A word from the Rector
Round-Up 1997
Round-Up 1998
Faculties:
Arts
Dental Surgery
Economics, Management & Accountancy
Education
Engineering
Laws
Medicine & Surgery
Science
Theology
Institutes:
Agriculture
Anglo-Italian Studies
European Documentation & Research Centre
Energy Technology
Forensic Studies
Gozo Centre
Health Care
Linguistics
Mediterranean Institute
Workers' Participation Development Centre
Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies
Other Services:
International Office
The Library
Against a backdrop of millennial angst, the future role of universities is being increasingly questioned. Perhaps, as never before in their quasi-thousand years of existence, have universities been so scrutinized. Never, like the present, have universities been so pressurized to transform 'abstract vision into concrete provision,' particularly at the national level. Clark Kerr, in his 1963 Godkin Lectures, stated that 'the university is so many things to so many different people that it must, of necessity be partially at war with itself.' The energy released in such a 'belligerent' milieu needs to be channelled into effecting certain types of change which should ensure that universities continue to flourish as immensely attractive albeit complex institutions. Today's university has to respond positively to change required by the needs of its host society; to change resulting from discoveries which have brought about the creation of new disciplines; to change needed to accept the establishment of new interdisciplinary institutions as well as to internal organisational change, shifting from the 'administering' to the 'managing' mode.
If our university is to become a principal driver of the economy in the 'knowledge century' that is fast approaching, it must be prepared to respond in a sensitive and sensible manner to the demands that mass education, ever growing requests for higher qualifications and new technologies are formulating. All this, at a time, when, as is happening in many universities overseas, the finances available cannot be stretched to cover the demands being made. It will have to vie with eager competitors - both local and foreign - who will also do their best to create niches and establish bridgeheads into a new market of knowledge and learning.
Dr. Federico Mayor, Director-General of UNESCO, has recently had occasion to sound a warning against the transformation of universities into market institutions, run purely on market principles. If this were to happen, he cautioned, whilst such universities 'may be of their age, they will not be able to transcend it.' Whilst agreeing with this and accepting that a university is not a place where ideas are only considered because of their cash value, it would be foolish if one were to completely ignore market forces. Whilst accepting that universities do not exist simply to impart job skills, a university should be concerned with the employability of its graduates. Naturally, it ought to be equally concerned with the viability of its efforts in research and consultancy.
Entrepreneurial activity within and by universities is a new desideratum of modern institutions of higher learning. For this to be attained, one must remove all obstacles to enterprise that are inherent in bureaucratically controlled higher educational systems and their centralised internal decision-making structures. We must strive to achieve this. Our university is, and must increasingly be, international in its reach. Many Faculties, in particular, Medicine and Surgery, have become more and more conscious of this. It is encouraging to note that they have started to register success and are managing to attract substantial numbers of foreign students to our campus.
I have great faith in our university. I am sure that it will manage to make an ever greater contribution to our 'knowledge society.' To rise to the occasion, we must be ready to accept change, to meet future challenges and to exploit all opportunities that present themselves to us.
Roger Ellul-Micallef
Rector
January
The Mediterranean Institute presented the first edition of the Malta International Project of Computer Music directed by Ruben Zahra which introduced this contemporary artistic expression in Malta. Composers/performers from France, Italy, Germany and Malta participated in two concerts in which works in this genre were performed. A seminar was also held. The event was made possible through collaboration with the National Tourism Organisation, the Ministry of Education and National Culture, the Ministry of Tourism, the Embassies of the Federal Republic of Germany and France and the Delegation of the Commission of the European Communities in Malta.
The Academy of Physical Education and Sport organised a sports seminar entitled Assessed and Examined Courses in Physical Education and Sport related studies from 16 - 18 January 1997. This was well attended by physical education teachers, undergraduates and people involved in the field.
The Institute of Linguistics presented two books: Maltese. Lingua Descriptive Grammars (London: Routledge, 1997) by Albert Borg and Marie Azzopardi-Alexander and The Maltese Noun Phrase meets Typology (Pisa: Pacini Editore, 1996) edited by Frans Plank and Albert Borg. This was attended by the President of Malta, H.E. Dr. Ugo Mifsud Bonnici as well as by the Minister of Education and National Culture, the Hon. Mr. Evarist Bartolo.
