STATUTE FOR THE INSTITUTE OF SPACE SCIENCE AND ASTRONOMY

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.495

STATUTE FOR THE INSTITUTE

OF SPACE SCIENCE AND ASTRONOMY

9th July, 2014

LEGAL NOTICE 246 of 2014.

The title of this statute is the Statute for the Statute for the

Institute of Space Science and Astronomy.

This statute shall be applicable from 8 February 2014

onwards.

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, im plem entation 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

m o d e l l i n g , s t u d i e s o f a l t e r n a t i v e t h e o r i e s o f g r a v i t y,

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 t echnologies, 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.

The Institute for Space Science and Astronomy is hereby

established as an institution within the University of Malta.

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;

STATUTE FOR THE INSTITUTE

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.

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.

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.

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;

STATUTE FOR THE INSTITUTE

OF SPACE SCIENCE AND ASTRONOMY

(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

STATUTE FOR THE INSTITUTE

OF SPACE SCIENCE AND ASTRONOMY

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 Director of Finance of the University shall be the

The Treasurer.

Treasurer of the Institute.