthony Falzon, Dr. Ruth Falzon, Dr. Ruth Farrugia, Dr. Fabrizio Foni, Dr. Mario Frendo, Prof. Anthony J. Frendo, Prof. Joe Friggieri, Dr. Grace Galea, Dr. Marco Galea, Rev. Prof. Paul Galea, Dr. Albert Gatt, Maria Victoria Gauci, Dr. Paul Gauci, Louise Ghirlando, Prof. Robert Ghirlando, Rev. Dr. Marcello Ghirlando, Dr. Shaun Grech, Dr. Adrian Grima, Dr. Reuben Grima, Dr. Anna Khakee, Edwin Lanfranco, Prof. Josef Lauri, Prof. Mary Anne Lauri, Prof. Adrian Mamo Gellel, Prof. Claude Mangion, Dr. Marie-Louise Mangion, Dr. Gillian Martin, Prof. Peter Mayo, Prof. Joseph Micallef, Dr. Dione Mifsud, Dr. Immanuel Mifsud, Prof Manwel Mifsud, Dr. Josephine Milton, Dr. Dennis Mizzi, Prof. Luciano Mule Stagno, Prof. Joseph Muscat, Dr. Marceline Naudi, Maria Navarro, Prof Joseph Pace Asciak, Prof. Roderick Pace, Prof. Joseph Pirotta, Dr. Maria Pisani, Dr. Claudia Psaila, Dr. Roberta Sammut, Dr. Ivan Sammut, Rev. Prof. Hector Scerri, Prof. Patrick Schembri, Dr. Sandra Scicluna, Rev. Dr. Mark Sultana, Prof. Conrad Thake, Prof. Alex Torpiano, Dr. Josef Trapani, Dr. Lonneke van der Plas, Prof. Carmel Vassallo, Prof. Mario Vassallo, Dr. Nicholas Vella, Dr. Patricia Vella Briffa, Dr. Sue Vella, Olvin Vella, Dr. Alexandra Vella, Prof. Edward Warrington, Amy Camilleri Zahra, Dr. David Zammit, Prof. Martin R. Zammit, Prof. Michael Zammit, Maria Zammit, Daniella Zerafa.

Academic signees from other educational institutions are: Kevin Asciak, Clare Azzopardi, Dr. Stephen Bonanno, Natasha Cordina, Angele Deguara, Michael Grech, Liliana Maric, Vincent Mercieca, Russell Mizzi, Jacqueline Rotin, Mauro Scerri, Dr. Clare Udras, Dr. Mary Grace Vella, Anna Zammit, Christina Zarb (Junior College); Dr. Michael Asciak, Juan José Bonello, Dr. Eman Calleja, Ralph Cassar, Stephen Farrugia (MCAST) and Tiziana Bugeja, Leann Gauci Abela, Elton Grech, George Mangion, Karin Rotin, Roberta Scerri, Dr. Colette Sciberras, Martin Vella, and Angele Pulis (GCHSS).