Events in the Community - University of Malta

The Pardon Beggars (2,3,4 Jul.)

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:37:29 +0200

The Pardon Beggars
by
Vincent Vella

This play (in English) forms part of the Malta Arts Festival, running from 1st to 17th July 2008.

The Pardon Beggars was regional winner for Europe in the BBC World Service and British Council International Playwriting Competition 2007.

The Military Junta that came to power in Argentina following the 1976 coup d’êtat gained notoriety for the 'dirty war' it unleashed on dissidents, during which up to thirty thousand persons disappeared. It relinquished power only after the Falklands debacle.

However, the tentacles of the old Regime were far from severed, with influential sectors of Argentine society, like the military and the financial, still closely associated with it. Several convicted members of the old guard were granted pardons.

Solidad, the daughter of a minor military officer, was born in 1974, two years before the coup. Today she is 34, a university lecturer and divorced with a young girl. She is a 'pardon beggar'; one of the tormented children of middle class parents obsessed with expiating the sins of their fathers.

One day, seemingly by accident, she comes into possession of information which should never have been known and finds herself entrapped in a terrifying world. Too late, she discovers that what is being played out is far too big to pay heed to the fate of mere individuals as all claims of love or kinship collapse before the execution of the grand, dark design.

The play is being directed by Chris Gatt with Pia Zammit, Coryse Borg, Manuel Cauchi and John Suda in the leading roles.

Dates: 2, 3, 4, 5 July 2008
Time: 21.00
Tickets from Exotique, Agenda (all outlets, including University), Vodafone, Bookends and Newskiosk
Price: €8

Archaeological/Historical/Biblical tour to Israel (15 - 24 July)

Mon, 05 May 2008 12:02:02 +0200

Professor Anthony J. Frendo, Head of the Department of Arabic and Near Eastern Studies, will be leading a tour to Israel (with a visit to Petra, Jordan) from 15 -24 July 2008. This archaeological/historical/biblical tour is primarily aimed at University staff, and those interested are kindly asked to contact Professor Frendo at: anthony.frendo@um.edu.mt in order to receive all the necessary information.

International Association of Maltese Linguistics (GĦILM)

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:34:53 +0200

The International Association of Maltese Linguistics (GĦILM) is an association of scholars from all linguistic sub-disciplines interested in the Maltese Language. It was founded in October 2007 in the course of the Maltese Linguistics conference at the University of Bremen and currently has 43 members from 14 countries world-wide. Its first president is Prof. Dr Thomas Stolz. The University of Bremen has been a corporate member of the German-Maltese Circle for some years.

The primary goal of GĦILM is to facilitate research on the Maltese language. It aims are to become an international contact point for linguists, translators, students and other people working with the Maltese language. Furthermore, the GĦILM seeks to establish the study of Maltese Linguistics as an academic discipline in its own right. The creation of centres for research and teaching of Maltese will be a subsequent goal of GĦILM.

The GĦILM has just announced the publication of a new scientific Journal concerning Maltese Linguistics called “ILSIENNA – Our Language”. This periodical, the first issue of which is expected in December 2008, will come in one issue of 120-160 pages once a year. For more information send an email. or visit the website.

Guided Nature Walks

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 10:52:00 +0100

Guided Nature Walks at il-Majjistral Nature & History Park

Winter is the season when many of the indigenous plants of the Maltese islands come to life – patient bulbous plants flourish after the long summer drought, and life sprouts in every crack and corner of our landscape. If you would like to learn more about our flora and enjoy spectacular countryside walks, then il-Majjistral Nature & History Park is the perfect place to visit.

A guided nature walk is now taking place regularly at the Park on Sundays (or other days on request). The walk is 6 km long and takes approximately two and a half hours. Initially, this guided walk is being offered free of charge as part of the management’s commitment to increasing awareness and enjoyment of our heritage, whilst also promoting some healthy exercise in the fresh air.

The north-west of Malta offers unique seascapes and landscapes, a sense of wilderness and some truly inspiring walks. The Park extends from ir-Ramla tal-Mixquqa (Golden Bay) to Il-Prajjet (Anchor Bay), and is jointly managed by three non-governmental organizations – Din l-Art Helwa, the Gaia Foundation and Nature Trust.

