AD Chairperson, Prof Arnold Cassola said: “Following the various issues which have cropped up after the Prime Minister’s announcement on the establishment of the American University of Malta in conjunction with De Paul University of Chicago, we got in contact with the university in Chicago. The following is the answer received. From the content, it transpires that DePaul University has no involvement nor responsibility nor authority nor knowledge related to the selection process for the site of the American University of Malta and that it has not committed any financial resources to the land being used, buildings being built, and infrastructure.”
Full text here:
Dear Prof. Cassola,
Thank you for your recent email.
DePaul University has read a number of misstatements in various media outlets about our relationship with the American University of Malta, Sadeen Education Investment Ltd. In order to set the record straight, therefore, following are nine FACTS that we hope will set the record straight regarding that relationship.
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.”
For any question that does not pertain to the involvement of DePaul in the project, please refer inquiring parties to the spokesperson for Sadeen Education Investment, Dr. Naser Zayyat, +356 7980 1117n.zayyat@sadeeneducation.com with copy to legal counsel Mr. Louai Twal l.twal@sadeeneducation.com.
Thank you,
Kristin Claes Mathews, M.A.
Manager, News and Integrated Content
Office of Public Relations and Communications
DePaul University