The American University of Malta has pledged to roll out a number of initiatives in the coming weeks, which it says will confirm the work it is carrying out is resulting in a “successful university of the highest reputation”.

The AUM has found itself in the spotlight following the news it is currently only catering for some 15 students and has purged practically all its faculty ahead of the new semester. It has also been criticised by environmental NGO Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar for a planning application that would add another storey to one of the buildings of its Cospicua campus.

However, in a statement released a day after meeting with Castille communications coordinators, the AUM played down these concerns and insisted the project is on track and delivering according to all contractual targets, obligations and standards set by the Maltese authorities. 

Indeed, the university suggested the low intake of students in its first year of operation was intentional.

“At this early stage of the project, AUM consciously decided to intake the first number of students during a low-key soft launch that the University had in September,” it said. “These students have already been assessed and the results for the 1st semester have been submitted by the faculty. It should be noted that lectures for the 2nd semester will resume on the 15th of January with the input of the new academic staff.”

The AUM also said it has replaced the sacked lecturers with full-time academic staff, which includes PhD graduates from renowned universities in Europe, the US, the UK, Australia and Malta. 

“This is in line with AUM’s vision and ethos of offering a quality international level of education,” it said. “Following rigorous scrutiny by all relevant independent authorities, AUM immediately set out to achieve high-standards in quality education and, even before the formal launch of the new University, this largest ever education investment in Malta is achieving good progress and adjusting to the realities which modern global universities face.”

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Tim Diacono

Tim is interested in the rapid evolution of human society and is passionate about justice, human rights and cutting-edge political debates. You can follow him on Instagram or Twitter/X at @timdiacono or reach out to him at [email protected]