The American University of Malta lost its recognition in Jordan – the native country of the investors backing the University – because the nation published updated criteria to how it recognises foreign universities.
In a statement, the AUM confirmed that it was no longer recognised in Jordan after the country’s Ministry of Higher Education “updated its criteria lately to include a clause that for a foreign university to be recognized in Jordan, it has to be listed in the ranking tables of one of three international ranking agencies; namely QS, Times Higher Education, or Shanghai.”
The University said that it remains accredited in Malta by the MFHEA, meaning that AUM degrees are still automatically accepted in all 27 member states of the European Union.
Given the scenario presented by Jordanian authorities however, AUM said that it has now started the process to apply for one of these international rankings.
The University noted that the decision by the Jordanian Higher Ministry of Education came as no surprises to its administration and had affected a number of other foreign universities as well. The University noted that Jordan's decision on AUM will be automatically reversed once the requisite ranking is achieved.
The AUM also noted that the Ministry’s decision does not apply to any Jordanian students currently enrolled or those who have previously graduated from AUM.
The statement came two weeks after the news on the AUM losing its recognition in Jordan emerged, at which point the Nationalist Party had requested a review on the university’s license to operate in Malta.
AUM has struggled to attract students ever since it opened its doors in 2017, and in fact it allowed Maltese students to enrol at the University for free for the first time this year in a bid to increase upon the 200 students it hosted at the time.
The University has also faced financial issues, with The Malta Independent reporting in the past that it had registered losses of €14.6 million over the course of three years.
This newspaper also reported how the government had laid out the red carpet for AUM in Malta, pledging in a number of side agreements to help the struggling university on everything from obtaining planning permits, to sending it students so that it would be able to reach its full capacity.