The university is an institution of national importance and one must respect the autonomy of this institution, Education Minister Louis Galea said yesterday.

He was speaking during a meeting with the new government-appointed members on the University Council.

The minister spoke of the important role of the council, adding that the university, with over 10,000 students, is a success story in itself.

Minister Galea said that Malta’s level of tertiary education was among the highest in Europe with 22 per cent of students now attending university. The government wants to increase this to 35 per cent.

The members, appointed by the Prime Minister, are Paul A. Attard, Angela Callus, Alan Caruana, Godfrey Grima, Joseph W. Izzo, Philip Micallef, Frank Mifsud, Bernie Mizzi, Chev. Charles Sciberras, David Spiteri Gingell, Anthony J. Tabone and Winston V. Zahra. Francis Borg was appointed by the minister.