Earlier today, a UM Senate meeting was held, during which the upcoming academic year was discussed. KSU was contacted by the student representatives on Senate with the following updates:

  • Guidelines by the Health Authorities regarding University will be published in the coming days.
  • Lectures will be streamed online and where possible a physical option on campus will be available.
  • Lectures with a large number of students will be taking place entirely online. The number of students has yet to be defined, however we understand that this number will be around 70 students.
  • Lectures with a smaller number of students will be taking place online with the possibility of joining physically. Following the issuing of the guidelines, Faculties/Institutes/Centres/Schools will be analysing which study units can occur physically, depending on available spaces which are large enough to cater for the number of students allowed in a classroom according to social distancing guidelines.
  • Following a request made by student representatives on Senate, all methods of assessment for the upcoming semester must be decided upon and presented to Senate for approval by the 22nd of October.
  • KSU presented its Pandemic Response Policy (https://bit.ly/3c9zKhy) to Senate with an appeal to all academics to strive to improve online learning and online assessments and to ensure that communication with students is timely, effective and constant.
  • Regarding graduations, discussions are currently underway on feasible alternative options that retain the dignity of such a momentous occasion whilst also safeguarding the health of graduates and their families. It was decided that by the 20th of November all students will be considered as graduates, with the possibility that the ceremonies take place at a later date. This allows students to present their certificates for funding purposes or future academic endeavours, where applicable. Further information about the graduation ceremonies will be communicated at a later date.

KSU urges Health Authorities to release guidelines for tertiary education institutions without further delay to ensure that students have enough time to prepare for the upcoming academic year, especially those who have to make arrangements for housing. KSU’s letter to the Superintendent of Public Health and the Minister of Health on the 10th of August with questions related to the upcoming academic year has until now remained unanswered. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐨 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬.

The Council also appeals to the University of Malta to finalise the specific logistics of the upcoming academic year. This ensures that students are able to prepare for their return to University in a few weeks’ time, reducing anxiety and avoiding logistical issues.