Kunsill Studenti Universitarji

The Kunsill ta’ l-Istudenti Universitarji (University Students’ Council) is the Maltese national student union, the oldest organization of its kind in Europe. KSU was founded by Arturo Mercieca (later Chief Justice Sir Arturo Mercieca and fascist sympathiser) in 1901, as the Comitato Permanente Universitario. The student union involved itself in student politics as well as national politics.

KSU represents all students attending the University, Junior College, the Institute of Health Care, Medical School and the Malta Centre of Restoration – on both a national and international level.

KSU Today

Although times have changed since the organization was founded, the aim of KSU remains unchanged. Malta has progressed greatly since 1901, yet this does not reduce the importance of the contribution that each and every student can give to University and society in general. Life and University should not only consist in studying, and KSU is an ideal forum where every student can express his or her ideas regarding issues that, strictly speaking, have nothing to do with his or her studies. KSU gives the student the opportunity not only to attend, but also to form part of University.

Principles and Goals

Although in itself KSU is a dynamic organisation and therefore it is open for change and debate, like other organisations, it finds its roots in a set of fundamental objectives on which the organisation was founded. Over the past 106 years, KSU has been working:

To represent students in whatever issues concern them, whether it is on a national or international level.
To serve as an official link between students and the relevant authorities.
To achieve the democratisation of education in Malta.
To coordinate activities with other organizations.
To cultivate an interest in students in the fields of education, socio-political and cultural issues.
To pressure authorities into assuring the highest level of quality in Higher Education.

Philosophy

KSU’s Executive Committee is pushing forth the renewed emphasis that University is not simply an academic domain where one specializes within a particular field or profession, but it is a forum for exchange of experiences between students as well as one of the ultimate steps which completes the student formation process.

Affiliation

On an International level, KSU is a full member of European Students' Union [formally known as ESIB). ESU is the representative union of 47 National Unions of Students in 36 European countries, including KSU. Through these unions, ESU represents over 10 million students and is regarded by the European Commission, the Council of Europe, UNESCO, the Bologna Follow-up Group, the European University Association and various other stakeholders in education, as being the leading representative voice of all students in Europe.

Currently, ex-Public Relations Officer, Mr Matthew Tabone, forms part of the Executive Committee of ESU while ex-KSU President, Mr. Anthony Camilleri, is the project officer. Ex-KSU President, Dr. Justin Fenech, was elected to ESU’s executive for 2005 and has also been elected as the Chairperson of ESU for 2006 – a first for Maltese student representation.

Other past KSU members involved in ESU include Dr. Angele Attard who formed part of ESU's Committee on the Commodification of Education between 2003-2005 (ex-KSU International Officer) and Dr. David Galea who formed part of ESU's Committee on Prague between 2001-02(ex-KSU International Officer)

KSU currently co-Chairs ESU's E-Learning Working Group with the Dutch Union "LSVB".

KSU is also an official founding member of the Mediterranean Network of Student Representatives.

Member Organisations

AEGEE-Valletta - The European Students' Forum
AI - Amnesty International Malta Group
AIESEC Malta
ASCS [http://www.ascsmalta.org] - Association of Students of Commercial Studies
Anthropology Society
ELSA Malta - The European Law Students' Association
GhMU - Maltese Language Association - University
GhSK - The Criminology Students' Society
GhSL - The Law Students' Society
GUG - Gozo University Group IAESTE - International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience

ICTSA - Information and Communications Technology Students’ Association
JEF Malta - Young European Federalists Malta
KSJC - Junior College Students' Council

MKSU - University Students' Catholic Movement
MADS - Malta Association of Dental Students

MMSA - Malta Medical Students’ Association
MPSA - Malta Pharmaceutical Students’ Association
MSI - Moviment Studenti Indipendenti (Junior College)
MUSC - Malta University Sports Club
PULSE - Social Democrat Students
S-Cubed - Science Students’ Society
SACES - Society of Architecture and Civil Engineering Students
SDM - Maltese Christian Democrat Students
UESA - University Engineering Students' Association
ULGBTS - University Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual & Transgendered Society
University Chaplaincy
USTA - University Student Teachers’ Association

Executive Timeline

External links

;Official site
* [http://www.ksu.org.mt/ KSU homepage]