Plans were announced this morning by the Government outlining the hotly awaited Gibraltar University manifesto commitment. Education Minister Gilbert Licudi, flanked by the Chief Minister and his working team for the project, confidently insisted that the institute for Higher Education would be ready to open its doors by September 2015.

Faculties at the University are to include a School of Health Studies that will tie in with the current undergraduate degree programme available to a number of GHA professionals, in a collaboration between the Gibraltar Government and Kingston University.

The University, which is aiming to attract international students to Gibraltar, will also offer Sports Science as a research based faculty that will see collaboration with the UEFA research programme. Courses will also be available in the areas of Business, including specialisms in Accounting and Finance, Law and ICT. Minister Licudi commented that the University will offer diplomas in Gibraltar tax and Law, which will prove beneficial to graduate students who return from the UK with only the knowledge of UK Law or tax. Finance courses will be based around a collaboration with the London School of Economics, one of the World’s top institutions for Business.

Other subjects to be offered are Tourism and Hospitality, which will include a kitchen and restaurant, and the School of Life Sciences and Gibraltar Mediterranean Studies. This course will be predominantly research driven and doctoral and post – doctoral based. Minister Licudi insisted that they envisioned this niche area attracting international students.

Licudi was adamant that the school would also be presented as an institute for professional development and continuing education, offering courses to those in both the public and private sectors. This would see the University offer short term courses in relevant fields to Gibraltar, including e gaming, compliance, and ACCA accounting.

The Minister went on to suggest that they envisioned the institution, which following its inception will look to provide accommodation for approximately 120 students, would also develop as a language centre, acting as a gateway for international students to learn English. He added that Europe has a huge market for language centers.

The Gibraltar University, to be situated by Europa Point on the site of the former St. Christopher’s school, will depend on collaborations other institutions, with the Minister looking to sign MOUs with other renown institutions. The Government most recently signed one with the University of Seychelles, and are looking to build a joint masters programme in marine science.

As plans move forward quickly, a website and prospectus are currently being put together. The working group for the project, consisting of Education Director Joey Britto, Darren Grech, Dr. Darren Fa of the Gibraltar Museum, Kevin Pizarro for the GHA and Chris Riddel, the director of projects for the Government, will look to commence staff recruitment, most likely in the new year. The project will see the creation of a spectrum of job opportunities, from administrative staff to cleaners.

Both Minister Licudi and the Chief Minister stressed their intention to develop and progress the University, over time. They noted that more buildings in the area would likely be developed into further student accommodation, as the University grows.

Responding to questions on how the Gibraltar University will look to develop a reputation as a world-renowned institution, Minister Licudi compared the endeavor to the success of Gibraltar’s eGaming market. He noted that Gibraltar did not become the World’s no.1 jurisdiction automatically but that over time standards were developed. He stressed the importance of setting high standards and employing top professionals.