University says it is 'beyond Ombudsman's scrutiny'

An Ombudsman’s investigation into a claim of unqualified examiners has prompted the University of Malta to declare that its senate’s “academic supremacy” is beyond external scrutiny.

Education Commissioner Vincent De Gaetano launched an investigation after a master’s student accused the university of “wilful negligence”, by appointing a board of examiners that did not have the necessary experience in the subject matter of his dissertation.

The commissioner agreed with the student, finding that the lack of relevant expertise by two of the board’s three examiners “doomed” the assessment of the dissertation.

The university, however, did not appear to take kindly to the scrutiny.

In a letter addressed to De Gaetano, a former chief justice, university pro-rector Carmen Sammut argued that the composition of a board of examiners cannot be reviewed by the education commissioner.

Sammut argued that the backbone of the University of Malta is its academic autonomy and that the law is clear insofar as the “academic supremacy” of the university’s senate.

The pro-rector said implementing the commissioner’s recommendation to reconstitute the board of examiners to re-evaluate the dissertation...