STATUTE FOR THE INSTITUTE OF LINGUISTICS

B

L.N. 220 of 2010

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

STATUTE FOR THE INSTITUTE OF LINGUISTICS

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 Institute of Linguistics.

STATUTE FOR THE INSTITUTE OF LINGUISTICS

The Institute of Linguistics is hereby established as an institution within the

University of Malta.

The aims of the Institute shall be to

(a) promote and co-ordinate research in Linguistics, in the description of

particular languages (especially those represented by Departments in the

Faculty of Arts), and in applied linguistics (including especially relevant

activities in the Faculty of Education);

(b) promote and co-ordinate research on Maltese Sign Language linked to the

teaching of Maltese Sign Language and Sign Linguistics within the

Linguistics course programme;

(c) develop contacts and co-operation with interested local bodies outside the

University working within the field of language and speech impairment;

(d) promote the use of the Language Laboratory as an aid in the teaching of

foreign languages both to the University and non-University students;

promote the use of the Laboratory facilities in the Joe Cremona Language

Centre as an aid in language research and teaching;

(e) develop international contacts with similar University institutions abroad,

especially those with an interest in the Mediterranean heritage; and

(f) run degree and diploma courses in Linguistics and related areas subject to

the Statutes and Regulations of the University.

The Institute shall be governed by a Board consisting of the following

(i) Chairman: Rector or his delegate;

(ii) Vice-Chairman: 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 at the Institute;

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

(vii) two representatives from the Faculty of Arts;

(viii) one representative from the Faculty of Education;

(ix) one representative from the Faculty of Information & Communication

Technology (Department of Intelligent Computer System);

(x) one representative from the Faculty of Information & Communication

Technology (Department of Communications and Computer Engineering).

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 function of the Board shall be

(a) to govern the affairs of the Institute, subject to the provisions of these statutes

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

approved by the Council and the Senate;

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

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

Board may

(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 similar aims

and interests;

(v)

propose Regulations and Bye-Laws to the Senate;

B

(vi) require from staff members of the Institute the production of reports on

academic matters, including the curricula of courses of study,

qualifications for admission to courses, examinations, and certificates

of attendance or qualification;

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

non-academic posts in the Institute; and

(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

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 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)

chairing meetings of the Board in the absence and with the permission of

the Chairman;

(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

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;

B

(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 normal teaching 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 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;

B

(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.

Repeal

The Statute for the Institute of Linguistics published as Legal Notice 105 of 2010

is hereby repealed.

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