Sixty-four students from the Institute of Health Care who had completed various certificate courses were awarded their certificates. The majority was in Nursing Practice but there were also several Pharmacy Technicians and a number who received certificates in Medical Laboratory Science.
Peaceful Settlement of Disputes in Europe: Recent Developments was the title of a talk delivered by Professor Lucius Caflisch, Ambassador at Large, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs when he visited the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies. Professor Norman Scott from the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, also visited the Academy in January. He spoke on The Changing Role of Economic Sanctions in International Affairs with special reference to the Mediterranean, while Professor Michael Pugh, from the Department of Politics, University of Plymouth and Editor, International Peacekeeping, delivered a public lecture on The United Nations: Can it Rescue? Can it be Rescued?
The Faculty of Education held a one-day Faculty Seminar which addressed
the topic of The Faculty of Education: Today and Tomorrow.
February
The III Annual Saint Augustine Lecture organised jointly between the University of Malta and the Maltese Augustinian Province was held. Dr Carol Harrison, Lecturer in the History and Theology of Latin Western Christendom at Durham University spoke about Saint Augustine on Language and Society. She also addressed The Philosophy Society.
A two-day postgraduate conference on Diabetes Melitus aimed at bridging the gap between primary and secondary care of diabetes was held. The conference was organised by the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, the University's Department of Medicine, the Department of Health and the Maltese Diabetes Association.
Professor René Schwok, University of Geneva, gave a public lecture
on The Intergovernmental Conference: What will change for the EU and
the Mediterranean States? when he visited the Mediterranean Academy
of Diplomatic Studies in February.
March
The Theatre Studies Programme held a one-day seminar on playwriting in Malta - is it in crisis.
An exhibition of Manuscripts & Rare Books held by the Library's Special Collections Department was opened by the distinguished author, Guzè Chetcuti.
In order to acquaint the general public with its workings, the University held Open Day between 13 and 15 March, when the campus was open to the public and a number of activities and exhibits were organised. H.E. The President, Dr. Ugo Mifsud Bonnici inaugurated the proceedings.
The University Vocal Ensemble performed Antonin Tucapsky's Stabat
Mater in a concert of sacred polyphony.
April
A symposium entitled A Tradition of Excellence in Health Care organised jointly by the Department of Pharmacy and the Institute of Health Care was held in early April. The first Health Services Management Masters Graduates, among others, presented research papers at the symposium which was held in the Temi Zammit Hall.
The Centre for Mediterranean Studies, University of Exeter and the University of Malta's Department of History organised an international conference on population movements through the ages, entitled People Moving. This brought together delegates from Italy, France, Switzerland, Argentina, Cyprus, Israel, Britain and Malta.
The Department of Philosophy welcomed Professor David E. Cooper from the University of Durham as Visiting Guest Lecturer. In the course of his visit, he also addressed the Philosophy Society.
The Annual Lowenbrau Gozo Seminar organised by the University's Gozo Centre in collaboration with the Parliamentary Secretariat for Gozo was held at the Imgarr Hotel, Gozo. This year's theme was The Gozitan Woman.
The Department of Pathology together with the Thalassaemia Awareness Malta Association and the Thalassaemia International Federation hosted the Sixth International Conference on Thalassaemia and the Haemo-globinopathies together with the Eighth Parent and Thalassaemics International Conference at the New Dolmen Hotel, St. Paul's Bay. This was attended by some 600 physicians, scientists, Thalassaemia patients, parents and support group representatives from Malta and many other countries.
The Third Annual Anthropology Conference Mediterranean Women: Concepts, Processes and Images was held. This was inaugurated by the Hon. Helena Dalli, Parliamentary Secretary for Women's Rights and had as its keynote speaker, Professor Judith Okely from the University of Hull.
