A group of 33 University students and alumni together with three members of the academic staff from the Department of Classics and Archaeology went on a visit to Syracuse and Noto. They were accompanied by Dr Davide Tanasi an expert on Sicilian and Mediterranean archaeology from Arkadia University.

The group had the opportunity to visit the Temples of Apollo and Athena and the Museo Paolo Orsi, one of the most important archaeological museums in the Mediterranean. Thy also went to the Archaeological Park which includes the Roman and Greek theatres, and the Castello Erialo, the world's only Greek castle. On their way back the group made a stop at Noto.

This was the first trip organised by the Department and provided a great  occasion for students and alumni to look at the archaeology and history of one of our Mediterranean neighbours. The feedback has been extremely positive and the intention is to organise other such tours.

This month the Malta University Press is launching three new, pioneering works. These are Speakers' Rulings in the Parliament of Malta: The Legislative Assembly 1921-1924, an edited compilation in two volumes of Speakers’ rulings during Malta’s first legislature in 1921-1924, by Professor Raymond Mangion, who teaches history of legislation; The Maltese Legal System, Volume 1, A General Introduction, a first ever critical and analytical overview of the Maltese corpus juris, written by Professor David J. Attard, the University Chancellor and Director of the International Maritime Law Institute, to be followed by a subsequent complementary volume; and Ġan Anton Vassallo, Il-Poeżiji, by leading poet and litterateur, Professor Oliver Friggieri at the University of Malta.

     

In introducing these volumes the chairman of the University of Malta's editorial board, Professor Henry Frendo, said that the Speakers' Rulings in the Parliament of Malta would be an indispensable work of reference for members of the legislature, students of parliamentary history, politicians and future presidents of the House; whereas The Maltese Legal System would serve as a 'vade mecum' for all law students and be of special interest to members of the legal profession as well as to anyone concerned with the rule of law. The book on the poetry of Ġan Anton Vassallo a romantic-patriotic forerunner of Dun Karm Psaila best known for his poem 'Tifħira lil Malta', is the first comprehensive anthology of his poetry in Maltese ever to be published.

In thanking all authors and editors for their painstaking original contributions to knowledge and to society, Professor Frendo said that the Malta University Press was proud to be celebrating half-a-century of academic publishing, with some of its very first publications - on Maltese folklore by Guzè Cassar Pullicino, and on human rights documentation by Professor J.J. Cremona - dating back to 1964.
   
MUP, which rigorously peer reviews all texts submitted for publication in accordance with its procedures, has no connection to any other publisher. The next volume on Maltese mediaeval documentation, compiled, edited and annotated by Professor Stanley Fiorini, Documentary Sources of Maltese History, Part II: Documents in the State Archives, Palermo, no.4 : Cancelleria Regia: 1485-1500, is in the press.

Further information on the MUP's publications over the years may be obtained from its website  or phone on +356 2340 3448. Trade enquiries should be directed to Sierra Books or phone on +356 21378576.

The next issue of Think magazine has just been released. Within its pages are the stories of University of Malta students, alumni, researchers and professors.

This issue focuses on art and science. The festival Science in the City took Malta by storm, bringing 12,000 people in touch with an idea rife throughout the world. The magazine beautifully illustrates a six metre DNA staircase, round buses, flies and giant brains. Think talks to the artists and scientists behind the festival.

Within its pages, laughter meets therapy. A local researcher has developed a novel and refreshing way to treat stuttering. The technique is now being used all over Europe, which is no laughing matter.

The magazine goes behind the scenes on the latest storytelling technique: transmedia. We’ve interviewed the first competition winner who wrote a crime thriller told through autopsy reports, hacked emails, gritty videos and leaked police communication. We cannot wait till it is out.

University researchers talk about what is needed to fight brain disease. Others shed light on the Church's reaction to the IVF bill. While students tackle serious questions, from robotics to pollution and the ultimate 3D football experience.

A world-renowned expert peels back layers on Caravaggio. He gives us a taste of Malta's greatest artist and a snippet into his violent life, beautiful artwork and unique influence. Caravaggio changed the region's art towards a unique direction.

Apart from art and science, the issue also delves into Maltese history. It talks about a recently published book that highlights the stark battle between Italy and England over Malta. Clearly there are secrets in Malta's history that are not as we remember them.

Think can be picked up for free in newsagents around Malta and Gozo and in Agenda bookstores, viewed on Issuu, downloaded here, followed on Twitter or liked on Facebook.

The Jean-Monnet Teaching Module on Agenda-Setting in the European Union (EST3203 ) is scheduled to begin on 12 February 2013. The module, co-ordinated by Dr Marcello Carammia from the Institute for European Studies, will address key theoretical and empirical aspects of EU agenda-setting: how do problems enter (or not) the political agenda of the EU? How do EU institutions, Member States, political parties, interest groups and private actors contribute to setting the agenda of the EU? How does the way a problem access the agenda affect the solutions that are proposed? In what respect, if any, are agenda-setting processes in the EU different from similar processes in other political systems?

