Prominent International Pharmacy Professors in Malta to Commemorate Steve Hudson, Professor in Pharmaceutical Care

Several prominent international pharmacy professors were in Malta last month to commemorate Professor Steve Hudson from the University of Strathchlyde, UK who passed away suddenly last November.

Professor Hudson was an international figure in clinical pharmacy who collaborated with Maltese academics to promote pharmacy education and research. This collaboration of over 20 years, included Professor Hudson’s participation in the education programmes of the Department of Pharmacy of the Faculty of Medicine & Surgery at the University of Malta and in the organisation of several international courses, symposia and conferences held in Malta.

The commemoration evening was presided by Professor Juanito Camilleri, Rector of the University of Malta while Professor Godfrey LaFerla, Dean of the Faculty concluded the ceremony. Professor Bart Rombaut, President of the European Association of Faculties of Pharmacy, Dr Julienne Johnson and Dr John McAnaw from the University of Strathclyde were amongst the international participants. Students and staff from the Department of Pharmacy of the University of Malta and pharmacists participated in the evening to reflect on Professor Hudson’s motivation, innovation and drive to promote developments in the pharmacy processes.

Department of Digital Arts ‐ Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences

Digital Photography Course

delivered by:
Mr Kevin Casha FMIPP FSWPP AMPS AMPA

Dates:         9, 10, 11, 12, 14 (morning outdoor workshop), 16, 17 May, 2011
Time:          1800hrs – 2000hrs (except workshop on the 14 May)
Venue:         MaKS Computer Laboratory, Room 101, University of Malta or as advised
Course Fee:  Euro 120 (Smartcard Refundable)

Aims of the Course
This course unit is principally aimed at providing an in depth insight and understanding of the many facets and aspects of Digital Photography practice. Students will learn how to handle still cameras more professionally in order to get the desired image. Importance will be given not only to technique but also to visualisation and the use of the medium in a creative and artistic manner. The course will also cover the fundamental aspects of digital image enhancement and manipulation.

Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to:

• Create a concept as well as apply it photographically; understand and handle digital still cameras and equipment
• comprehend in depth the principles of Aperture, Shutter and ISO; learn the rules of composition in photography
• become aware of assessing his/her own and other photographers’ images; work on photographic assignments both individually as well as in a group
• obtain enough knowledge to be able to digitally enhance his/her images through the use of industry standard digital photographic software.

Commonwealth Training Workshop on Banking and Finance in Small States
11-19 April 2011

The Islands and Small States Institute of the University of Malta with the support of the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malta will be organising a training workshop on “Banking and Finance in Small States: Issues and Policies” as part of the Malta-Commonwealth Third Country Training Programme. Many Commonwealth countries will be participating which include Botswana, Cameroon, Cyprus, Kenya, Kiribati, Mauritius, Nigeria, Samoa, Seychelles, St Lucia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga and Uganda.

The Workshop will be inaugurated by the Hon Robert Arrigo, Parliamentary Assistant within the Ministry of Finance.

The course will take place between 11 and 19 April 2011, at the Cavalieri Hotel, St Julians. The aim of the course is to disseminate knowledge and provide training on banking and finance, covering a variety of themes with a focus on small states. The course will enable the participants to benefit form the sharing of ideas and experiences during discussions.

The course is primarily intended for officials, at senior and middle management levels, operating in banking and financial institutions or in the public sector. Participants should normally be nominated by the national governments of small states members of the Commonwealth, and sponsored by the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation.

Further information can be obtained from Ms Maryrose Vella, Islands and Small States Institute, Tel/Fax: +356 21344879
Email

The Institute for Sustainable Development of the University of Malta in collaboration with the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering of University College London (UCL) is pleased to announce once again this year’s International Summer School focused on Spatial Data and Geographic Information Systems between 13 and 17 of June 2011. The Summer School’s goals are to present mid-career professionals, undergraduate students and graduates with the skills necessary to handle Geographic Information collected from the field using latest technologies such as GPS and an appreciation of how to apply Geographic Information Systems. This year the focus is on spatial data handling, with some sessions demonstrating data collection, data management and applications of GIS. Hands-on sessions will complement the lecture based sessions, with participants using ArcGIS, SPSS and open source software like PostGIS, Quantum GIS and Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) sources. By the end of the summer school participants should be able to handle, manipulate and evaluate geographic information using different software. The Summer School will also train its participants how to use ArcGIS and Quantum GIS packages for data handling, alongside the SPSS package for statistical analysis. Participants will also learn the database management system PostgreSQL and its application for geographic information PostGIS whilst understanding how GIS can be applied in various analytical scenarios.

