Bank of Valletta shared its financial services expertise with University students through a lecture organised through the collaboration between Bank of Valletta and the University of Malta for the DegreePlus Programme. Bank of Valletta is the sole sponsor of the DegreePlus Programme.

Simon Azzopardi, Relationship Manager at BOV's Corporate Centre gave a hands-on presentation to students subscribed to the Entrepreneurship stream. During his lecture, Mr Azzopardi gave an overview of the variables one is to consider when seeking business finance. These aspiring entrepreneurs received practical insight into the myths and hurdles they would be facing in a few years' time when they would be taking their first steps in the business world, as they try to transform a business idea into a viable operation. Students were also provided with feedback regarding the Bank's role in assisting entrepreneurs, with particular reference to the Bank’s risk assessment methods and the tools available to assist customers so that they are in control of their finances.

Following Mr Azzopardi's presentation, Prof. Albert Caruana, Professor of Marketing at the University of Malta, highlighted the aim behind the Degreeplus programme, which is a first in many respects. 'The tag line "More than you’d credit!" says it all. Launched this year, the programme sets out to provide students with the opportunity to boost their academic studies with additional practical skills and experiences that enrich their character and employability, whilst providing a more holistic approach to education in a fun environment,' said Prof. Caruana.

Click here for further details about the DegreePlus.

Dr Carmel Borg, former dean of the Faculty of Education, and Professor Peter Mayo, were elected Secretary General and President respectively of the Mediterranean Society of Comparative Education (MESCE). The new executive committee was announced during the Third International MESCE Conference, held in Malta between 11-13 May. Dr Borg and Professor Mayo co-convened the conference on behalf of the former MESCE executive committee.

The main tasks of the new executive committee are the organisation of the  Fourth International MESCE Conference in 2009, in Rabat, Morocco, and the co-organisation of the WCCES XIV World Congress of Comparative Education Societies in 2010, in Istanbul, Turkey. The latter conference is expected to attract 1000 researchers from 36, national and regional comparative education societies.

The Islands and Small States Institute of the University of Malta was entrusted by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Government of Malta to organise a series of training workshops on 'Banking and Finance in Small States' and 'Competitiveness Strategies for Small States' as part of the Malta-Commonwealth Third Country Training Programme. These workshops have been organised on an annual basis since 2000. One of these workshops is currently being held at the University of Malta.

Participants are normally nominated by the national governments and are awarded a sponsorship by the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation and the Malta Ministry of Foreign Affairs. About 20 officials, at senior and middle management levels, operating in the private sector and public sector institutions, normally receive the award. The countries represented at these workshops are mostly located in the Pacific, Caribbean, and Indian Ocean regions, and in Africa.

The training workshops are spread over two weeks and consist mainly of presentations by resource persons and country reports by the participants. Visits to Maltese institutions relating to the theme of the workshop are organised for the participants.

Engaging in Sport? Voluntary Work? UoM has teamed up with BOV to offer DegreePlus, an exciting new programme this summer...

The University has teamed up with Bank of Valletta to offer DegreePlus, an exciting new programme aimed at providing all university students with the opportunity to augment their academic studies with additional skills and experiences that can enhance their character and employability. In Summer 2008, DegreePlus will be offering units in the following streams:

DegreePlus Voluntary Work - Open to all students who would like to dedicate some of their free time for the benefit of others. The principal areas in which students can participate include interaction with children, young people, the elderly, refugees, persons experiencing illness or disability as well as in pro-environmental initiatives for a period of 20 hours.

DegreePlus Leisure Sport - The Leisure Sport option within Degree Plus aims to provide students with the opportunity to get involved in sport for recreational purposes, the focus, therefore being on participation and enjoyment. Various activities on offer ranging from scubadiving to taichi.

For further details and online registration please click here. Closing date for registrations is 20th June, 2008.

