Politics involves everything that surrounds us. In every form of organisational structure, one finds politics. For example, in the coming days, the University campus will be full of anxiety when the elections for the Kunsill Studenti Universitarji – KSU takes place.
On a visit I recently made to the KSU, I could understand better the hard work these students do for other fellow students. Thanks to their dedication, they represent students within the University Senate and voice the students’ and students’ organisations’ ideas in the various educational fora.
The Kunsill ta’ l-Istudenti Universitarji (University Students’ Council) is the oldest national student union in Europe. Arturo Mercieca (later Chief Justice Sir Arturo Mercieca) founded the KSU in 1901, as the Comitato Permanente Universitario (University Permanent Committee). The student union involved itself in student politics as well as national politics.
KSU represents all students attending the University, Junior College, the Institute of Health Care, Medical School and the Malta Centre of Restoration – on both a national and international level.
An organisation that will present a team in the coming elections is the Maltese Christian Democrat Students – SDM. The involvement of SDM in student life and student politics dates back to 1974. One of the main aims of its founding committee was to offer a voice to students in the political troubled period where freedom of expression was not a guarantee.
The objective of promoting freedom of expression is still one of this dynamic organisation’s principle aims. One must not leave out the principles of democracy and Christian values that are always given high importance when working on students’ behalf.
As the largest and oldest political organisation at the University of Malta, SDM promotes students’ rights at national and international levels.
Through participation and affiliation in various fora, discussions and seminars, Maltese students are being offered possibilities to exchange ideas with their counterparts.
SDM forms part of the European Democrat Students – EDS, an organisation involved in student politics in Europe since the 1960s.
Quite early, the founders of EDS realised that it often makes more sense to cooperate across borders and countries in order to fight for common aims, which were at that time primarily the fight for human rights and against the anti-democratic attitudes of the socialistic regimes in big parts of Europe.
These first steps led to the biggest political student organisation in Europe, nowadays representing about 400,000 students from more than 30 countries.
With a manifesto projected to cater for all students, SDM is presenting a team that guarantees hard work and collaboration for the benefit of education.
Its plan ranges from a programme to make campus more attractive to students to providing consultation services and policy-drafting.
Students’ contribution to politics is essential. The freshness of their ideas pumps new vitality and energy into the otherwise old people’s playground.
Quite a few politicians, members of Parliament and ministers have been involved in student politics.
An organisation such as SDM offers the basis for life values and principles. These organisations are producing the future’s leaders.
These are the same principles that the Nationalist Party believes in and works hard to promote, not only in Malta but also in other international fora such as the EPP-ED.
The principles of the liberty of the individual, participation, representation, subsidiarity and the value of the human person come before every consideration.
Investing in our students and in education as well as attracting investment to our country is a way of showing appreciation of our young people’s contribution to our society.
The Nationalist Party in government has always shown its trust in students and invested in their future.
David Casa is a Nationalist MEP
www.davidcasa.eu
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