A press release issued by government has again referred to the 'American Institute in Malta' as the 'American University of Malta'.
Earlier this year, it was reported that the Sadeen Group which was granted land in Bormla and Marsaskala to develop a private university ignored judicial letters from the National Commission for Further and Higher Education (NCFHE) calling upon it to remove the word 'university' from its logo. This, as it is not licensed as a university, but rather as a Higher Education Institute.
The NCFHE at the beginning of 2016, issued a licence to the Sadeen Education Investment Ltd to start operating as a Higher Education Institution under the name of 'American Institute of Malta'. The NCFHE was also informed by the applicant that the intention remains to further pursue a fully-fledged University licence with the name 'American University of Malta (AUM)'. The Higher Education Institution licence is a necessary first step towards establishing a University.
A Higher Education Institution is defined by Subsidiary Legislation 327.433 (Further and Higher Education (Licensing, Accreditation and Quality Assurance) Regulations) as an entity with a distinct legal personality, which has obtained a license by the NCFHE to provide higher education programmes. Higher education programmes include all non-compulsory, formal, non-formal and informal learning or research, which serves to obtain qualifications at Level 5 or higher within the Malta Qualifications Framework, or a foreign qualification at a comparable level.
In today's press release, The Economy Ministry said the following:
"Work on the American University of Malta (AUM) site in Bormla is underway". "Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses Christian Cardona visited the site yesterday and was given a tour round the area by architect in charge of the project Edwin Mintoff, representatives from Sadeen Group as well as local mayor Alison Zerafa".
"The American University of Malta is the largest foreign direct investment to be allocated to the South in recent years, with €115 million to be invested over the span of three years. When complete, AUM will be attracting around 4,000 students, undertaking studies in engineering, medical sciences, and information technology".
"Minister Cardona stated how AUM, coupled with other educative projects such as the medical school in Gozo, will put Malta on the map for tertiary education. Impact assessments on the area have been carried out that show that the region will benefit from not only a regeneration of the area, but of an estimated 500 new jobs as well as economic boost. Cospicua's mayor, Alison Zerafa, commented on how this project has doled out pride to local residents at having such an institution situated in their hometown".
"Perit Mintoff when explaining the project described how it shall be divvied up and undertaken in phases, with initial work restricted to the building known as "Ta l-Ingliżi" and other areas tackled at later stages. A significant amount of asbestos has been found however in the remnants of the building, and accordingly every pre-caution is being taken so that is removed in the safest and most efficient way possible".
Minister Cardona noted how this project is one of the many the Government has undertaken in its commitment to bring about a new era for the South of the country, in facilities, regeneration and investment. "This together with the other many projects in the Government's vision that it set out to tackle in the coming years, including the building of two new hospitals, new schools, housing projects, the White Rocks and logistics free zones will ultimately lead to improving the quality of life for Maltese and Gozitan families today and for the next generations is the ultimate goal".