The KSU said it wanted to help make the ceremony itself profitable or at least self-sufficient.

In a statement, the KSU said: “We are advocates of the stakeholder principle, whereby students and administration should work hand in hand for the overall good of the university.”

The KSU said it was willing to find alternatives to the Lm10 graduation fee, which many were perceiving to be a tax on graduation itself. The Lm10 fee had been introduced by the University but was later withdrawn following the intervention of Education Minister Louis Galea.

“The KSU has repeatedly stated its belief that university funding needs to be increased, both from government and also through generation of revenue from other sources,” said president Paul Gonzi.

The KSU said it believed in taking a constructive approach. “While we disagreed with the university’s original proposal, we fully intend to engage in consultation and to act in cooperation with the university to ensure that graduation does not remain to be an additional burden on an already cash strapped institution,” he said.