1300 delegates for 7th World Meeting on
Pharmaceutics, Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology

A Press Conference at the University of Malta Valletta Campus announced the prestigious 7th World Meeting on Pharmaceutics, Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology which is being held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre between the 8 and 11 March 2010, in collaboration with the University of Malta and the Malta Pharmaceutical Association. The conference which is organised by the International Association for Pharmaceutical Technology (APV), the Association de Pharmacie Galénique Industrielle (APGI) and the Associazione Docenti e Ricercatori Italiani di Tecnologie e Legislazione Farmaceutiche (ADRITELF) is attracting some 1300 delegates from 50 countries.

The conference aims to bridge the gap between fundamental academic research and industrial applications, offering the opportunity to initiate fruitful cooperation between university and industry. Topics that are discussed during the conference in the scientific programme include solid oral dosage form development and manufacturing, modified oral release, modern devices and paediatric dosage form development.

Faculty staff and students from the University of Malta are participating in the conference and presenting results from research projects in the area during poster and oral communication sessions.

The Department of Pharmacy at the University of Malta works in collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry to provide hands-on experience to pharmacy students. On behalf of the University of Malta, the Rector, Professor Juanito Camilleri, signed a collaboration agreement for a joint research project between the Department of Pharmacy and Starpharma, a local pharmaceutical industry specialized in the development and manufacture of modified release solid oral preparations. This research project is funded through The National Program for Research and Innovation and this research project is being presented at this conference.

The Press Conference was addressed by the Minister for Health, the Elderly and Community Care, Dr Joseph Cassar, University Rector, Professor Juanito Camilleri and Professor Lilian Azzopardi, Head of the Department of Pharmacy, who thanked the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery and referred to the University’s appreciation of the invaluable assistance given by the Ministry of Finance, Malta Enterprise and the Malta Tourism Authority.

On the 16 February 2010, following an initiative by a voluntary Junior College student organisation, by the name of PUC - Power-Up College, the Blood Mobile Unit was invited to visit the Junior College in an effort to encourage blood donation from new donors.

In what was described as a 'success' by the Blood Unit, a good number of students and members of staff volunteered in the exercise of blood donation which sought to foster a culture of solidarity with those in need and also as a means of self-enrichment.

A team composed of Benjamin Cassar, Mathias Mallia, Nina Rosner, Sofia Mifsud, Christine Caruana and Tai Busuttil from the Junior College participated in the Speak Your Mind Competition organised by the British Cultural Association. The competition was held on Thursday 28 January. The  Junior College garnered the third place whilst one of the team members, Mathias Mallia was the runner-up for Best Speaker.

Professor Lino Briguglio, Director of the Islands and Small States Institute, University of Malta  was recently invited to lecture on Competition Economics to students at the University of the West Indies at its Mona campus in Jamaica and its Cave Hill campus in Barbados.

He was accompanied by Magistrate Silvio Meli, who was invited to lecture on Competition Law and Human Rights.

Click here to view the presentation used by Professor Briguglio during his lectures.

Click here to view other pictures of the visit.

The Centre for Environmental Education & Researchin collaboration with the University Chaplaincy will be organising an Environmental Awareness Programme entitled Do I Care … for the Environment?

Environmental issues and the sustainable use of resources have become an integral part of our society. This brief course will explore the concept of the environment, the principle of sustainability and the role of humans in the environment. Participants will be helped to use the principles of sustainability to critically analyse their lifestyle; examine and clarify their attitudes and values regarding environmental issues. The course is aimed at university students and all those who feel the need to question environmental policy making and who want to develop their environmental responsibility.

This programme will be held every Tuesday and Thursday between 1730hrs and 1930hrs at the Chaplaincy on the following dates:
16 March
18 March
23 March
25 March
13 April
15 April
20 April

For further information please send an email or phone on +356 2340 2341.

The 21st edition of the Gozo Observer, which has just been published, contains a number of interesting articles on Gozitan affairs. Paul Muscat presents a detailed study on patronage patterns in Religious Art in Gozo between 1500 and 1900, while Geoffrey G. Attard writes about Alfons Maria Hili as a Gozitan patriot. 

Roderick Pace discusses the speech delivered by US President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1961 recording the construction of the Xewkija airfield during the war, while in his article Charles Bezzina presents a glimpse of Gozo during the Second World War.

Aaron Attard-Hili gives interesting information about an archive of photos on Gozo, and Godwin Vella discusses how a part of the Gran Castello can be transformed into an interpretation centre to promote the Gran Castello’s unique attractions.

A short article by Joseph Bezzina deals with the Maltese translation for counterscarp as presented in a 1730 document, while a short report by Joseph Calleja includes the academic and extra-curricular activities held at the Campus between July and December 2009.

Free copies of the Gozo Observer and more information can be obtained from the
University of Malta Gozo Campus
Mgarr Road
Xewkija, Gozo
Tel: +356 21564559
Fax: +356 21564550
Email

The Gozo Observer can also be downloaded at www.um.edu.mt/ugc/publications

A packed hall of over 200 persons attended the national conference on Saturday 20 February 2010, entitled Epilepsy? Improving our Knowledge (L-Epilessija – Insir Naf Aktar) organised by the Caritas Malta Epilepsy Association, in conjunction with the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Malta. Epilepsy is often a hidden medical condition, which requires several varying medical and support services, and it can greatly affect a person’s social and personal life. Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological condition and it is caused by changes in temporary electronic function of the brain. This will result in abnormal body movements, and effects on awareness and behavior depending on the part of the brain that function incorrectly. One of the Caritas Malta Epilepsy Association’s (CMEA) main aims is to help persons with epilepsy have improved health care facilities as these are essential for an improved quality of life. This year’s national conference discussed the basic medical and practical aspects of epilepsy, to ensure a better quality of life for persons with epilepsy in the community.

