Dr Andrew Azzopardi from the Department of Youth & Community Studies is the winner of two categories in the recently held awards in Journalism organised by IGM. Andrew Azzopardi won the 22nd edition of the Malta Journalist Awards for Gurnaliżmu Mxandar – Radio and Artikli ta’ Opinjoni.

Andrew Azzopardi lectures in social inclusion and exclusion, disability and youth studies. He has published widely in these areas and he also blogs regularly andrewazzopardi.org

    

A group of second year B.A.(Hons) in Dance Studies students Desiree Attard, Valentina Azzopardi, Christabel Bajada, Stefanelle Cachia, Eleonora Fae Cauchi, Elise Ellul, Yosef Farrugia, Patsy Scerri, Carla Schembri were recently invited to visit Leeds, the newly established artistic city in the UK to experience its collaborative approach that has been adopted in the dance community.

They were hosted by David Nixon, (Artistic Director) and Mark Skipper (Chief Executive) of Northern Ballet in a beautiful purpose built venue which is home to two world class dance companies, Northern Ballet and Phoenix Dance Theatre. The programme was arranged by Selina Mc Gonagle, Director of Learning, who ensured that the students experienced ballet classes with the Northern Ballet Academy teachers and contemporary dance classes with Phoenix personnel. The group took part in a range of dance classes including mini-movers, over 55’s class and adults with learning disabilities.

The students visited the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, a conservatoire for contemporary dance. They learned that such major dance entities in Leeds are able to join forces to cater for different dance practitioners. The students were given further insight into the reality of a professional dance career, as they watched Northern Ballet company class and performances by Nederlands Dans Theater 2 and Random Dance Company. They also met prominent people in the industry such as MJ Harper who is facilitating their next project called 'Big Dance' in preparation for the Olympic Games 2012.

The students wish to thank Professor Jo Butterworth, Head of Dance Studies at the University of Malta for a fruitful and unforgettable experience.

Henry Frendo’s Europe and Empire:
Major Historical Work Launched at the Palace

Wednesday evening saw the launching of a major research undertaking, which has been 26 years in the making, by Professor Henry Frendo, at the Palace, Valletta. Comprising of 872 pages in hard covers, Europe and Empire knows its germination to La Trobe University, Melbourne, in 1986, when the author lectured there. Based mainly on British, Italian, Australian, American, Tunisian and Maltese archival sources, it is essentially a multifaceted critique of colonialism, ranging far and wide from British penetration of the Mediterranean in the 18th century to the metamorphosis of Malta's body politic, cultural heritage, party political and inter-personal relations especially during the agitated 1912-1946 period, to future challenges for the survival of a Maltese nationality and identity.

The volume opens many 'windows' on Malta's past. These include language and nationhood in culture, perception and power; Nerik Mizzi's formative years in Italy until 1912, and Manwel Dimech's non-repatriation from Alexandria until his mysterious death in 1921; improving Anglo-Maltese bonds when self-government was granted in 1921; changing political dynamics as colonialism was faced by the rise of fascism in the 1920s. It discusses language, religion and politics in Lord Strickland’s Malta especially between 1927 and 1933, with a chapter containing intriguing flashbacks to Strickland’s earlier Australian governorships as well as Australian perspectives of goings-on in Malta itself through press reportage and commentary.

Other chapters compare the constitutional breakdown in Malta in the early 1930s to that in Cyprus; and take stock of the Royal Dockyard's socio-economic and strategic place in the colonial equation. Mainly from oral sources through former bank employees, the book evocatively traces banking, leisure and working life in Malta during the war; as well as, mainly from Tunisian archival sources, the yearning for ethnic identity among Maltese migrants in North Africa, parceled out as this was between the French, Italian and British empires.

The book then concentrates on shifting Anglo-Italian relations, asking whose 'Mare Nostrum' was at stake. In a prelude to the invasion of Abyssinia in 1935, Maltese is raised to an official language together with English, and Italian suppressed; but by this time a real fear of a  war between Britain and Italy looms over Malta. This marks an escalation in internecine tensions, repression and espionage, leading to the expulsion of several resident Italians and subsequently the sacking of prominent Maltese, always without charge or trial. The racy chapter 'Rule Britannia: The Clampdown on "Disloyalty", 1936-1940' is far the longest and arguably the most seminal one in the volume (pp. 541-676).