Launch of Education 2000, a teacher's journal produced by the Faculty of Education in collaboration with the Education Division, Ministry of Education and National Culture. The journal aims to provide ongoing training for teachers by supplying a practical application for research carried out by contributors.
The fourth annual conference organised by the European Documentation and Research Centre was held at the end of the month. This year's central theme was The Individual and the Entrepreneur in Malta and the European Union. This was addressed by a number of local and foreign speakers.
Designs '97 an exhibition of work by Faculty of Architecture & Civil Engineering students was mounted by SACES (Society of Architecture & Civil Engineering Students) in the Junior Common Room, University House.
Ms. Ileana Curmi, only daughter of the distinguished author and educationalist, Dr. Giovanni Curmi, donated her father's portrait as well as his collection of manuscripts, correspondence, photos and original editions of his works to the University Library.
Mgr. René Coste, honorary professor from the Faculty of Theology,
Catholic University of Toulouse, gave the annual St. Thomas Aquinas Lecture.
He spoke on Reconciliation: a Mediterranean perspective.
May
Professor Jarlath Ronayne, Vice-Chancellor Victoria University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia, visited Malta at the head of a delegation. Academic links were further cemented at the signing of a renewed Exchange Agreement between the two universities. This covers student and faculty exchanges as well as cooperation between the two universities.
Under the auspices of the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies, Dr. Giancarlo Aragona, Secretary-General of the OSCE, gave a public lecture at the Aula Magna, Foundation for International Studies Valletta on The role of the OSCE in the emerging security architecture with special reference to the Mediterranean dimension.
The Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies held a three-day international conference on Information Technology and Diplomacy followed by a workshop on the use of IT in diplomatic activities. These were organised in conjunction with the Commonwealth Network of IT for Development and sponsored by the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Foreign Ministry and the Swiss Development Corporation.
Pinzellati ta' Malta, an exhibition in the foyer, Temi Zammit
Hall, of watercolours by Douglas Allan Eckheart, artist and art professor
at Luther College, Iowa. Professor Eckheart was visiting Malta as a guest
lecturer with the International Study Abroad Programme.
June
The Workers' Participation Development Centre in collaboration with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung held a weekend residential seminar for CMTU/GWU officials, employers and the Department of Labour on Contemporary Issues in Labour Relations: New Participative Relations between Unions and Employers.
A private Graduation Ceremony for foreign students of the Mediterranean
Academy of Diplomatic Studies and of the Gerontology Division of the Institute
of Health Care was held.
July
The fifth edition of Evenings on Campus was launched with a Photographic Exhibition by University students.
Projected Visions - Summer 1997 included video presentations of final year Communication Studies students' work. Third year students together with visiting Eastern Kentucky students exhibited some of their work: commercials, a music video and a fashion video. This came at the end of a five week joint programme conducted by Dr. John W. Taylor, a former Fulbright Scholar.
Fourth year Engineering students held the annual Projects Exhibition which was opened by the Hon. John Attard Montaldo, Minister for Industry.
The First International Conference on Inclusive Schooling and Communities organised by the Inclusive Education Programme was held between 23 - 26 July 1997. It offered teachers, parents, persons with disability, therapists and policy makers from various countries, the opportunity to share their experiences in the field of Inclusion and Disability. Several post-conference workshops on related topics were also held.
Third International Conference on Creative Thinking and Edward
Debono seminar on Thinking Skills took place.
August
A Summer School in Banking Law was conducted in collaboration
with La Sapienza University.
September
The Institute of Anglo-Italian Studies in conjunction with the British Council and the Istituto Italiano di Cultura, hosted its third International Conference on the theme England and Italy: Literary and Cultural Relations from 1300 to the present day.
In response to the needs of the civil service, a memorandum of intent was signed for the establishment of an Institute of Public Administration and Management which will provide further training and re-training of civil servants in an endeavour to enhance their career prospects and strengthen the government's infrastructure. Its aim is to conduct certificate, diploma and degree courses in public administration; organise public lectures and conferences; carry out research including an ongoing evaluation of the effects of public policy on society and to publish reports, books, papers and journals.
The Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, hosted a small international
workshop on Graph Theory and Combinatorics with participants from
the UK, Malta, Catania, Milan and Moldova.
October
Some 2000 new students started university while more than 1000 entered
the Junior College
November
The Department of Biology held a one day symposium during which graduate students presented their research findings on a range of topics which included: marine pollution studies, marine and terrestrial ecology, faunistics and floristics, acquaculture, fish pathology and other related fields.
On the occasion of Graduation 1997, a Mass of Thanksgiving was held at St. John's Co-Cathedral celebrated by H.G. The Metropolitan Archbishop of Malta. Some 1,700 students graduated in various disciplines in the course of a number of ceremonies.
Published in the Threshold Level Series, Fuq l-Ghatba tal-Malti by Manwel Mifsud and Albert Borg is the first comprehensive communicative grammar of Maltese. This new publication by the Institute of Linguistics was officially launched on the occasion of a visit to Malta by Dr. J. Trim from the University of Cambridge who is an international authority in the field of Communicative Language Learning and Project Adviser to the Modern Languages Programme of the Council of Europe.
The Malta Joint Groups (IEE, I.Mech.E. and I.Civil. E.) awarded the
top prize to a Mechanical Engineering student for his project on Grit Blasting.
December
Dr. Peter Maddison, first holder of the Chair in Rheumatology at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Bath and currently Consultant Rheumatologist in Bangor, Wales, gave the third Ralph Arrigo Lecture entitled Nature and Nurture in Connective Tissue Diseases. This coincided with RheumaDerm'97, an interdisciplinary International Medical Meeting organised jointly by the University of Malta Medical School and Jefferson Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, U.S.A.
Presentation of the first Panta Lesco Environmental Engineering Innovation Design Award by the Hon. Evarist Bartolo, Minister of Education & National Culture to the three finalists, all former final year engineering students. The Panta Lesco Group of Companies established the annual award to encourage greater consciousness of the environment amongst architects, engineers and science graduates.
Professor F.E. Karasz from the University of Massachusetts gave a series of lectures on Polymer Engineering.
The University Vocal Ensemble and the Collegium Aureum
under the baton of Mro. Dion Buhagiar held its annual Christmas Concert
at St. John's Co-Cathedral. This has been an annual feature on their artistic
calendar since 1980. The evening's programme included works by Bach, Mendelsshon,
Handel, Terry and Grüber as well as various Maltese, Italian and French
Christmas melodies. Mezzo-soprano Claire Grech and sopranos, Sonia Agius
and Claire Debono participated.
January
Official launching of Professor Alfonso Sammut's posthumous publication Bibliography of Anglo-Italian Comparative Literary Criticism 1800 - 1990 edited by Professor Peter Vassallo, Director of the University of Malta's Institute of Anglo-Italian Studies and Professor Franco Lanza from the University of Viterbo. Professor Sammut was, until his untimely death in 1994, Head of the Department of Italian, Faculty of Arts.
The German Ambassador, HE Mr. Gerhard Kunz presented books and audio equipment on the occasion of the inauguration of a German Room which is set to develop into a fully-fledged German resource centre.
The Institute of Health Care organised a three day workshop which dealt
with the Pharmacy Technician: an evolving discipline. This was dedicated
to the memory of the late Carmel Fenech, the first coordinator of the course.
February
Students from the Communication Studies Programme presented 24 video productions in the course of Projected visions - Winter '98. The screening of students' films has become a regular feature on the Communication Studies Programme calendar.
Questioning Human Creativity as Acting (xHCA), the Cognitive Sciences and Theatre research programme celebrated three years of activity. Cognitive Psychologist, Dr. Glyn Goodall from the University of Bordeaux and Professor Nicholas Arnold from the Theatre Arts Department of De Montfort University, Leicester, visited Malta to lecture Psychology and Theatre Studies students respectively as well as to participate in a symposium on the theme The Performer: Working-Knowingly-upon Oneself which was addressed by representatives from various disciplines including Cognitive Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Theatre Theory and Theatre Praxis which operates in the context of xHCA.