The walks are led by a qualified and experienced guide, and begin at 10.00 hrs near the Golden Bay bus stop, ending at the same place at around 12.30 hrs. Places on the walk must be pre-booked and walks are subject to a minimum number of persons. Bookings can be made by email on walks@majjistral.org. The terrain consists mostly of rocky paths beside the cliffs and dirt tracks, and suitable walking shoes are essential. For further information on the Park visit www.majjistral.org.

Volserv

Thu, 15 May 2008 15:04:03 +0200

Volserv is a project of SOS Malta coordinated through its Malta Resource Centre in Partnership with the Ministry of Social Policy.

VolServ involves the organisation and support of voluntary services in the new main general hospital to patients and relatives, as well as in the community.

Volserv recruits and trains volunteers to be allocated in Mater Dei Hospital and in the Community.

Volserv provides ongoing support and supervision to the volunteers.

Almost 200 volunteers have been recruited with Volserv so far and there are currently 140 volunteers placed in Mater Dei Hospital in various roles. These roles include guiding and accompanying patients and relatives to various parts of the hospital; assisting in all outpatient clinics; assisting in wards and keeping company to lonely patients etc.

Volserv is currently seeking to develop:

a uniform system which ensures that all volunteers working in Mater Dei hospital are trained (all volunteers to attend basic training or certified to have equivalent training)
a code of conduct for all organisations and volunteers which will operate in Mater Dei Hospital
a registration system for all organisations and volunteers to work in Mater Dei Hospital
volunteering in the Community.

As part of its recruitment work a long term (3 year) communications plan to recruit volunteers and create awareness about the service. Various Corporate sponsors have been and are being approached to support such work.

Click here for further details.

Introductory Course to Conservation Studies (Summer 2008)

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:51:13 +0200

Heritage Malta is offering an Introductory Course to Conservation Studies. The course is being organized through its Institute of Conservation and Management of Cultural Heritage (ICMCH). Lectures will be held between the 14 July and the 1 August 2008, from Mondays to Fridays.

This course is aimed at the general public as well as prospective conservation-restoration students. The Introductory Course to Conservation Studies will serve as a preparatory course for the entrance examination, a pass in which is a compulsory special entry requirement to the Bachelor in Conservation and Restoration Studies (Honours) – B.Cons.(Hons).

Lectures are held daily over a period of three weeks from 0900hrs to 1600hrs. The teaching time is divided equally between theoretical lectures and practical sessions. The course will cover archaeology, architecture and history of art for conservation studies as well as an introduction to conservation science, artistic techniques and documentation practices in conservation-restoration. The four main areas of study, which are also offered in the B.Cons.(Hons) course, are paintings and polychrome sculpture; ceramics, glass, metals and stone; textiles; and books and paper. The other two practicals are line drawing and chemistry for conservation, both of which are important to conservation studies.

The fee for the course is Euro 140 for the general public and Euro 70 for students. The application form can be downloaded from the Heritage Malta website. One can collect an application form from the ICMCH Office at Heritage Malta Bighi in Kalkara. Applications are to be sent by Friday the 4th of July. At the end of the course students are awarded a certificate of attendance for their participation.

A career in conservation-restoration requires an academic formation at university level. ICMCH offers the B.Cons.(Hons) course, which is a degree conferred by the University of Malta. For further information about courses send an email to ICMCH or call 23954231.

IAC International Conference on Counselling (2-6 Jul.)

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:23:10 +0200

The International Association for Counselling (IAC) has invited the Malta Association for the Counselling Profession (MACP) to host this year’s international conference entitled: Counselling: a Means of Bridging Differences, which is being held at the Dolmen Hotel in Qawra. MACP will be organising the conference in collaboration with the University of Malta between 2 and 6 July.

This conference will bring together counsellors from around the world who will discuss issues of social justice, education and personhood.

All those interested in attending are to send an email including their postal address

The closing date for this conference is 21 June 2008.

For further information visit the website.