University of Malta Strategic Plan 2020-2025 : serving students, scholarship and society, sustainably

Abstract

During the academic year 2018-19, from September 2018 through to May 2019, all 15,000 members of the community at the University of Malta were invited to actively participate in the Strategic Planning Process, as part of an ongoing improvement programme. The University was keen to hear different views so that we could ensure that the updated plan is enriched by the insights of the wider University community.

The development of the current plan reflects the evolving state of higher education, the economy, industry, and society. Although every new plan differs in some ways from previous plans, each one emphasises consistency in our mission, vision and values. It also draws even greater attention to our focus on the students’ experience, the needs and contributions of the academic community, and our impact on society. It is important for the University to engage in strategic planning, particularly at a time when rapid economic change, competitive forces, shifts in public demand and advances in technology pose challenges to every aspect of higher education.

Students, staff and alumni are encouraged to rally around the Strategic Plan 2020-2025 as a model for the pedagogical community we want to nurture and the impact we want to have on our nation and society. We are committed to making the plan an evolving blueprint.

For this purpose, the Rectorate, Senate and Council aim to prioritise a workable agenda of seven key strategic themes: learning and teaching, research and knowledge transfer, societal factors and impact, enterprise and industry impact, national impact, international outlook, and sustainability. These priority areas will guide academic, administrative, technical and industrial staff in aligning daily activities with decision-making and the allocation of resources. As the University continues to advance and succeed, we will engage the campus community in refining these priorities and phasing in other important components of the Strategic Plan.

The publication of the Strategic Plan 2020-202 is, of course, only the beginning. As members of the University community, we must endeavour to implement improvements and new initiatives, be accountable for our respective part of the plan, and be committed to the development of the institution as a whole. We must make achievement and continuous advancement an inherent part of our daily work activities so as to collectively achieve the goals that have brought us together at the University of Malta.