PULSE is a student based organization that functions on behalf of the students’ interest and strives to defend their rights. PULSE values its social democrat beliefs and is independent of any other political party or organization.

PULSE is active in policy planning on behalf of students, a leader in student services and an active student representative in several faculty boards and student councils.

All our efforts are rooted towards a social policy intended to level social gaps, achieving social justice and to help other minority groups to maintain their dignity and freedom in order to live a free life.

In the past years PULSE has been active in organizing various activities ranging from political debates and protests to parties and weekend breaks.  

The Beginning

PULSE was found on the 19th March 1997 with the organization’s main objective being that of defending fellow students’ rights and to offer them support. The policies that bind PULSE are based on that of social democratic beliefs and principles.  

Prior to the formation of PULSE a group of students were thinking of setting up a similar student organization by the name of “Studenti Socjal Demokratici Maltin (SSDM).” But at the same time another group of students were also thinking of forming such an organization and thus they had decided that it was in the students’ interest to join forces. “PULSE” was the name chosen for this organization for the simple reason that the term PULSE would reflect the vibe present amongst the students.

“Insemuha PULSE ghax ahna iridu nkunu l-polz ta’ l-istudenti.”   

The students were determined and on the 16th September 1997 they had managed to gather enough signatures in order for PULSE to be officially recognized by the University Senate. Then the organization was granted an office in the University Students’ House in September 1997, which it still holds till this day. 

Defending Students’ Rights

PULSE has a set of policies that helps it guide and plan its work in the students’ interest. Back in 1997 PULSE had participated in the stipend matter and had protested with several other student organizations against proposals made by the Government at that time. But it had pulled out when the issue was turned into a political manifestation. Once again PULSE expressed its disapproval in 2005 through a press conference which was held at UoM and presented its views and proposals.

In 2002 PULSE in KSJC had set up a petition and organized a protest against the MATSEC reforms and the increase in MATSEC tariffs. Further on in 2006 PULSE had actively participated in the MATSEC reforms and expressed its disapproval against altering the timing of the supplementary examination period (re-sits). In 2006 PULSE had also protested against the increase in the bus fare and had expressed its ideas on the direct bus routes system to the Prime Minister and Opposition leader.

After Pulse had celebrated its 10th Anniversary it felt that it needed to embark on a re-branding journey. This project was deemed necessary in order to reaffirm Pulse’s priorities and position. This was decided by the executive after each member had to compile an internal report discussing Pulse’s future. Immediately the executive members, with the help of the national sub-committee, started to update Pulse’s position and policy papers. As part of this re-branding process it was decided that Pulse’s logo had to be changed. These changes came into effect after a wide consultation process took place with the present members and outsiders. The executive wanted to clear out any misconceptions or false perception regarding Pulse’s main purpose of its existence. Pulse’s main priority was reaffirmed; that of defending students’ rights irrespective of their political or social background.

More recently in 2007 PULSE had actively participated in the UOM parking issue and was the first organization to inform fellow students about the changes that where going to take place. A press conference outside the UOM had taken place where PULSE representatives expressed their disapproval for the new system imposed. 

During the 2008 General Election, PULSE national subcommittee had presented a detailed report to the General Secretaries of the main political parties in Malta about PULSE’s view regarding their manifesto. The report presented analyzed their manifesto, which was later described by all party secretaries as good and an impartial report.

PULSE also showed its solidarity with the MCAST students during the collective agreement dispute. PULSE representatives attended the protest held by the MCAST students and tried to serve as a mediator for the students to voice their concerns. In June 2008 PULSE also intervened in the students’ interest when the whole MUT/ UMASA issue had affected UOM and JC students. Students were once again being threatened that their results were not going to be published because of an industrial dispute.

PULSE regularly publishes press releases and writes several articles on a weekly basis on education related matters. In 2000 PULSE had uploaded its first ever website and it made it to the finals of the Malta web awards that year. “The Whistle Blower” is a news paper and a PULSE publication.

Student Representative

Over the past years, PULSE has been active in the KSJC (Kunsill ta’ l-Istudenti tal-Junior College), the KSU (Kunsill ta’ l-Istudenti Universitarji), the KPS (Kummissjoni Politika Socjali) and the KN? (Kunsill Nazzjonali taz-Zghazagh). PULSE is also affiliated to other international institutions and groups such as ECOSY, IUSY and UNITED, thus widening our vision and the sharing of ideas on a broader scale.

It is the organization’s decree to represent the students in various educational institutions and boards and over the past years PULSE has contested every election since 1998 and has been elected to represent fellow students in the KSJC and KSU. In 1999 PULSE set up a branch at Junior College and in 2002 an other one at Higher Secondary. The success enjoyed by PULSE in the 1999 KSJC elections continued as PULSE also won the following two consecutive elections (2000 and 2001) and it was elected once again to KSJC in 2005. In 2004 and 2007 PULSE had also contested the KSU elections. Once again in 2007 PULSE won the KSJC elections with all of its candidates being elected.

On an International Level

In 2001 PULSE organized its first international youth exchange program under the name of “Contact 2000: A conflict, A solution” and it was voted as the best Youth Program project for 2001-2003. Another international project was that of “The Illegal Odyssey” and in 2005 the project called “Joining gaps, Bridging Gaps” took place.

Recently PULSE has successfully organized another international project under the YiA scheme. The project was entitled “Save Darfur” and it managed to highlight the conflicts in Darfur that have been raging on for the last 4 years and which resulted in the death of thousands and more than 2 million ending up as refugees.

The project revolved around the theme of conflict within cultures, epitomized in the conflict in Darfur, and how youth can initiate an awareness campaign on this issue. For this project 30 participants were carefully chosen from 5 different countries; Italy, Hungary, Poland, Turkey, and Malta.