American University of Malta

American University of Malta
Building at Dock No. 1 in Cospicua
General information
Type	Education centre
Location	Cospicua and Marsaskala
Owner	Government of Malta
Website
aum.edu.mt

The American University of Malta (AUM), formerly referred to as the American Institute of Malta (AIM), is a planned private university in the Southern Region of Malta. It is planned that the campus be split between Cospicua and Marsaskala, and the project is meant to regenerate the South of Malta and give that area an economic and social boost. Since the proposal was announced in May 2015, it has generated considerable controversy, especially since part of it is to be built on Outside Development Zone (ODZ) land.

On 5 May 2015, the Jordanian contracting company Sadeen Group and the Government of Malta signed an agreement at Auberge de Castille for the former to set up a private educational institution called the American University of Malta (AUM). The university was planned to be set up in Spain, but Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat persuaded the chairman of Sadeen, Hani Salah, to set it up in Malta. The university is to accommodate 4000 students, primarily from the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. It is to have colleges for engineering, arts, sciences, education and health. The project has an investment of over €115 million, and it is to create around 400 to 750 jobs. The project is to generate an increase of €48 to €85 million in economic growth.

The curricula of the AUM are to be provided by the DePaul University. The latter did not commit any financial resources for the construction of the AUM, and it was not involved in any discussions with the Government of Malta.

The proposed university is meant to create a social and economic boost to localities in the Southern Region of Malta, which is regarded as being less developed than the rest of the island. As of September 2016, demand for property in Cospicua has reportedly increased as a result of the university project.

The university originally planned to take in its first students in October 2016, with lectures at SmartCity Malta until the campuses are completed. The beginning of the first academic year has been moved to 28 August 2017, and the lectures are to be held at the Dock No. 1 campus in Cospicua.