The seemingly endless University graduation ceremonies came to an end earlier this week. They were days of celebration for the students, as their graduation brought to an end years of hard work and studying. Some have already entered the world of work, others are perhaps still seeking a job, while there will be those who will continue their studies.

Next week it will be the turn of students attending courses at the Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology to graduate. Around 700 students will be rewarded for their efforts and studies.

The number of students graduating from University is going up year after year. This time round, a total of 2,670 made it, and one must point out that there were 580 more women than men. The highest number of graduates came from the Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy, with 501 graduated from the Faculty of Education, followed by the Faculty of Law with 359 graduates.

Over the years, the University has grown from the few hundred that used to be accepted in a limited number of courses in the mid-1980s, to one embracing thousands of students in a much bigger availability of subjects and professions.

Students who finish their sixth form studies today have much wider possibilities to choose from. Apart from university, they can also join one of the courses made available at the MCAST, which has opened up new avenues for those students who do not make it to university, or who prefer pursuing a career that requires training in skills that the university does not cater for.

And, while everyone is free to follow the career that he or she deems best for his or her capabilities, there should be a better focus in areas where more human resources are needed. For example, each and every year more lawyers graduate in a profession that has been saturated for quite some time, so much so that many lawyers today do not work in court but are employed elsewhere.

In other areas then, Malta is shorn of the qualified human resources that are so badly needed as the country develops. The pharmaceutical, financial and IT sector quickly come to mind in this respect. More and more qualified personnel are needed in these and other sectors that are quickly expanding.

To go back to the graduation ceremonies, it must be pointed out that students presenting their oration highlighted several points which the University administration must look into. These were, after all, comments that arrived from students who experienced difficulties and want changes to be made for the students who will follow the same course after them.

For example, there was a call for more work experience during university courses, and this is something that needs to be tackled. Too often, students finishing University have a wealth of theory but lack practice, and this makes it hard for them to adjust quickly when they find a job. Employers are sometimes sceptical when it comes to recruiting graduates directly out of university because of this problem.

Other calls were directed more at the individual courses, with students suggesting ways as to how these can be improved. For example, the student who delivered the oration during his diploma of Notary Public graduation ceremony suggested that law exams should be based on case studies, while there was also a call for changes in the B.Ed course.

The University would do well to take note of what was said, and possibly take remedial action if the students’ proposals are deemed to be justified.

The Malta Independent extends its congratulations to all graduates at University and MCAST and hopes that the sacrifices they and their families have made in their studying years will reap the fruit in the future.