An exhibition covering documents relating to the foundation and activities of the Ghaqda tal-Malti (Università) founded in 1931 by medical students Ruzar Briffa and Guzè Bonnici was mounted in the University Library and was open to the public until the end of April. Exhibits included manuscripts, documents and correspondence covering the establishment and recognition of the Ghaqda, original drafts of its statutes, records of minutes and its intervention in such matters as the Language Question; Maltese orthography and the teaching of Maltese in state schools as well as letters by renowned Maltese writers, copies of early editions of Lehen il-Malti and material relating to the present workings of the Ghaqda.
Ten final year Faculty of Arts students' performance over two years earned them the coveted Dean's Award sponsored by the Bank of Valletta.
The Graduating Workforce: A Tracer Survey of University Graduates
on the Malta Labour Market by Godfrey Baldacchino and contributors
was launched. The publication documents the results of Malta's first graduate
tracer study which was undertaken by the Workers' Participation Development
Centre in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) on behalf
of the Employment & Training Corporation, the Foundation for Human
Resources Development and the University.
March
Launch of Corsairing to Commerce a new book on the history of Maltese-Spanish trade relations in the eighteenth century by Dr. Carmel Vassallo.
The fifth annual conference organised by the European Documentation and Research Centre, entitled Malta-EU Relations and Restructuring was held.
The Third International Conference of the Association Internationale de Dialectologie Arabe (AIDA) organised by the Institute of Linguistics was held at the University Residence in Lija. Some ninety scholars from thirty countries including European and Arab states, Israel, America and Japan participated.
Some sixty final year Pharmacy students presented their projects at the annual Pharmacy Symposium. A pharmaceutical exhibition was held concurrently.
Presentation of annual awards to students of the 1992 - 1997 B.A.(Hons.) Accountancy course. The awards were sponsored by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants; Deloitte & Touche; Price Waterhouse; K.P.M.G.; Coopers & Lybrand; Grant Thornton and the Malta Institute of Accountants.
Dr. Geoffrey Stern from the London School of Economics, a well known International Relations analyst, gave a course entitled The Structure of International Society. This was the first visiting lectureship in the field to be sponsored under the auspices of the XEROX Lectures in International Relations.
The fifth annual Gozo seminar sponsored by Löwenbräu was organised by the Gozo Centre in collaboration with the Parliamentary Secretariat for Gozo. This year's theme was Education in Gozo: Issues and Prospects.
A forum which discussed Id-direttur elett mill-haddiema forma valida
ta'partecipazzjoni fit-tmexxija ta'azjenda was organised by the Workers'
Participation Development Centre in conjunction with Malta University Services
Ltd. together with the Employment & Training Corporation. This brought
to a close a short course organised specifically for Worker directors.
April
Lessons for Malta's development was a seminar organised by students from the Department of Public Policy, Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy. The students developed course research into three audiovisual presentations focussing on Switzerland, Singapore and Ireland respectively. They invited the audience to consider the potential lessons for Malta's own socioeconomic development which could be extracted critically from such role models. A panel also reacted to the presentations. The event was sponsored by Marsovin, Xerox and Paparukei.
The University Vocal Ensemble together with the Collegium Aureum gave a concert of Choral Music for Holy Week and Easter. This was held at St. John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta and was well attended. The two choirs were under the baton of Mro. Dion Buhagiar and were accompanied on the organ by Gino Mulè Stagno.
The joint University of Malta - Mid-Med Bank Computer and Commerce Sciences Foundation, established in 1992, hosted a visit by Professor Wolfgang Strasser, Head of the Graphic Research Institute, Eberhard-Karls-Universität, Tübingen, Germany. Professor Strasser gave an intense course on the theory and practice of computer graphics to second and third year computer science, information technology and business & computing students.
The final match in a fiercely contested five a-side inter-staff football tournament was played between Finance and the Beadles. Trophies and medals sponsored by V. J. Salomone (Equipment) Ltd., agents for Ricoh, were presented to the winners, Finance, as well as to all participants by the Rector.