The Summer School will run for a period of one week and participants will be engaged in lectures and practical sessions for 6 hours a day for 5 days at the main University Campus in Msida. The Summer School will assume previous knowledge of GIS and is suitable for participants who are intermediate users of GIS. Participants who wish to learn how to use ArcGIS have the opportunity to attend a preparatory session to be held before the school starts. The teaching faculty this year will consist of Dr Maria Attard (University of Malta), Dr Muki Haklay (University College London), Dr Helena Titheridge (University College London), Dr Claire Ellul (University College London), and Ms Thérèse Bajada (University of Malta).

More information on the summer school can be obtained from here or directly  from the Institute for Sustainable Development by email or telephone +356 2340 3403. Acceptance to the School is on a first come first serve basis. Registration deadline is the 29 April 2011.

University’s New Institute for Tourism, Travel and Culture Introduced to Stakeholders

Seminar: 6 April 2011, 1500hrs

The University of Malta’s new Institute for Tourism, Travel and Culture introduced itself and its programmes to stakeholders in the sector during a seminar at the Aula Magna, University Valletta Campus. Participants included persons active in the fields of tourism, travel and culture. Speakers at the Seminar comprised the Hon. Dr Mario de Marco, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, University Rector Prof. Juanito Camilleri, and the Institute’s Director, Dr Nadia Theuma.

During this event, Dr de Marco presented the first award for Best Tourism Studies Student to Ms Maria Gauci, who graduated B.A.(Hons) Tourism Studies in November 2010. An award was also presented by Skäl International Malta for the Best Dissertation in 2010 by a Tourism Studies Student. This was given to Ms Rodianne Zarb whose dissertation was about "The relationship between tourists' value-types, environmental concern and response to eco-labels".

The Institute for Tourism, Travel and Culture seeks to provide the highest quality education possible to undergraduate and graduate students, to enable them to successfully assume responsible positions within the tourism, travel, cultural heritage and leisure industries. It aims to support the Maltese tourism industry through the Institute’s programmes and to carry out and disseminate research which is of value to the Maltese Tourism industry, the University of Malta and Maltese society, as well as the international Tourism community.

Course Programmes offered by the ITTC include the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Tourism Studies which is a three-year course of full-time study. Its main objectives are to provide a comprehensive background to the international and Maltese dimensions of the tourism industry and to equip students with skills to critically analyze the tourism industry and its impacts on society, the environment and the economy. The Master of Arts (Tourism) programme develops the intellectual abilities of students through study units that promote deeper understanding of the current themes facing the tourism, travel, cultural heritage and leisure sectors.  The Diploma in Gastronomy, which is a part-time programme of studies, is aimed particularly at practitioners in the food and hospitality industry. Studies pay special attention to the history and anthropology of food and gastronomy and their cultural aspects, the communication and interdisciplinary aspects of sociological and psychological theories, product communication and marketing strategies, basic concepts of nutrition education, and food technology and current techniques in sensory analysis.

The Institute for Tourism, Travel and Culture also offers post-graduate students the opportunity to pursue doctoral research and studies in a wide range of subjects related to tourism, travel and culture.

Click here for the speech by the Rector, Prof. Juanito Camilleri. 

The Rector, Prof. Juanito Camilleri, addressing stakeholders at the seminar


The Hon. Dr de Marco addressing stakeholders at the seminar


left to right: Dr Nadia Theuma, Director of the Institute, awardee Ms Maria Gauci and the Hon Dr de Marco


On the right, Ms Rodianne Zarb receiving her Skäl award from Mr Donald Pace Bonello. Dr Nadia Theuma is on the left.

A Mediterranean Exchange: University of Malta Junior College and Gran Asociacion-Colegio meet in Valencia, Spain

The latest student exchange organised by the Eurocentre for students attending the University Junior College saw Valencia - Spain as the protagonist. A group of 16 students, amongst who some members of the Junior College Orchestra and students of Spanish, were accompanied by Mro Manoel Pirotta and Mr Joseph Gravina, both lecturers at the College to pay a visit to Gran Asociacion Colegio in Valenica last March.

