According to the current Maltese law, full-time students can work up to 25 hours a week. Therefore, it’s not uncommon for university students to have a part-time job or two, in fact, several students start searching the job market for a position they’re qualified to apply for when they start their studies. The jobs students go for might not be related to their field of study or career goal, they simply choose the job because they need the money, because let’s face it, while a monthly stipend of €106.91 is needed, it’s not nearly enough to finance the student’s lifestyle.
So, why does the university still supports unpaid placements?
Some courses at the University of Malta require their students to undertake an unpaid placement with organisations and companies on the island. Some of these placements are held in the summer, while others are taken during the scholastic year.
The first argument people tend to bring up is that placements are a great way how students can be exposed to a job in their field of interest. While that might be true and will definitely look good on their CV, exposure never paid the bills.
Students who undergo placements, whether they’re during the summer or during the scholastic year, have to make time in their week for this placement. This usually results in students having to reduce the hours of their paying job.
For example, the Department of Social Policy, which falls under the Faculty of Social Well-being, requires the students to sit for a 200-hour placement during their first semester of their third year. On the other hand, the Department of Criminology, which also falls under the Faculty of Social Well-being, offers its students a choice when it comes to placements. Students can choose to sign up for a unit that requires a 50-hour placement as part of their semester. Moreover, the Department of Media and Communications, which falls under the Faculty of Media and Knowledge Studies, requires students to undergo a 100-hour placement that students can choose to start during the summer months before their third year.
What does this mean? Should placements be removed altogether? No, but a re-evaluation of how the university goes about placements should occur.
While students do ultimately manage to juggle their studies, the placement, their job(s), and any other extra-curriculum activities, a required placement does add more to their plate.
As one can see, every department has its own requirements for placements, with some departments not even offering placements in the first place. Since there isn’t one clear-cut rule or set of requirements when it comes to placements, every department has to tailor student aid according to their requirements. Gathering feedback from past students is definitely a good way to start. By seeing what past students would have preferred to be done differently or what benefits they would have liked to receive, the necessary changes would be implemented to adjust the experience for current students.
Overall, unpaid placements can be a valuable way for students to gain experience and prepare for their future careers. However, universities need to be proactive in supporting their students and ensuring that placements are accessible and beneficial for all students, regardless of their financial situation or other commitments.