Following the most "scrupulous educational and financial due diligence exercise" lasting 14months, the National Commission for Further and Higher Education, Malta’s independent higher education regulator under the Education Act, today announced its decision on the application of the Sadeen Education Investment Ltd to set up the American University of Malta.
In a detailed presentation, the Chairman of the Commission, Martin Scicluna, outlined the rigorous educational and financial due diligence process which had been followed at every stage of consideration of the application. He emphasised that the methodology which his Commission had adopted had been objective, non-partisan, evidence-based, totally independent and strictly within the rules for such licences as laid down in the law. He said: “The Board of the Commission has been determined from the start to be guided by a desire for total transparency, complete adherence to due process and full accountability.”
In the light of the Board’s consideration, the American University of Malta has been offered a licence subject to its agreement to adhere to a number of stringent conditions for compliance.
Process was carried out opposite to procedure
In a statement, the Nationalist Party said the commission had acted as the Prime Minister dictated. It said the procedure in the process was carried out opposite to procedure with the licence being issued not following the submission of an application which was then scrutinised but after the Prime Minister took his decision.
It was only then that an application was submitted and the licence issued.
Before the licence was issued, the Prime Minister challenged the process and started calling the institution a university in his political messages, tainting the process as a result.
The party said the Commission should follow the process closely, specifically the conditions made and presented at a news conference, and not allow political pressure from the government to dictate its work.
The PN concluded: “This commission had the responsibility to ensure that the country's educational standards were not lowered but should continue to go higher.”
A copy of Mr Scicluna’s Speaking Note setting out the due diligence process.