WHAT IS
KSU? Presently representing around 13,000 students, the Kunsill Studenti Universitarji (University Students' Council) is the oldest national student union in Europe. KSU was founded by Arturo Mercieca (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. Although times have changed since the organization’s inception, KSU’s aim remains unchanged; to foster and enhance the important contribution that each and every student can give to our University and Maltese society. KSU gives the student the opportunity not only to attend, but also to form part of University. 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 a forum for exchange of experiences between students as well as one of the ultimate steps which complete the student formation process. 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 it was founded. Over the past 110 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; and; • to cultivate an interest in students in the fields of education, socio-political and cultural issues.
NIGHT TIME STUDY AREA Introduction As mentioned during a meeting with the Rector of the University of Malta, Prof. Juanito Camilleri on the 8th of July 2014, Kunsill Studenti Universitarji (KSU) has worked on setting up a Night Time Study Area, where students can find a place to study for 24 hours, 7 days a week during the exam period. Originally, this study area was going to be open from the 5th of May 2014 up to 13th June 2014, however, due to the large number of students attending, this new initiative was extended to the 27th of June 2014. The location chosen for this study area was the KSU Common Room.
PROPOSAL Following the success of another KSU initiative, which was held together with the Library of Malta - the KSU Extended Library Sessions, KSU received several feedback from students including the suggestion for an alternative venue, such that students would have the opportunity to continue studying after 23:00. Therefore, KSU’s idea was to find a suitable location within the University of Malta to serve as a night-time study area, which would provide students with a place to continue studying after the University of Malta library closes. After some research by the KSU executive members, it was discovered that several Universities’ libraries around the World remain open for 24 hours everyday or extended their opening hours to 24 hours during the exam period. Examples of where this occurs is in Stanford University in the United States; the University College of London (UCL), which is the leading multi-discipline University; the University of Bath and the University of Konstanz in Germany. Last year the University of Leeds also left its library open during the exam period for students to study. It was found out to be beneficial for students who have late-night study habits to have an adequate study environment away from distractions, students may have at home. Extending the hours available during which students can study should result in better distribution of students, therefore reducing the crowd found in the University library during the exam period. It could also have beneficial effects for students, as they would be able fit in study-time at night, while not neglecting extra-curricular commitments. Due to the intense and long hours of studying that students usually do during the exam period, KSU also equipped the KSU Common Room with plugs and coffee-making facilities and appliances for all the students. Throughout the duration of the KSU Night-time Study Area, KSU distributed more than 5000 Coffee Samples for free to students studying at the KSU Common Room.
PROMOTION Promotion The event was launched on the KSU Facebook page on the 4th of May 2014. Therefore, Facebook was KSU’s main promotion tool for this initiative. After only a few hours, this event was followed by a substantial number of University students, while others also commented on how useful and innovative this idea was. Moreover, the Facebook event page was the main platform through which KSU made any announcements to the students who made use of the Night Time Study Area.
ATTENDEES Many students started to make use of this initiative and study in the KSU Common Room. Occasionally, KSU also had to open the KSU Board Room, which is part of the KSU Office, to create more space where students could study. In order to show the approximate number of students attending this initiative, KSU recorded the number of students present on several days during the June Examination Session, as shown below. Since Common Room was open during the day as well, the following graphs show attendance during the day, during the evening and at night (after 23:00).
As already mentioned, due to the good response, KSU had extended the Night Time Study Area by 14 days (till the 27th June 2014) for all those who found it convenient. During the year the KSU Education Office also held meetings with each Dean and Director of the Different Faculties and Institutions respectively. During such meetings, there were Deans who also encouraged KSU to continue investing in such initiatives as these would be of great benefit for the students.
Costs The costs incurred by KSU for the Night Time Study Area are: Item Cost Kitchenette €460 Microwave/Electric Kettle/Toaster/Fridge €338.80 Tables (Rent) €424.80 Extensions €66.50 Bins € 151 Total Expenses €1441.10 There were also other minor expenses which included napkins, sugar, coffee, stirrers, spoons and cleaning materials which amounted to around €50.
Management A timetable was set up between all the members of the KSU executive to indicate who would be present at the Common Room and KSU office to ensure that no excessive noise was made by the students and also to ensure that the coffee sachets were restocked.
Extending the Night Time Study Area to the Library Due to the fact that the Night Time Study Area was frequented by a lot of students, and at certain peak times, the KSU Common Room became too small to accommodate that amount of students, KSU would like to kindly ask the University of Malta to extend the Nights Time Study Area to the Library. The idea is that while keeping the KSU Common Room as a group study area, the Reference Department in the University of Malta Library would be left open with students being able to study individually in an adequate environment. KSU recognises the fact that this will cost money and also the need for University staff, that will have to stay during the night to ensure that no damages are made and that students do not use the remaining library floors. The council would also leave the kitchenette available in Common Room, for those students who need to make use of this facility. The Library Reference Department can accommodate up to 68 students, who would be able to study in an adequate environment without being disturbed by any noises from other students. On the other hand, those who want to work in groups, can do so in the KSU Common Room.
Conclusion KSU would like to kindly request the University of Malta to provide the Library of Malta Reference Department as an extension of the Night Time Study Area Initiative. Besides, increasing the number of seating for the students, this will also provide a space for the students to study individually and in an quiet environment, 24 hours a day, between Monday and Friday. Therefore, KSU recommends that the students are provided with the above mentioned access for the months of January, May and June. KSU recognises the fact that such an initiative will lead to changes in the logistics usually implemented by the Library Staff. However, one must note that such improvements will surely be beneficial for all students attending the University of Malta. KSU is also taking the initiative to analyse the quantitative data collected during the January 2015 exam session, as regards student use of the Night time study area, in the hope of highlighting the benefit associated with this initiative, while continuing to monitor the viability of this proposal.
Appendix Photos of the Night Time Study Area: