Alternattiva Demokratika does what the Opposition should have done

The American University of Malta website, complete with cartoon font.

Alternattiva Demokratika has written to DePaul University, seeking clarification on claims being made by the government of Malta and Sadeen Group (the contracting and hotel development company which has signed an agreement with the government), and has received the following response.

AD has done what the Opposition should have done immediately, instead of falling into the trap the government intended it to fall in, and getting sidetracked by Giovanna Debono, her resignation and the arrest and arraignment of her husband.

The press was about to fall into the very same trap, but I wasn’t having any of that. It’s too much now: sitting here watching Muscat set up bear-traps for journalists and the Opposition and watching them fall neatly into them.

It’s like watching a pantomime, except that it’s real life, and dangerous.

Note to the Opposition: the issue is not Giovanna Debono. It is this. Stop singing from every hymn sheet the government hands you. Develop an instinct for the real issues. These things are instinctive. You need that instinct.

DePaul University’s prompt replies to everybody who contacts its communications office should serve as a lesson in public affairs (communication) to people in Malta. THIS is how it’s done. When you receive an enquiry from the press, a politician or a member of the public, you take it seriously and you reply promptly without seeking to conceal anything.

What follows is the exemplary reply that DePaul University sent to AD’s questions. It puts our government and its business partner, the Sadeen Group, to complete shame.

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1. DePaul University is not establishing a branch campus and will not be issuing degrees in Malta.

“2. The Sadeen Education Investment Ltd (SEI) is seeking approval to establish the American University of Malta (“AUM”). As part of this process, SEI contracted with DePaul to provide initial curriculum materials for programs at AUM. More specifically, DePaul provided curricula for 5 Bachelor degrees, 1 MBA, and 4 Doctoral level programs.

“3. Such curricula were delivered by DePaul, as agreed, and submitted by SEI to the Maltese authorities on May 4, 2015, in order for SEI to receive a license to operate the American University of Malta as an institution of higher education and, subsequently, as a University.

“4. DePaul is willing to continue collaboration and cooperation with SEI and AUM, by providing consultative academic support to the project (further program development, policies and academic structures development). No agreement in this direction has been signed yet. One is under negotiation.

“5. DePaul has not committed any financial resources to the land being used, building(s) being built, infrastructure, programs, etc.

“6. There is no agreement in place to provide DePaul faculty or staff to AUM at the moment. DePaul will not be involved in hiring faculty or staff for AUM and will not be involved in AUM operations.

“7. DePaul has entertained no negotiation or discussion with the Maltese government in relation to the American University of Malta project.

“8. DePaul has no involvement nor responsibility nor authority nor knowledge related to the selection process for the site of the American University of Malta.

“9. As to the use of DePaul’s name, DePaul University only has authorized SEI/AUM to state that its ‘academic programs were developed in collaboration with DePaul University.’”

DePaul University