The Kunsill ta’ l-Istudenti Universitarji (University Students’ Council) is the Maltese

Malta

Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...

 national student union, the oldest organization of its kind in Europe. KSU was founded by Arturo Mercieca

Arturo Mercieca

Sir Arturo Mercieca, Kt Bach, LL.D., was a Chief Justice of Malta.-Early life:Mercieca was born in Victoria on the island of Gozo on 11 July 1878. He was given primary and secondary education at the Sacred Heart Seminary in Victoria. In October 1894 he enrolled at the University of Malta and...

 (later Chief Justice Sir Arturo Mercieca) 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. However the electoral system is a first past the post one, whereby a block vote winning the majority of votes elects all its candidates to the executive committee. Such a system has brought about a system of block voting between major student organisations.

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 108 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

European Commission

The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....

, the Council of Europe

Council of Europe

The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...

, UNESCO

UNESCO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...

, the Bologna Follow-up Group, the European University Association

European University Association

The European University Association represents and supports more than 850 institutions of higher education in 46 countries, providing them with a forum for cooperation and exchange of information on higher education and research policies...

 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
• ASA- Arts Students' Association
• ASCS - Association of Students of Commercial Studies
• Anthropology Society
• CommA - Communication Association
• ELSA Malta - The European Law Students' Association
• GhMU - Maltese Language Association - University
• GhSK - The Criminology Students' Society
• GhSL - GhSL - The Law Students' Society
• GUG - Gozo University Group
• IAESTE Malta - International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience
• ICTSA - Information and Communications Technology Students’ Association
• INSITE - The Student Media Organisation
• 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

Year	President	Vice President	Secretary General	Financial Officer	Public Relations Officer	International Officer	International Coordinator	Education Commissioner	Education Coordinator	Social Policy Commissioner	Social Policy Coordinator	Culture & Entertainment Officer	Culture & Entertainment Coordinator
2011/2012	Stefan Balzan	David Camilleri	Mario Cachia	Ruth Caruana	Thomas Bugeja	Danica Caruana	Michela Boffa	Jonathan Falzon	Luke Buttigieg	Abigail Cremona/Isabelle Camilleri	Anton Abela	Sara Ellul	Simon Mifsud
2010/2011	Carl Grech	James Cassar	Karl Agius	Martina Galea	Rachel Cassar	Larkin Zahra	Francesca Scicluna	Angelo Micallef	Roberta Rizzo	Michela Boffa	Matthew Bonett	Mario Cachia	Stephanie Soler
2009/2010	Carl Grech	Matthew Paris	Vivienne Bajada	Nerissa Pace	James Cassar	Nadya Papagiorcopulo	Maria Psaila	Karl Agius	Roberta Rizzo	Andrea Pace	Rachel Cassar	Neil Ferris	Samaria Bezzina
2008/2009	Roberta Avellino	Benjamin Pule`	Matthew Agius	Kristina Borg	Carl Grech	Daniela Cassar	Ivan Scicluna	Andrew Busuttil	Daniela Bartolo	Vivienne Bajada	Dylan Sychell	Matthew Paris	Nerissa Pace
2007/2008	David Herrera	Post Not Existing	Bernard Galea	Benji Briffa	Mark Portelli	Matthew Agius	Enrica Miceli	Roberta Avellino	Keith Vella	Clint Mizzi	Mariella Scicluna	Ann Dingli	Sean Buhagiar
2006/2007	David Herrera	Post Not Existing	David Ciliberti	Chris Grech	Emanuel Bonnici	Veronique Muscat	Christine Murphy	Joseph C. Gilson	Jeremy Vassallo	Matthew Caruana	Ivan Zammit	Emanuel Pulis	Keith Vella
2005/2006	Anthony F. Camilleri	Post Not Existing	Malcolm Azzopardi	Owen Grech	Matthew Caruana Galizia	Damian Kovac	Patricia Borg	Matthew Mangion	Julian Evans	Andrea Zaffarese	Annalisa Schembri	Steve Gauci Baluci	Andrew Arrigo
2004/2005	Paul Gonzi	Post Not Existing	Leonard Bonello	Alan Arrigo	Karl Galea	Amanda Mercieca	Damian Kovac	Anthony F. Camilleri	Trevor De Giorgio	Chris Azzopardi	Sam Abela	Simon Sciberras	Malcolm Azzopardi
2003/2004	Justin Fenech	Post Not Existing	Paul Gonzi	Lisa Lupi	Matthew Tabone	Angele Attard	Damian Kovac	Anthony F. Camilleri	Amanda Mercieca	Cedric Farrugia	Karl Grima Bezzina/Jonathan Dalli	Maria Schembri	Chris Azzopardi
2002/2003	James Scicluna	Post Not Existing	Nicholas Spiteri Paris	Pamela Sammut	Justin Fenech	Adrian Camilleri	Christine Spiteri Paris	Ilaria Flores Martin	Matthew Caruana	Vanessa Saliba	Christina Pullicino	Roberta Muscat	Kristel Tonna
2001/2002	David Gonzi	Post Not Existing	Malcolm Briffa	David Pace	Post Not Existing	Carla Camilleri	Cedric Mifsud	Jean Paul De Lucca	Adrian Camilleri	Justin Borg Barthet	James D'Agostino	Oliver Lautier	Justin Fenech
2000/2001	Karl Gouder	Post Not Existing	Karl Briffa	Patrick Spiteri	Post Not Existing	David Galea	Post Not Existing	Audrey Gatt	Anna Mifsud Bonnici	Lisa Pullicino	Martin Camilleri	Oliver Lautier	Andre Farrugia
1999/2000	Claire Cassar	Post Not Existing	Philip Camilleri	Karl Gouder	Post Not Existing	Paul Radmilli	Post Not Existing	Marisa Xuereb	Jeanine Cauchi	Arthur Azzopardi	Chris Vella	Patrick Spiteri	Oliver Lautier
1998/1999	Jacques René Zammit	Marthese Portelli	Post Not Existing	Post Not Existing	Post Not Existing	Maria Borg Barthet	Post Not Existing	Mark Sultana	Hubert Dalli	David Gonzi	Mateja Cassar	Paul Micallef Grimaud	Jesmond Manicaro
1997/1998	Emanuel Delia	Post Not Existing	Georgine Grech	Post Not Existing	Post Not Existing	Paul Cocks	Post Not Existing	Maureen Cauchi	Christopher Gingell Littlejohn	Patrick Incorvaja	Gege Gatt	Ian Castillo	Mark Anthony Borg
1996/1997	Emanuel Delia	Post Not Existing	Jesmond Saliba/Georgine Grech	Post Not Existing	Post Not Existing	Tamsin Pace	Post Not Existing	Mikela Tabone	Christopher Gingell Littlejohn	Lorraine Napier/Patrick Incorvaja	Georgine Grech/Gege Gatt	Duncan Muscat	Mark Spiteri Lucas/Mark Anthony Borg