The Faculty of Theology in conjunction with the Foundation for Theological Studies of the Archdiocese of Malta hosted the European Meeting of the Conference of Catholic Theological Institutions (COCTI). The theme of the Conference was Judaism - Islam - Christianity: The Challenge of Inter-Religious Dialogue to Faculties of Theology in a Euro-Mediterranean Context and was attended by more than fifty Deans from various institutes across Europe.
Representatives from 25 European student organisations met in Malta to discuss Education in an International Perspective. The European Student International Bureau (ESIB) seminar was hosted by the Kunsill ta' l-Istudenti Universitarji (KSU).
The Faculty of Engineering in collaboration with the Technology Unit of the Malta Development Corporation held an evening seminar which discussed Biotechnology & Engineering.
Teatru ta'Konfront f'Malta: Alternattiva Artistika u Politika was a one day seminar organised by the Theatre Studies Programme which discussed Political Theatre in Malta over the last thirty years and was attended, among others, by playwrights and directors.
A good turnout of staff and students making up some eleven teams in all, participated in Sports Week organised by the Precincts Office in conjunction with the Physical Education Programme. Disciplines included 5 a-side football, snooker, table-tennis, volleyball, basketball, athletics (long distance and relay), and wrestling. All events were played on a knockout basis. Trophies and medals, sponsored by Bank of Valletta's BOV Club, were presented by the Minister of Education and National Culture.
The Workers' Participation Development Centre in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) organised a seminar on Privatisation and Trade Unions: The European Experience. This residential seminar forms part of a series of tripartite seminars organised by the WPDC in conjunction with FES on contemporary issues in Labour Relations.
Challenging Behaviour Workshop organised by the Dar tal-Providenza
together with the Programme for Inclusive Education, Department of Psychology,
which discussed and sought to understand Challenging Behaviour and was
conducted by Ms. Pattie Scott and Mr. Kenn Jupp who have developed strong
links with those working in the area of Disability in Malta.
May
Fourth Euro-Mediterranean Information and Training seminar which focussed on various aspects of the Euro-Med Partnership process two years after its launching. This was organised by the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies on behalf of the European Commission. The four day international gathering brought together diplomats from most European Union states and their Mediterranean counterparts which are parties to the November 1995 Barcelona Declaration.
Professor Dr. Antoine Wessels from the Free University of Amsterdam, was this year's guest speaker at the annual academic evening held in honour of St. Thomas Aquinas which is organised by the Theology Students' Association under the patronage of HG the Archbishop of Malta. He spoke on The Holy Scripture in a Multicultural Society.
Mrs. Louisette Briffa, widow of the renowned Maltese poet, Ruzar Briffa, donated her husband's papers to the University Library where they will be preserved in the Special Collections Department. The prestigious donation covers practically all Briffa's poetic output and includes draft manuscripts, copies and holographs of some 200 poems in Maltese as well as a small number of poems in English and Italian.
To mark the establishment of two institutions in Malta which have been of considerable importance for the development of trade, locally and regionally, that is, the Consolato di Mare and the Chamber of Commerce, an International Conference entitled Consolati di Mare & Chambers of Commerce was organised in conjunction with the Malta Chamber of Commerce and the IMO-International Maritime Law Institute. This was held at the Aula Magna, Foundation for International Studies, Valletta in early May and brought together economic historians and maritime legal historians from France, Italy, Spain, Morocco, Germany, Tunisia and Malta.
An exhibition of drawings, paintings and sculptors by Victor Diacono was mounted in the foyer of the Temi Zammit Hall, organised by the Koperattiva Kulturali Universitarja, the Art Unit and the Precincts Office. This was inaugurated by the President of Malta, H.E. Dr. Ugo Mifsud Bonnici.
The Chairman of the Institute of Health Care presented certificates to some 40 students who completed courses in Nursing Practice and Medical Laboratory Science at the Institute.
On the occasion of International Nurses Day, a one-day conference for qualified nurses entitled Nurses Leading Change was organised by the University's Institute of Health Care in conjunction with the Directorate of Nursing Services and the Nurses Association of Malta. This was the first time such a seminar was held to mark Nurses Day and it generated much interest and was very well attended. It is hoped it will become an annual event.