Professor Frendo also looks into the internments and deportations after 1940; the hanging of Carmelo Borg Pisani in 1942; tangible and intangible consequences of the second world war on the Maltese; and the post-war treason trials when most of those stalked in Italy and shipped over to Malta, in most cases with a possible penalty of hanging until death over their heads, were all acquitted by Maltese juries in 1946/47. Two appendices give extracts from debates in the legislature concerning alleged tampering at the Malta press to incriminate Mizzi before the war; and attempts to deprive several internees of their service pensions or to have them further disciplined. One of the many twists in these stories is how it was the British, together with the two remaining PN deputies, who intervened to retain the pension entitlements. In addition to a bibliography and an index, the volume contains numerous documents reproduced tale quale from the original archival sources or newspaper columns, which tend to speak for themselves.

The incisive concluding chapter, called 'A Culture of Dependent Fear: Decolonizing the Mind, Reclaiming History and the Future of Identity', is of contemporary as much as of historical import.

There were insightful and vigorous contributions during the book launch, which was interspersed with readings by Dr Philip Farrugia Randon, and period tunes on the accordion by Albert Garzia – 'Rule Britannia', 'Giovinezza' and 'X'Aħna Sbieħ Min Jaf Jarana' (the 1931 Satariano-Cilia folk song critical of acculturation). Chaired by the University Chancellor, Professor David Attard, and with President George Abela in attendance, the speakers were Dr Albert Ganado, who focused on political and constitutional aspects; Professor Gloria Lauri-Lucente, who analysed the linguistic-cultural implications; and Mr Mario Ellul, who spoke on the making of imperial mentalities in the navy, the dockyard and other employment venues with the British Services. In his concluding address the author spoke on 'The Fear of the Past and its Relevance', emphasizing that 'we had the right to know and the duty to remember.'
             
Henry Frendo's Europe and Empire: Culture, Politics and Identity in Malta and the Mediterranean (Midsea, 2012, pp. 872, hard covers, illustrated) is on sale at 60e from the publishers and from all leading bookshops.

Students who are part of the University of Malta Junior College orchestra, travelled to Italy on a cultural exchange with the Istituto Tecnico 'Luca Pacioli' of Crema in Lombardy. They were accompanied by Dr Karl Chircop and Mro Manoel Pirotta, Junior College lecturers for Italian and Music, respectively. The objective of this exchange visit was for the students to be immersed into Italian culture, language and lifestyle, and experience all this by means of educational activities aimed at enriching their overall cultural knowledge and holistic education as part of their College education.

Whilst in Italy, the College orchestra gave a vocal and instrumental concert of popular classics to a packed house of opera-lover-orientated Italians, held in the chiesetta of the same school. Also in the same town, they paid a visit to the Museo Civico, the Liuteria Artistica of Vittorio Formaggia – the renowned violinmaker’s shop, and the town-hall where the Maltese group was greeted by the Mayor himself. The exchange also included a trip to Soncino village, in the Province of Cremona, where they were shown around the town’s famous landmarks, the medieval Castle, Rocca Sforzesca and the famous Jewish printer’s house, Casa degli Stampatori.

The group went to the centre of Citta’ Alta of the town of Bergamo, and that of Cremona with its renaissance Cathedral and Torrazzo, the 500-step tower that no one dared to mount! Here, the students also visited the Museo Stradivariano and had the unique opportunity to listen to some musical strains played by the master violinist on the Vesuvius del 1727 – one of the finest hand-made violins ever manufactured by Antonio Stradivario!

The highlight of this musical trip was when the students attended a performance at La Scala di Milano of Aïda – a four-act opera by Verdi under the musical direction of Omer Meir Wellber. They also participated in a workshop held at the Museo La Scala.

    

    

Kids on Campus Summer Brochure and Registration Forms are now available online.

For UoM Employees
Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 May
from 0900hrs to noon
at It-Tajra Childcare Facility, Principal's Office

For the General Public
Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 May
from 0900hrs to noon
at the Foyer of the Sir Temi Zammit Hall

Following further articles in the Media, the University of Malta wishes to reiterate what it has already said in its statement to the Media of 25 April 2012 and make its position with regard to Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri and SIB Laboratories Ltd very clear.  

The first agreement that this University entered into with SIB Laboratories Ltd and the Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri was signed in 2010.  The University categorically denies that it entered into contracts with the said Fondazione prior to that date.  