Dr Neville Calleja and Dr Julian Mamo, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery are jointly presenting a 3-day seminar on Epidemiology and Health Statistics for medical doctors undertaking a 3 year M.Sc. in Occupational Medicine at the University of Damascus, Syria. The project is funded by the European Commission TEMPUS MEDA programme which enables universities from EU Member States to cooperate with Mediterranean partner countries in higher education modernisation projects. The local coordinator for this 3 year project is Dr Isabel Stabile, also of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.         
 

A look at the pictures, the media releases of Roberto Benigni's visit at the University of Malta ...

Roberto Benigni's Visit at the University of Malta
Message from the Rector and Press Releases
The pictures
In the Media (1)
In the Media (2)

The Conferment of the Degree of Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa) on Maestro Roberto Benigni was held at the Church of the University, Valletta on 22nd April, 2008.

Programme
Arrival of the President of the Republic

Innu Malti (orchestra)

The University Vocal Ensemble
i) Concerto per Clavicembalo and orchestra (Mov. 1) Domenico Paradisi
Organ - Romina Morrow.
ii) Aria “What is St. Elmo” (Jester) from The Maltese Cross by Charles Camilleri
Soprano - Joan Mangion.

Oration by Dr Gloria Lauri-Lucente
Click here for English version
Click here for Italian version

Conferment of the degree of Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa) on Maestro Roberto Benigni

The Registrar proclaims the resolution of the Senate and Council of the University

The Sponsor presents the graduand to the Rector

Conferment of the degree by the Rector

The Chancellor presents the degree scroll

The Honorary Graduate signs the Liber Aureus

Address by the Honorary Graduate, Maestro Roberto Benigni

The University Vocal Ensemble
Magnificat by Simon Brixi
Choir, soloists and orchestra
Soprano - Claire Caruana
Mezzo Soprano - Connie Francis Zerafa
Tenor – Charles Vella Zarb
Bass - Kevin Caruana

Innu Malti

La Vita è Bella (Theme) arr. Mark Anthony Cachia

H.E. the President of the Republic leaves the Church

The Honorary Graduate leaves in procession with the Chancellor, Rector and the Academic Body.

 

 

Another Issue of Mediterranean Journal of Educational Studies

Volume 12(2) of Mediterranean Journal of Educational Studies (MJES), the biannual refereed international journal published by the Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Educational Studies (EMCER) of the University of Malta, is out. This issue features articles by:
Peter Mayo – Gramsci, the Southern Question and the Mediterranean
Aysun Yavuz - Understanding student teachers’ effectiveness through journals at an English language teaching department: a Turkish university case  
Simoni Symeonidou - Parental involvement in education politics: the case of disabled children
Ahmad M. Qablan, Samer A. Khasawneh  & Aieman A. Al-Omari - Awareness of sustainability issues among science education and vocational education students at the Hashemite University in Jordan: an empirical investigation
Linda Akl - The implications of Lebanese cultural complexities for education
Constantinos A. Vouyoukas - An analysis of equality, legislation, attitudes and values in education: the case of Greece

The volume also includes a book review.

Professor Ronald Sultana, the director of EMCER and editor-in-chief of MJES, can be contacted by e-mail at ronald.sultana@um.edu.mt

The Faculty of Arts Dean’s List award ceremony was held on Friday 25 April 2008. The Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. D. Fenech presented the awards to the following students:
Ms Charelle Debattista B.A. Arabic & Maltese
Mr Marvin Demicoli B.A. Archaeology & Psychology
Ms Aldith Gauci B.A.(Hons) Theatre
Mr Samuel Scicluna B.A.(Hons) International Relations
Ms Jana Tsoneva B.A.(Hons) Anthropology

Prof. Fenech congratulated the five students and explained how the very stringent conditions of the Dean’s List allows only the very best to feature in this prestigious list. In fact, only students who achieve A grades in at least 80 credits during the first two years of their course, without any fails or re-sits, can be included in the List. The students must also be recommended by the Head of Department in consultation with other tutors for inclusion in the Dean’s list.

These students will be graduating in November 2008.

The Faculty of Arts would like to publicly thank the Bank of Valletta for sponsoring the event.

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