STATUTE FOR THE INSTITUTE OF SPACE SCIENCE AND

L.N. 246 of 2014

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

STATUTE FOR THE INSTITUTE OF SPACE SCIENCE AND

ASTRONOMY

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 Space Science and

Astronomy.

Applicability

This statute shall be applicable from 8 February 2014 onwards.

Definition and Interpretation

In this Statute, unless the context otherwise requires

“Space Science and Astronomy” shall refer to the classical definition of

space science and astronomy, that is, the theoretical study of celestial bodies

and their distribution throughout the universe and the design, development,

implementation and deployment of both earth-based and space-based

astronomical observation instruments and associated computational software

and hardware. The term also encompasses in it the science that is derived

from earth observation from both ground and space-based instruments, the

engineering of such instruments including the application of such

instruments in different fields. The term shall also refer to the design,

development and potential deployment of space-based technology, to

include payload delivery systems. It will also involve the technology-

agnostic study of space-based and earth-based astronomical systems and

signals including: theoretical modelling, studies of alternative theories of

gravity, instrumentation theory, analysis, modelling, behaviour and control;

data, signal and image acquisition, analysis and processing; study and

extraction of information, pattern and intelligence; understanding of

knowledge-directed processes; decision-making processes; and the design

and development of devices to achieve the above. The term shall also refer

to the transfer of spin-off digital technologies, acquired in the course of

research, to medicine, health-care and wellbeing;

“the Board” shall mean the Board of the Institute for Space Science and

Astronomy;

“the Institute” shall mean the Institute for Space Science and

Astronomy.

Establishment

The Institute for Space Science and Astronomy is hereby established as an

institution within the University of Malta.

Objectives and functions

The aims of the Institute shall be

(a) to promote and organise multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research,

development and services in the fields of space science and astronomy;

(b) to organise and run training programmes, study-units, certificate, diploma,

degree and postgraduate courses as well as public lectures and professional courses

related to astronomy, informatics, cosmology, space technology, in collaboration

with other University institutions, as necessary;

(c) to collaborate with other University institutions and with governmental and

non-governmental organisations in projects and services of mutual benefit and

interest;

(d) to network and liaise with centres and organisations related to astronomy,

cosmology and associated ground-based and spaced-based technologies, both local

and overseas; and

(e) to serve as a resource Institute and offer consultative services in the field of

space science to stakeholders, such as space technology contractors and policy

makers.

Governance

The Institute shall be governed by a Board that shall 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 Resident Academic from the Faculty of Engineering appointed by

Senate;

(v) a Resident Academic from the Faculty of Information and

Communication Technology appointed by Senate;

(vi) a Resident Academic from the Faculty of Science appointed by Senate;

(vii) up to two representatives of the academic staff lecturing or conducting

research within the Institute;

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

(ix) up to two scholars of repute to be recommended by the Board and

approved by Senate.

The Registrar or his/her 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 representatives of the students 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

(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) require 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, Boards of Studies and Boards of

Examiners for undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Appointment of Director and Staff

The Institute shall have a Director and Staff as follows

(a) the Director of the Institute shall be appointed 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

usual practice.

Duties of the Director

The duties of the Vice-Chairman/Director of the Institute 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

of the Institute 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 of the Institute are 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 the 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 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;

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

not later than the 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; and

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

time to time.

The Director of the Institute 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 Resident Academic engaged with the University on a

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

Institute is engaged in undergraduate or postgraduate taught programmes of study

then the Director of the Institute must be engaged with the University as 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) are 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 they 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.

The Treasurer

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

Institute.

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