The conference was opened by the newly appointed Minister for Health, Community Care and the Elderly, Dr Joe Cassar and by Mgr Dun Victor Grech, Director, Caritas Malta. Dr Joe Cassar said the statistics shown that Malta here around 4,000 people have epilepsy, which means one in every hundred people. He said that unfortunately many misconceptions and stigma about epilepsy are still found all over the world, with Malta is no exception. The Minister praised the work of the association which has worked to ensure public and professional awareness in order to reduce prejudice and stigma about this condition. Keynote speakers included Prof. Brian Neville, a paediatric neurologist with a special interest in epilepsy. He has been the visiting specialist in paediatric neurology to Malta for about 15 years and is advisor to several parent support groups. Another invited speaker was Mr Rick O’Shea is a high profile radio presenter with RTE, the national state broadcaster in Ireland. He has had epilepsy for over 20 years now and in 2007 became the national patron of Brainwave - The Irish Epilepsy Association. Since then he's spent time speaking publicly in Ireland and other countries about being a public figure living with epilepsy. He described how this condition never hampered the career he wanted. Three local speakers discussed their personal experience of epilepsy, Mrs Caroline Attard, Sr Geswina Mangion and Mrs Victoria Dimech. They emphasised how society should realise that people with epilepsy are normal people and should be treated as such. The afternoon sessions were dedicated to workshops where the 200 participants had a chance to interact and discuss further.

CMEA would like to acknowledge the support of the following sponsors without whom this conference would not have been possible: Alf. Mizzi and Sons Foundation, American Foundation for Maltese Charities, Consolidated Biscuit Co Ltd, Dolmen Resort Hotel, Glaxo Smithkline (Malta), Janssen - Cilag (Malta) Mdina Glass Ltd, Sanofi – Aventis (Malta), Smart Supermarket Ltd - B’Kara, Strategy & Sustainability Division (Department of Health), University of Malta.

Workshop in Design & Technology to B.Ed. Primary Students as part of an ERASMUS Exchange

On 15 February, Lady Dr Sue Dale Tunnicliffe delivered a workshop on Design and Technology as part of the B.Ed. (Hons) primary course at the University of Malta. This workshop was possible due to the ERASMUS staff exchange programme within the Lifelong Learning Programme funded by the European Commission.  The ERASMUS programme allows the University of Malta to sign agreements with Universities across Europe to allow the exchange of students and staff. Within this programme it is possible for students to spend one or two semesters of study in another University. It also offers the possibility for University of Malta lecturers to teach in another University.

Lady Dr Sue Dale Tunnicliffe is a research associate at the Institute of Education, University of London, and in the past also served as an OFSTED inspector (Ofsted is the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills) on Design and Technology. Having been a primary teacher for twenty five years Lady Tunnicliffe also has extensive experience in the training of teachers. Through collaboration with Dr Suzanne Gatt from the Department of Primary Education at the University of Malta’s Faculty of Education, Lady Tunnicliffe has, for the past six years, regularly visited Malta to carry out these workshops.

The workshop forms part of a credit for B.Ed. (Hons) primary student teachers on Science and Technology. The activity provided a hands-on experience and involved the students in an actual design-and-make exercise. Students used G-clamps, scissors, wood, glue and other everyday stuff to create models useful for their classroom. The exercise served to help the students understand the process of Design and Technology, and to understand what type of activities they would need to do with children in primary schools. Such examples of practical training help to equip student teachers with skills they would need when they are eventually teaching in schools.

The ERASMUS exchange has also fostered research collaboration between the Institute of Education and the University of Malta, as Lady Tunnicliffe and Dr Suzanne Gatt have already co-authored two research papers focusing on young children’s ideas about animals and plants.

Malta University Consulting is organising a number of Professional Development Courses. Programmes offered include short courses in community studies, communication skills, management tools, food handling. The courses include:

• Community Development
• Humour & Communication
• Creative Thinking to Innovate Yourself in through Tough Times
• Strategic Human Resources Management
• Disability Studies
• Emotional Intelligence
• Excellence in Customer Service
• Food Handling

The Communications and Alumni Relations Office has just launched a new Research Website. The purpose of the site is to showcase the research of our academic staff to the general public, the media and also to interested academics and potential project partners from overseas.

Academics are invited to send in anything of interest along the lines of what already appears on the site preferably accompanied by photos. The site currently presents items related to the first semester. However, the idea is for it to be in a continual state of flux with pages and images added on a regular basis.

Initial access is to information pitched at the level a layman would enjoy.  However, further links which should be supplied by the researchers will take the more interested enquirer to detailed information, department websites and, where appropriate, to the personal sites of the contributors.

The site may be accessed at www.um.edu.mt/research or directly from the University of Malta homepage by clicking Research.

Suggestions which may enhance the site are welcome. To submit information send an email to the Communications & Alumni Relations Office
Subject: Showcasing UoM Research.