PRESS RELEASE: MALTA CHAMBER OF SMEs CALLS FOR ACTION TO SAFEGUARD STUDENTS AND EDUCATION SECTOR REPUTATION

The Malta Chamber of SMEs, representing private education institutions licensed by MFHEA, is deeply concerned by the developments surrounding the International European University, Ukraine Malta Campus (IEU) case. While the situation is most unfortunate for the students directly affected, it also casts a shadow over the reputation of other legitimate private institutions that work tirelessly to deliver quality education.

The SME Chamber stresses that immediate action must be taken to protect students’ interests. Government should step in to ensure that affected students are given every possible support and facilitated in finding alternative pathways to continue their studies without further disruption and to ensure that the VISA Unit co-ordinates with MFHEA directly to offer these students an alternative. This is essential not only to safeguard students but also to safeguard the credibility of the wider private education sector in Malta.

At the same time, institutions found to be operating irresponsibly, irrespective of their license status, must be held accountable. The Malta Chamber of SMEs also notes that even though the license granted was temporary due to current events, had all aspects of Quality Assurance which would normally be necessary for granting a permanent license been carried out immediately upon licensing, this unfortunate situation could have been avoided. This incident highlights the need for the Authority to adopt a more risk-based approach to supervise, monitor and audit institutions. This approach should ensure that sufficient resources are available and are dedicated to provide appropriate review and supervision to those institutions that require greater scrutiny.

It is becoming imperative that the government works together with private education providers to cultivate an educational ecosystem that delivers excellence and focuses on quality.

The SME Chamber reiterates that the majority of private education providers in Malta operate to high standards and contribute positively to the country’s educational landscape. The current situation should not be allowed to damage the hard-earned reputation of these institutions