Reports that the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) has been denied entry to the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) are a "deeply concerning development with significant negative ramifications for Malta," Momentum said in a statement on Monday.

Momentum said that "this failure to meet recognised European standards means that bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees awarded by Maltese higher education institutions are now at serious risk of not being recognised by accreditation bodies, universities, and employers across Europe". The party described the situation as "a damaging blow" to students, the country's reputation, and the tax credit scheme.

It continued that the rejection by the EQAR, which it referred to as "a key indicator of academic credibility", directly damages Malta's international reputation as a trusted destination for higher education. It added that the rejection will likely deter prospective local and foreign students from enrolling in local private institutions, which it commented will impact the sector's growth as well as Malta's overall attractiveness.

Momentum executive member Katya Compagno said that this situation creates significant turmoil and uncertainty for students, "many of whom have invested substantial financial resources and time in pursuing their qualifications". She continued that the potential lack of international recognition for the students' degrees represents a major setback for their career aspirations.

Momentum stated that it is imperative that the Maltese government and the MFHEA "urgently address the shortcomings identified by the EQAR", and continued that a comprehensive review and subsequent reforms are essential in order to restore confidence in Malta's higher education quality assurance processes as well as to protect the interests of students and the country's academic standing.

It concluded that the EQAR rejection "casts a shadow over Malta's tax credit on higher educational qualifications scheme". It added that the incentive to pursue higher education at MQF Level 7 or 8 "becomes questionable if the qualifications obtained are not internationally respected due to the regulator's failure to meet European standards".

Momentum's statement came after the Times of Malta reported that Malta's higher education regulator has been denied entry to a European register of educational institutions after failing its latest assessment.