The University is committed to enhancing research programmes and offering a wider choice of post-graduate courses, University Rector Juanito Camilleri was quoted as saying, when he met Opposition leader Alfred Sant yesterday morning.

The number of undergraduate students must be controlled, so that the university’s standards are maintained, Professor Camilleri told Labour Party officials.

The Rector said that the university would like to continue creating links with others involved in the educational sector, industry and civil society in general.

Prof. Camilleri emphasised the importance of the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology, and the need for the university to work hand-in-hand with this institution to ensure that students are able to choose vocational or academic courses that best suit their capabilities.

Dr Sant said the Labour Party considered the university to have a crucial role in the country and he acknowledged all the work of the institution’s employees.

He also expressed his party’s concern over the fact that Malta is not reaching the aims of the Lisbon Strategy.

The MLP, he said, believed in the urgent need to create initiatives that will improve the sectors of science, IT, research and innovation, because at present Malta is in the last place in Europe in all of these sectors.