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Top marks for St Martin’s in Malta

Contacts:
Binda Rai +44 (0) 20 7862 8545
Peter Quinn +44 (0)20 7664 5584

16 June 2009

St Martin's students graduating

A Maltese teaching institution with 60 per cent of its students attaining a first class degree in 2008 has been awarded a special 150th Anniversary Award by the University of London External System.

The award was presented to Charles Theuma, Principal of St Martin’s Institute of Information Technology in Malta [pictured far left, with St Martin's students at the 2009 University of London External System graduation ceremony in London], in recognition of its contribution towards the growth and support of the University of London External System.

Presenting the award, Sir Graeme Davies, Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, said: “It is my pleasure as Vice-Chancellor in announcing that St Martin's Institute of IT is one of six Institutes worldwide to receive the 150th Anniversary Award. These awards have been presented to supporting institutions worldwide for their contribution to the growth and success of the University of London External System over the years.”

St Martin's, the only recipient of the award in Europe, has been teaching University of London External System programmes since 2000. The award is a copy of the Royal Charter signed by Queen Victoria in 1858. The Charter paved the way for the development of the University of London External System, which has been offering study programmes worldwide for 150 years and now has 45,000 students in 180 countries.

Charles Theuma, Principal of St Martin's said: "I am delighted to receive this award on behalf of all our staff and of course our students.  Since joining forces with the University of London External System in the year 2000, St Martin's has assisted over 100 Maltese and international students to graduate from the University of London, with an average of 50% of its graduates attaining a first class honours and a further 30% achieving an upper second class classification.  With close to 400 students reading for the University of London External System programmes, St Martin's has achieved one of the highest penetration rates of 0.1% of any population. These achievements are thus being recognised through this prestigious one-time award.” Professor Jonathan Kydd, Dean of the University of London External System, said the University's relationship with St Martin's is “indeed exemplary in terms of how they deliver our study programmes and the quality and standards that continue to be achieved. The results are very impressive, and both students and staff must be congratulated. We are delighted to be working with St Martin's.”

Notes for Editors

About the University of London External System

  1. The University of London was established in 1836 and is one of the oldest, largest and most diverse universities in the United Kingdom.
  2. The University's founding principle is to provide education for all, irrespective of race, creed or political belief.
  3. In 1858, the University of London was granted its fourth Charter, which paved the way for the establishment of the University of London External System.
  4. The University of London External System is a unique global network of 45,000 students in 180 countries, on more than 100 study programmes ranging from social sciences to law to health.
  5. The External System has been instrumental in the formation of British higher education – all English and Welsh universities founded between 1849-1949 offered University of London degrees before obtaining charters to award their own.
  6. Between 1946-1970, the External System played a significant role in establishing many Commonwealth universities under a unique scheme of ‘special relations’.
  7. Through the External System higher education was made available to a much wider range of social classes; it pre-empted 20th Century developments in open, flexible and distance learning by more than 100 years.
  8. Famous former students and alumni of the External System include six Nobel Prize Winners: Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins, Ronald Coase, Wole Soyinka, Derek Walcott, Nelson Mandela and Rolph Payet.
  9. The other recipients of the 150th Anniversary Award are ATC (Malaysia); Bhuiyan Academy (Bangladesh); HELP University College (Malaysia); HKU SPACE (Hong Kong); and Singapore Institute of Management (Singapore).
  10. To find out more about the External System: www.londonexternal.ac.uk

About St Martin’s

  1. St Martin's Institute of Information Technology in Malta is a private teaching  institution offering a range of University of London  diploma and degree programmes in computer and social sciences, through the University of London External System.
  2. Set up in 1985, St Martin's started to offer study programmes from the University of London External System in 2000.
  3. Around 350 students are currently reading for one of 9 degrees, and 4 diplomas offered at St Martin's, both as full evening students as well as full-time students.
  4. St Martin's has established itself as a unique college in Malta based upon a commitment to quality education. This has been confirmed through a track record of excellent results.
  5. To find out more about St Martin's: www.stmartins.edu

For further information contact:
Binda Rai
Head of Global Media and Public Relations
University of London External System
Email: binda.rai@london.ac.uk 
Tel: +44 (0)20 7862 8545 (office)
+44 (0)7920 476483 (mobile)

Peter Quinn
Senior Communications Manager
University of London External System
Email: peter.quinn@london.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)20 7664 5584 (office)