In the coming days, the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure & Capital Project, together with the Ministry for Education & Employment, the Secretariat for Lands & Construction and the Secretariat for Youths, Sports & Voluntary Organisations, will be making history by presenting a Parliamentary Resolution in favour of the transfer of ownership of four properties to the University of Malta.
Once approved by Parliament, the ownership of four properties, namely the sites of the Gozo Campus, the G.F. Abela Junior College, the Valletta Campus as well as the Marsaxlokk Campus, collectively totalling 60,000 squared metres of land, will be transferred to the University of Malta, who has, until present, been administering them.
This will be formally officiated through a contract for the devolution of the properties with perpetual ground rent.
This announcement comes after the string of events leading to this transfer of ownership was set in motion on 23 May 2019 through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the entities.A few days ago, it was also announced that part of the same Marsaxlokk Campus is being transformed into a community clinic.
Upon reiterating the government’s commitment to strengthening the University’s sense of independence and autonomy, Hon. Owen Bonnici, Minister for Education & Employment, said this Resolution will not just empower the University to face the future with more determination than ever, but it will also empower present and future students to have better educational prospects.
Hon. Ian Borg, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure & Capital Projects said this transfer of property will certainly lead to having a more autonomous and independent University that functions on freedom of thought. Hon. Borg also took the opportunity to thank the Lands Authority, which has for the past three years, undergoing a reform to effectively review the administration of a number of publicly-used sites – with this announcement being some of the fruit borne by such reform.
While Parliamentary Secretary for Lands & Construction, Hon. Chris Agius, augured the University a bright future, and assured that important contributions will be made from University, Hon. Clifton Grima, Parliamentary Secretary for Youths, Sports and Voluntary Organisations, also marked this Parliamentary Resolution an essential step towards the expansion of scope the University has within our society.
University of Malta Rector, Prof. Alfred J. Vella, expressed his satisfaction at the cooperation shown by this administration, and the previous one, in bringing this understanding to fruition, as it will position the University better than ever in terms of the contributions its constituents undertake for the benefit of society.