STATUTE FOR THE INSTITUTE OF DIGITAL GAMES

L.N. 21 of 2014

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

STATUTE FOR THE INSTITUTE OF DIGITAL GAMES

In exercise of the powers conferred upon him by articles 74(5) and 75(6) of the

Education Act (CAP. 327), 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 Digital Games.

Interpretation

In this Statute, unless the context otherwise requires

“the Board” shall mean the Board of the Institute of Digital Games; and

“the Institute” shall mean the Institute of Digital Games.

Establishment

The Institute of Digital Games is hereby established as an institution of the

University of Malta.

Objective and Functions

The aims of the Institute shall be

(a) to support the growth and development of the digital games industry in Malta

on strategic, educational and research levels;

(b) to deliver a world-class education in game studies, game design and

development;

(c) to supply various departments, centres and institutes at the University of Malta

with digital game and virtual world related teaching at various academic levels;

(d) to assist in generating and coordinating research and funding efforts related to

digital games and virtual worlds;

(e) to engage in world-class, cutting-edge game research disseminated in leading

conferences, journals and books in the field;

(f) to participate in international research collaborations, funded and otherwise,

with leading institutions in the field; and

(g) to take a leading role in the development of the international game research

community through participation in networking events, conference organization,

chairing and reviewing committees of such conferences, journals and books.

Governance

The Institute shall be governed by a Board that will consist 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 or conducting

research with the Institute;

(vi) up to two student representatives registered in one of the Institute’s

programmes;

(vii) up to two persons possessing expertise and experience in the field of

Digital Games, 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, the two

representatives of the academic staff and the two student representatives 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 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;

(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 removal of academic and non-

academic posts in the Institute;

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

postgraduate degree programmes.

Appointment of Director and Staff

The Institute shall have a Director and Staff

(a) the Director of the Institute shall be appointed from amongst the members of

the Institute according to the procedure for the appointment of Directors of Institutes

and Centres as approved by the Council of the University, 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 the

usual practice.

Duties of the Director

The duties of the Vice-Chairman/Director shall include

(a) general responsibility for the running of the Institute in terms of the aims

listed in 4 (a) to (g) outlined above;

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

and research programmes;

(d) 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 and

tutorials 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;

(e)

delivering and implementing the strategic plan of the Institute;

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

support to students with any difficulties they may encounter during their studies in

academic programmes offered by the Institute;

(g) monitoring the running of examinations in the Institute and ensuring that

all assessment and examination results are submitted to the Registrar’s Office within

following deadlines

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) administering the Institute in full consultation with the members; monitoring

and approving requests for leave of absence of members of the Institute; maintaining

records of all leave taken by members and passing on these records to the Director of

Human Resources Management and Development upon request;

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

institutions;

(j) chairing meetings of the Board in the absence and with the permission of

the Chairman;

(k) ensuring and facilitating the further development and training of academic

and non-academic staff;

(l)

participating at any meeting of the University congruent with the post;

(m) representing the Institute during official functions of the University;

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

September of each academic year, an annual report approved by the Board, outlining

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

others, 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;

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

not later than end of May of each academic year budgetary estimates approved by the

Board 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;

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

Institute;

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

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

efficiently; and

(r) 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 and postgraduate 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/her 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; and

(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.

Treasurer

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

Institute.

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