STATUTE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTE

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L.N. 324 of 2009

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

STATUTE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTE

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred upon him by articles 74(5) and

75(6) of the Education Act, the Chancellor of the University of Malta has

promulgated the following statute made by the Council of the University

of Malta in virtue of the powers conferred upon it by articles 72(h), 75(2)

and 77(c) of the said Act.

Citation

This statute may be cited as the Statute for the International Environment Institute.

STATUTE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTE

The International Environment Institute is hereby established as an institution

within the University of Malta.

The aims of the Institute shall be to

(a) promote an interdisciplinary and integrated approach to all environmental

aspects, and address societal issues within an environmental perspective;

and

(b) promote research and training on all aspects of the human and physical

environment with particular reference to

(i) global questions relating to the management of the environment, to the

affirmation and protection of the rights thereto, including those of

future generations;

(ii) regional (e.g. Mediterranean) issues relating to the environment,

including conservation (loss of biodiversity in its various forms and

root causes of related problems, notably habitat degradation and loss);

(iii) training of target groups (including environmental planners,

environmental managers, architects, engineers, economists, journalists

and lawyers) on environmental issues pertaining, in particular, to their

respective areas;

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(iv) running of undergraduate and post-graduate programmes, as well as

short intensive specialised courses, where appropriate, in collaboration

with other institutions;

(v) gather and disseminate information and documentation on the

environment;

(vi) implementation of projects falling within the remit of the Institute.

The Institute shall cooperate with the Government of Malta and relevant

authorities/agencies and advise, if required, on matters relating to the

environment. The Institute, in collaboration with other institutions, may set up

under its remit other sub-units dealing with specialized aspects of the

environment, with the approval of Senate and Council.

The Institute shall be governed by a Board that will consist of the following

(i)

Chairman: the Rector of the University or his delegate

(ii)

Vice-Chairman: the Director of the Institute;

(iii)

a person appointed by the Council of the University;

(iv)

a person appointed by the Senate of the University;

(v)

up to two representatives of the academic staff lecturing or conducting

research within the Institute;

(vi) up to two representatives of the students registered with the Institute; and

(vii) up to four scholars of repute to be recommended by the Board and

approved by Senate.

The Registrar or his delegate shall act as Secretary to the Board.

All members of the Board, other than those appointed ex officio, shall be

appointed for a period of one year, renewable for up to four years. A retiring

member will be eligible for re-appointment.

The functions of the Board shall be

(a) to govern the affairs of the Institute, subject to the provisions of this statute

and of such regulations, policies or directions as may from time to time be

approved by the Council and the Senate;

(b) to formulate the policy of the Institute, to supervise its activities and

administration, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the

Board may

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(i) approve business plans and annual estimates of revenue and expenditure

of the Institute for consideration and approval by the Council;

(ii) with the written concurrence of the Rector enter into agreements with

third parties for funding of the Institute or of particular activities;

(iii) publish an annual report;

(iv) enrol the Institute in associations or institutions sharing its aims and

interests;

(v) propose Regulations and Bye-Laws to the Senate;

(vi) request staff members of the Institute to produce reports on academic

matters, including the curricula of courses of study, qualifications for

admission to courses, examinations and certificates of attendance or

qualification, as well as project proposals for external funding, and

scientific publications;

(vii) recommend to the Council the creation or abolition of academic and

non-academic posts in the Institute;

(viii) propose for approval to the Senate, Board of Studies and Examiners

for degree and diploma courses.

The Institute shall have a Director and staff

(a)

the Director shall be appointed from among the academic staff of the

University by the Council for a duration of one year, with the possibility

of renewal annually subject to established performance criteria, the needs

of the Institute and the needs of the University, for a total period not

exceeding four (4) years; and

(b)

the staff of the Institute shall be appointed by the University according to

usual practice.

The duties of the Vice-Chairman/Director shall include

(a) promoting the development and implementation of the Institute’s curricula

and research programmes;

(b) compiling and submitting to the Registrar of the University by not later

than January of each academic year, an updated comprehensive prospectus

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of the content descriptions of all current and projected study-units offered

by members of the Institute as per guidelines established by the Programme

Validation Committee;

(c) ensuring that the study-units offered by the staff members of the Institute

are delivered in accordance with the advertised programme of studies; the

Director must ensure that lecturing staff under his remit deliver all lectures,

seminars, tutorials and laboratory sessions assigned to them respectively, at

the time and venue advertised in the official timetable, and that any

deviations thereof are formally registered, and the students duly notified in

good time;

(d) delivering and implementing the strategic plan of the Institute;

(e) administering the Institute in full consultation with the members;

monitoring and approving requests for leave of absence of members of the

Institute; the Director is expected to maintain records of all leave taken by

members and to pass on these records to the Director of Human Resources

Management and Development upon request;

(f) promoting students’ academic and personal welfare, providing first-line

support to students with any difficulties they may encounter during their

studies related to the activities of the Institute;

(g) monitoring the running of tests and examinations in the Institute and

ensuring that all assessment and examination results are submitted to the

Registrar’s office as follows

January session – by the end of March;

May/June session – final year results by not later than two working days

prior to the final year degree classification board but in any case not

later than end of July, other results as early as possible but not later than

the end of July;

September session – by the end of September.