Supported by the European Commission under the Jean Monnet action of the Lifelong Learning Programme, the module pursues innovative approaches to the study of European integration, combining theoretical and methodological training with the empirical knowledge necessary to understand EU actions and policies. The first part of the module will deal with institutions, actors and processes relevant to EU agenda-setting, while the second part will analyse EU priorities in seven key policy areas: migration, environment, the Mediterranean, the economy,  emergency aid, agriculture and fisheries, and foreign aid. Single lectures will be held by members of the academic staff of the Institute for European studies and by leading scholars from European and American universities.

More detailed information will be available on the module website, which will be accessible shortly at www.um.edu.mt/europeanstudies/aseu. The module is open to third year university students, as well as to members of the general public. Members of the public may register for the module online.

More information can be obtained by contacting Dr Carammia.

 

The University of Malta Cottonera Resource Centre has been set up to act as a bridge between some of the communities in the inner harbour area and the University of Malta. It seeks to act as a hub that co-ordinates links between these communities and the University, facilitating resource-transfer and capacity building.

The main aims of the Centre are to promote higher and tertiary education among these communities by building on existing skills and resources, providing information as well as support and guidance to those interested in furthering their education. At the same time, the Centre’s remit is to promote the area’s potential, in the form of skills, trades and other forms of heritage that are particular to the region.  

The Centre, which was inaugurated on 22 January by Minister of Education and Employment, Dolores Cristina, is also cooperating with St. Margaret’s College within the Ministry of Education. A pilot action research project, strongly supported by Rector Prof. Juanito Camilleri, and initially under the direction of Prof. Carmel Cefai, Director of the Centre for Educational Resilience and Socio-Emotional Health, involved  twelve students, aged 11 to 15, who were identified because of their high educational potential. It was thought that these students were at risk of being hampered from continuing  their education by certain problems related to their socio-economic background. This group of students was followed on three levels: peer mentoring, family, school-based and community-based support.  As part of the same initiative, 12 other students were given the possibility of shadowing a number of people working in various roles at the University.  Another 24 children of primary school age were sponsored to attend Kids on Campus.  In parallel to this initiative, a committee was set up to work on developing university structures that are more accessible.   The work of this committee culminated in the event ‘Skopri l-Universita` fit-Tlett Ibliet’ which took place in November 2012 in collaboration with the University Communications’ Office, followed by the opening of the Resource Centre.
In future, the Centre will be working on the organisation of conferences, seminars and similar activities related to the Cottonera area; collaborating with local councils and civil society on projects, initiatives and events that seek to promote the area; conduct or facilitate research on issues or topics related to the area, as well as making existing research results more accessible to the community. It will be assisting in the logistical aspects of courses organised by the University at all levels in the communities in question and/or Cottonera Resource Centre; managing community-based educational initiatives, both formal and non-formal; and building networks with entities active in the community, especially those dealing with educational institutions, agencies looking after the interests of groups facing social disadvantage, and entities that help in career guidance and in the promotion of employment.

The Centre aims to have an intergenerational focus to allow for a range of ages to benefit from its initiatives. It further seeks to facilitate contact and cooperaton between researchers available at the University of Malta and community members/entities. It will operate through a community centred approach and will continue developing according to what the community identifies as a priority.

For further information please contact:
Ms Andreana Dibben
Email 
Tel: +356 23407801

EC’s Esteemed Diploma Supplement Label for University of Malta

The European Commission’s Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency has awarded the prestigious Diploma Supplement Label to the University of Malta.

This Label was set up to encourage institutions of higher education to provide their graduates with a document, supplementary to their scroll, which provides detailed, up-to-date information on the course of studies followed. The University has been awarding the Diploma Supplement to all its graduates since 2010, and during the last graduation ceremonies over 3000 graduates were awarded the Diploma Supplement.

The Europass Diploma Supplement is a document developed by a group of experts from the European Commission, UNESCO and the Council of Europe, and ties in closely with the Bologna Process objective to create a system of easily readable and comparable documents.

The aims of the Diploma Supplement are to improve international transparency, facilitate the academic and professional recognition of qualifications, improve and assist the mobility of graduates both within the country where the qualification was awarded and abroad, thus removing barriers to working, studying or training in Europe. It also facilitates the admission of students or graduates for further academic study or further training and provides for a smooth transition from one course to another while placing the qualifications in the context of the European Higher Education Area. The Diploma Supplement also helps graduates to find suitable employment, since it can easily be compared with that of other job seekers from different countries, thereby providing a better chance of having their qualifications understood and assessed fairly.

Further information is available online.

The Department of International Relations, Faculty of Arts, presents a short course in

The University of Malta will be offering a number of courses in 2013 ...

Click here for the list of courses commencing in 2013.

The University of Malta will be offering the following courses at the University Gozo Campus as from February 2013:

• Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership
  This course is being offered free of charge for eligible participants as a result of the financial support provided by the European Social Fund under the Operational Programme II - Cohesion Policy 2007 - 2013, as part of ESF 1.209 - Training Courses for the Educational Sector in Gozo.
  
• Certificate in Proof Reading: Maltese