Opposition leader sounds like a broken record. Dr Busuttil has rehashed claims from long ago, which the Government has repeatedly denied and explained, the government said in a statement.

“Legal Notice 150 does nothing but strengthen the educational framework of the country and keeps research and relevant and adequate educational structures at the forefront of its priorities.

Through changes introduced by the NCFHE, the operational parameters for educational institutions have increased in quality through the improvements in the regulations introduced during 2014,” the government said.

It said that the way the Opposition has thrown mud at a highly-respected independent institution such as the NCFHE is a new low. The central regulatory function of NCFHE demands increased capacity building to fully address the legal remit assigned to it and to manage the due diligence processes.

In his address, the Minister for Education Evarist Bartolo once again said that nobody will be able to buy a university license and that all those who apply for one have to go through the rigorous parameters of the commission.

The Minister said that an institution’s value is not measured by how many programmes it provides but by the academic quality of its lecturers and the value of its programmes. Legal Notice 150 makes sure that the quality and value of its programmes are of the highest standards.

Minister Bartolo said that the new changes will bring the country at the forefront of the major changes happening abroad in higher education, whereby Malta has to compete for a part of the 4.5 million foreign student market. The Minister said that through specialized and technical universities, the country can attract a different and exciting new segment for the economy while providing valuable and innovative collaborations with local educational institutions and businesses.