(h) encouraging and facilitating co-operation with other universities and other

institutions;

(i) calling and chairing (in lieu of the Rector) meetings of the Board of the

Institute and ensuring that follow-up action is taken;

(j)

ensuring and facilitating the further development and training of academic

and non-academic staff;

(k) participating at any meeting of the University congruent with the post;

(l)

representing the Institute during official functions of the University;

(m) compiling and submitting to the Secretary of the University by the end of

September of each academic year, an annual report outlining the activities

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of the Institute for the outgoing year, which should include amongst other

information that may be requested by the Secretary: a comprehensive list

of recent publications of all members of the Institute; a synopsis of all

projects involving members of the Institute which are wholly or partially

externally funded; a list of all conferences/seminars/meetings attended

abroad by members of the Institute during term time; and an outline of the

Institute’s collaboration with third parties including local industry,

Government or civil society at large;

(n) compiling and submitting to the Director of Finance of the University by

not later than end of May of each academic year budgetary estimates for

the following year including a manpower plan for the Institute, to cover

the projected teaching, research and administration workload of the

Institute, and based on the projected workload for each Resident

Academic member of the Institute and Visiting Teaching Staff;

(o) monitoring the performance of the non-academic staff attached to the

Institute;

(p) authorising the Institute’s procurement of equipment; ensuring that the

resources assigned to the Institute – whether human or other – are utilized

fully and efficiently;

(q) performing other duties which may be assigned by the University from

time to time.

The Director moreover

(a)

is to report directly to the Chairman of the Board governing the Institute

and shall collaborate with all senior administrative officers of the

University;

(b)

shall normally be a Resident Academic engaged with the University on a

full-time basis for the duration of his tenure as Director. If the Institute is

engaged in undergraduate or postgraduate taught programmes of study

then the Director must be engaged with the University as a Resident

Academic on a full-time basis;

(c)

should not be engaged in any other activity outside the University which

may be in conflict with, or distract him from, his duties at the University;

(d)

is expected to be present on campus or any designated University of Malta

site at least during normal office hours from Monday to Friday throughout

the year subject to the exigencies of an academic in accordance with the

University’s practices and needs and subject to normal leave entitlement

and public holidays as provided for at law; should his absence be

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necessary and justified he must ensure that he is immediately contactable

through the secretarial staff of the Institute;

(e)

shall not give access to any information to any third party that is not

associated with the University of Malta, about any work or data that

relates to tasks conducted at the University of Malta without the prior

approval of the University of Malta; all work carried out within the

Institute must be treated according to Maltese data protection legislation;

(f)

is to abide with the statutes, regulations and policies of the University of

Malta, which are in force now or will become effective in the duration of

his tenure.

The Director of Finance of the University shall be the Treasurer of the Institute.

There shall be an International Scientific Advisory Committee composed of

scholars of repute appointed by the Board.

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APPENDIX I

C OUNCIL OF E UROPE S PECIALISED C ENTRE

Article 1

Establishment, objectives and functions of the Centre

1. There is hereby established under the auspices of the Council of Europe and

with the Agreement of the Government of Malta (hereinafter referred to as

“The Government”), the Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Insular Coastal

Dynamics (hereinafter referred to as “the Centre”) at the International

Environment Institute (hereinafter referred to as “the Institute”) within the

University of Malta.

2. The Centre is set up at the Institute which shall be responsible for the overall

administration of the Centre and for providing support and promotion on a

European and International basis.

3. The Government shall nominate a Permanent Correspondent relating to the

application of the Open Partial Agreement signed on 20 th March, 1987

between the Council of Europe and the Government. All official

representations between the Council of Europe and the Centre and vice-versa,

are to take place through the Permanent Correspondent.

4. The objectives of the Centre, which is a non-profit organisation created within

the framework of the above-mentioned agreement, shall include education,

training and research on marine coastal dynamics and related hazards in the

Mediterranean.

5. The Centre shall be able to raise funds for its operational needs from the local

banks and other appropriate funding agencies.

6. The main functions of the Centre shall be

a)

Information and Alerts

The collection, processing and dissemination of information on and

forecasting for major events of marine coastal dynamics and related

hazards and on research in this field.

b)

Training

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(i)

The organisation of Euro-Mediterranean Workshops aimed at

identifying, in the field of marine coastal dynamics, new

educational needs arising from the advancement of knowledge and

from socio-economic developments and to make recommendations

at the European level;

(ii)

The organisation of Euro-Mediterranean Intensive Courses aimed

at implementing new specialised training programmes in the area,

within the framework of Euro-Mediterranean universities and

other international collaboration.

Research

(i)

The organisation of research seminars with a view to assessing

progress in the field of insular coastal dynamics;

(ii)

The promotion of and participation in European research

programmes in this field within the Mediterranean.

Governance and organisation of the Centre

7. The Institute shall provide the Centre with adequate resources to allow it to

carry out its functions. The Centre shall have

(i)

a Director appointed by Council for a duration of one year, with the

possibility of renewal annually subject to established performance

criteria, the needs of the Centre and the needs of the University, for a

total period not exceeding four (4) years

(ii)

administrative and research staff.

8. The overall governance of the Centre falls under the responsibility of the

Board of the Institute. The Director of the Centre is to report directly to the

Chairman of the Board governing the Institute and shall be responsible for

(i)

the academic programme and general running of the Centre;

(ii)

the direction and supervision of the activities and administration of the

Centre;

(iii) the planning of the programme of activities of the Centre in consultation

with the Institute’s Board, the Scientific Advisory Council and the

Council of Europe;

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(iv) preparing the annual report of activities of the Centre and to submit it,

together with the programme for the following year, to the Institute’s

Board and the Scientific Advisory Council.

9. Pursuant to paragraph 1 of this agreement, the Centre shall enjoy full fiscal

exemption and any other similar facilitation which Government may wish to

grant it.

Article 3

10. This Agreement may be modified by mutual accord in writing between the

Council of Europe, the Government of Malta and the University of Malta and

each party shall give full and sympathetic consideration to any request for

such modifications.

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