The agreements involved support for collaborative research in the area of Biomedical Engineering. As already stated, through these agreements, the parties established two awards: the Premio Salvatore Maugeri, - an annual prize of €500 awarded to a final year student project, and the Salvatore Maugeri Student Research Award - a €9,500 annual fund to be divided between five final year projects.  The agreement was for three years.  

The first funds were awarded in 2011. These were all spent on the Research Award (€9,500) and on the prize given to a final year student project (€500) plus a further €1,771 to cover additional equipment costs for one of the chosen research projects.  

The University has no knowledge of any further funds emanating from the Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri or SIB Lab Ltd and has not received any funds beyond those mentioned above.

The University of Malta entered into these agreements in good faith and after conducting its own enquiries concerning the other parties involved, which did not reveal anything irregular. The University only learned of potential problems through the press and has since suspended its agreements with the two entities pending further investigations by the competent authorities.

Since 2010 the University of Malta has entered into collaboration agreements with SIB Laboratories Ltd and the Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri to support collaborative research in the area of Biomedical Engineering. Through these agreements the parties established two awards aimed at encouraging research in this field: the Premio Salvatore Maugeri, - an annual prize of €500 awarded to the best final year student project in Biomedical Engineering; and the Salvatore Maugeri Student Research Award - a €9500 annual fund to provide support to final year student projects in this area. The 2011 Research Award was allocated to fund five final year student projects. These included: a study into the manner of walking of Scoliosis patients; a study to assess the effect of antibiotics on diabetic patients with peripheral arterial disease; a project to design a Brain Computer Interface for patients with specific physical impairments; the design of a device to allow patients with neuro-muscular disorders to read books; and a study to create a database of recorded muscular activity during walking.

The University of Malta entered into these agreements in good faith and after conducting its own enquiries concerning the other parties involved, which did not reveal anything irregular. The University only learned of potential problems through the press and has since suspended its agreements with the two entities pending further investigations by the competent authorities.

At the Council meeting of 26 April 2012, Professor Joe Friggieri was appointed Pro-Rector for Gozo. The appointment is part of the overall plan to develop the Gozo Campus into a fully-fledged and vibrant campus of the University of Malta.

The University intends to offer a wider range of services to all Gozitan students and to better cater for their needs. A pilot initiative to organise some of the examinations of degree programmes in Gozo will be launched in June. This would enable the University to gain a better understanding of the logistical and infrastructural changes that would need to be made in order for this facility to be extended to as many degree programmes as possible. A livelier campus would also serve as a meeting point for the launch of new ideas and projects within the community.

This year the Gozo Campus celebrates its 20th anniversary under the direction of Professor Lino Briguglio. It was set up originally with the aim of providing evening degree and diploma courses for those who could not pursue their studies in Malta. Professor Friggieri has lectured on these courses since their inception. He has also been actively involved in the cultural events held there over the years.

The building where the Campus is housed was originally constructed in the mid-19th century. It was transformed into a University establishment – retaining its original structure – with the support of the Ministry for Gozo and inaugurated as a University Centre by the Prime Minister in May 1996.

Council welcomed the decision of the Rector to appoint Professor Joe Friggieri for the new role and thanked Professor Lino Briguglio for his pioneering work and sterling service.

Professor Friggieri joins the other three Pro-Rectors of the University of Malta:
Professor Mary Anne Lauri for Student & Institutional Affairs; Professor Richard Muscat for Research and Innovation and Professor Alfred Vella for Academic Affairs.


Joe Friggieri is Professor of Philosophy and elected member of Senate representing the academic staff of the Faculty of Arts. He holds doctorates from Milan and Oxford and is a leading poet, playwright and theatre director.  His publications include two books on the English philosopher J.L. Austin, three volumes of poetry, three collections of short stories, a number of plays, as well as In-Nisga tal-Hsieb, the first history of philosophy in Maltese. He has won several literary awards, including the National Literary Prize three times (1993, 1999 and 2003). For his dedication to Philosophy, as well as for his significant contribution to culture and education over many years, he was made a Member of the National Order of Merit in 2008.

Joe Friggieri was chairman of the Manoel Theatre (1990-93), member of the Broadcasting Authority (1993-96), editor of the arts journal Arti (1971-74) and of the monthly newspaper Illum (1975-80), chairman of the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts (2003-05), founder-editor of Kultura 21, as well as presenter and producer of cultural programmes on radio and television. He was guest research scholar and lecturer at the Universities of Venice, Amsterdam, St Andrews, Augsburg, Genova and Sassari. He is president of the Philosophy Society and a regular contributor to political, social and cultural debate.