This student exchange started off with a visit in Malta by the Principal of the Spanish College - Mr Juan José de Torres Navarro and the exchange organizer, Ms. Noelia Lozano back in November 2010. Their enthusiasm to have a group of students visit Malta set the ball rolling in the realization of this project and the travel dates 22 to 29 March 2011 were chosen for the Maltese group to visit Spain, whilst 12 to 19 April 2011 as the visiting dates of the Spanish group in Malta.

During the group’s stay in Spain, the members from the College Orchestra set up a vocal and instrumental performance in front of the Gran Asociacion director, students and relatives as well as Mr. Aguirre Larrauri, delegate of the Spanish Assembly of the Order of St. John in Valencia. The following day the Maltese were received by Mr del Torre, Valencia City Council top brass on education.

The remaining time spent in Valencia was a varied concoction of events including a visit to the Castle in Xativa, delightedly experienced by the light fog that romantically embraced its historic edifices, a somnolent ride across the Albufera Lake interspersed by the sight of a host of different birds, the gothic Lonja de la Seda and its enchanting halls including the gross medieval stonework depicting sinful do-nots which the Spanish guide pointed out to the astonished merriment of some of our students, the noisy and roofed Mercado Central bursting with food and people, the awe-inspiring vision of the avant-garde Queen Sofia Palace of the Arts, the queer experience of walking beneath sharks or being a few inches away from playful giant walruses in the Oceanografico.

Certainly this was an unforgettable and worthwhile experience for our students, who merged into the Spanish culture with ease, mainly due to the warm hospitality received from the Spanish peers and their families. There is no doubt that new friendships were created and that the intense week has been of great educational value.

Ms Bernardine Mizzi was presented with her appointment as Pro-Chancellor of the University of Malta and ex officio President of Council, by the Chancellor, Professor David J. Attard. The ceremony, in the presence of the Rector, Professor Juanito Camilleri, took place on Tuesday 5 April at the Rector’s Office, Valletta Campus.

Exchange between Faculty of Education, UoM and Faculty of Education, Oslo University College

Focus of exchange: Technology-Enhanced Learning in Teacher Training and Continuous Professional Development.

The University of Malta in collaboration with CREA from the University of Barcelona has organised a dissemination seminar based on the literature and observations accumulated through five years of study on social cohesion and community involvement through education.

Dr Suzanne Gatt, from the Faculty of Education, who is a partner in the integrated FP6 project INCLUDE-ED and the coordinator of one part of the project, project six, provided an overview of the research and also spoke of Malta’s contribution towards the identification of transformative and exclusionary practices in education and the resulting effects that this leaves on social cohesion within the modern society. The University pro-rector, Dr Mary-Anne Lauri gave an opening speech that detailed the dedication and effort that the University of Malta is investing to witness higher numbers of students going for education at higher levels. MEP Dr Simon Busutil spoke of the EU perspective towards education and the recent legislation addressing Roma people. He also emphasised the importance of entire societal representation at high positions particularly stressing the role and position of women within the social system.
 
INCLUDE-ED is an Integrated Project of the priority 7, 6th Framework Program of the European Commission. Such integrated projects incorporate together the critical mass of activities and resources needed to achieve ambitious clearly defined scientific objectives and are expected to have a structuring effect on the fabric of European research.

INCLUD-ED is the only Integrated Project focused on compulsory education in the 6th Framework Program. The project has been designed to look at different areas of study, over a span of five years, through the collaborative work of ten working groups from five different countries, an international panel of experts, international free task oriented groups and an advisory committee composed of representatives of vulnerable groups. Main findings include the increase in social cohesion as a result of community participation within the school; increase of students’ academic achievement in core subject as a result of increase in parental knowledge through school programs addressed to adults and an increase in the involvement and participation of minority groups as a result of cultural education provided by the school and local NGO’s for adults and children in the community.

 

The Seismic Monitoring and Research Unit, University of Malta recorded a magnitude 6.1 earthquake that occurred at 13:29 GMT (15:29 local time) in the Southern Aegean Sea, off the north coast of Crete. 

The earthquake was felt by a number of people in Valletta, Ta’ Xbiex and Sliema. 

Anybody who felt the tremor is invited to fill in the questionnaire on www.phys.um.edu.mt/seismic.