With reference to the article University students bemoan lack of assistance prior to going on Erasmus programme, (TMIS, 20 December), the University wishes to clarify some of the issues raised by the students.
Ever since its local implementation, the University of Malta has strived to ensure that as many students as possible participate in the Erasmus Programme. Since the academic year 2000/1, the university has assisted over 1,000 of its own students to successfully participate in this opportunity to study abroad. Nonetheless, the infrastructure supporting exchange students is constantly being fine-tuned to ensure that they encounter minimal difficulties when benefiting from an Erasmus mobility period.
Mr Daryl Vella, who participated in the Erasmus exchange during the academic year 2007/8, went through the normal preparation procedure. This included the drawing up of a Learning Agreement after consultation with the student’s home faculty, the hosting university and the Erasmus coordinators at both ends. The University of Malta insists on this to ensure that the study programme followed abroad can be duly recognised by the University of Malta upon the student’s return. If study-units still need to be taken up here in Malta to cover content which is deemed crucial for the attainment of the final qualifications, students are advised beforehand. The International Office follows up on the accreditation process with students after their return to make sure that there are no problems regarding credits.
In the year in which Mr Vella participated there was indeed a problem with regard to reimbursement of funds, as grants to students reached the university only in December 2007 – thus students received their grants very late that year. Since then, however, the situation has improved and over the last two academic years, the funds that are provided by the European Commission and transferred to the university via the European Union Programmes Agency have been received during the summer period.
Regarding the 80 per cent-20 per cent funding formula, the International Office has operated this procedure since the inception of the Erasmus Programme locally. This is in line with the general funding formula across a relatively large number of EU Education Programmes. Students receive the remaining percentage following their return, upon presentation of the required documentation. The university is obliged to provide all final reports and a host of other documentation to the funding body in order to receive its own final instalment (20 per cent) of the funds for that year.
The student who remained anonymous claims that his/her accommodation costs were not reimbursed. It should be clarified that grants to students are calculated according to global grant rates issued by the EC. These rates take into consideration the student’s destination and mobility duration. The grant is to be seen a form of financial assistance that is provided to the student, along with the monthly stipend. Maltese nationals on Erasmus exchanges can also have their smart card fund converted into cash to further alleviate the costs of their mobility abroad.
With reference to providing help with accommodation, it should be said that each university participating in the Erasmus programme is obliged to provide assistance to its incoming students in order to locate accommodation. Although a number of universities, including the University of Malta, provide accommodation in university residences, a large number of universities across the continent do not have such arrangements in place. The International and EU Office advises all students to contact the host university in order to seek accommodation in the appointed residences or to obtain lists of contacts that are safe and have been checked by the host university. In all instances, we advise students to exercise caution and not sign housing contracts unless they have actually seen the place themselves or the host university has checked it for them. Students are always strongly encouraged to take up accommodation in university residences for a variety of reasons, but mainly because it is a safe and secure environment, there will be no further charges incurred for the consumption of water and electricity and all services are catered for.
Living in a university residence also brings students in touch with each another and therefore residences are important from the socialisation and integration perspective. The student in question was, in fact, offered the option of staying at the residence of the host university. However, the student deemed this to be more expensive than finding a private apartment. In reality, accommodation involves a personal choice that can only be taken by the student him/herself. Moreover, looking for accommodation and directly undertaking some of the preparation is part of the Erasmus experience.
The university trusts that, as another academic year unfolds, more students will be encouraged to take up this unique opportunity that is being presented to them.
Patricia Camilleri
Director
Communications & Alumni Relations Office
University of Malta