A team of fourth year Youth Studies Programme students organised an awareness initiative: Youth Work 2000 - Youth and Community Work as a profession which was held under the auspices of the Parliamentary Secretariat for Youth, Sports and the Arts.
A ceremony for the presentation of awards to members of staff who successfully obtained higher degrees in the course of 1997 was held. These included: Dr. Stella Borg Barthet PhDMalta (English); Dr. John Chircop PhD Essex (History); Dr. Joseph Cilia PhD Nott. cum laude (Engineering); Mr. James L. Borg MSc Malta cum laude (Mathematics); Mr. Rodney Naudi MSc Sheff. cum laude (Computer Information Systems) and Dott. Joseph Chircop D.Litt. Firenze (Italian). From the Junior College, Mr. Jean Buttigieg MA cum laude (Philosophy).
The First EuroMed Workshop on Multimedia Technologies for a Euro-Mediterranean Information Society and their application in various fields was organised as a collaborative project between the Minister without portfolio within OPM; the Ministry of Education & National Culture; the European Commission; Maltacom plc; the University of Malta and the National Commission for Information Technology.
Lecturers from the South Texas College of Law and the University of
Malta participated in the third programme, organised under the umbrella
of the International Office, for law students and recent graduates. The
course covered three modules: justice and international relations; international
admiralty law and financing the operations of government: a policy analysis.
June
A private graduation ceremony for the award of degrees to international students of the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies as well as to students who completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Gerontology and Geriatrics was held.
A Summer School in Archaeology involving a two week course of lectures
and a further four weeks of fieldwork at major sites in Malta and Gozo,
was organised by the Foundation for International Studies and the Department
of Classics & Archaeology.
July
Comedies, tragedies, experimental theatre, concerts, exhibitions and films are all part of Evenings on Campus, a cultural festival held on campus during the summer months. The sixth edition was launched with a photographic competition entitled Valletta - City of Culture organised under the patronage of the Malta Photographic Society. Participation was open to the general public and photos submitted were exhibited in the Junior Common Room. The presentation of prizes to the winners coincided with the inauguration of this year's Evenings on Campus.
Projects '98 an exhibition of Final Year Engineering students
work. The mechanical and electrical engineering projects form part of the
students' fourth year final assessment. The exhibition, which is held annually,
provides an opportunity for the general pubic and in particular, those
working in the field, to view the projects and become acquainted with tomorrow's
engineers.
October
Some 2000 new students started university while more than 1000 entered the Junior College.
The Institute of Linguistics under the auspices of the Faculty of Education, launched a two-year part-time postgraduate diploma course for teachers of hearing-impaired students from both special as well as mainstream schools.
The Maltese Paediatric Association and the University's Postgraduate
Medical Education Committee organised Paediatric Update '98 at
the Suncrest Hotel, Qawra.
November
On the occasion of Graduation 1998 a Mass of Thanksgiving was held at St. John's Co-Cathedral celebrated by H.G. The Metropolitan Archbishop of Malta. Some 1,700 students graduated in various disciplines in the course of a number of ceremonies.
The University Library mounted an exhibition in commemoration of the bicentenary of French rule in Malta 1798 - 1800. Based on source material from the Library's Department of Special Collections, the exhibition covered a select range of publications, some of them rare items, which included journals, articles and manuscript sources from the Library's archival depository.
Professor Dr Hubertus Drobner from the Faculty of Theology, Paderborn gave the IV Annual St. Augustine Lecture.
Professor François Moureau, Director of the École Doctorale Littératures Françaises Comparée, University of the Sorbonne (Paris IV), was in Malta to lecture on Beaumarchais's Le Barbier de Seville and Le Mariage de Figaro. His visit was made possible through collaboration with the French Embassy
On the 15Oth anniversary of the publication of The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, the Mediterranean Institute organized a one-day seminar to examine the impact which Marxism has had on the various disciplines and research areas within the University of Malta.
On the occasion of its 30th anniversary, the Malta Development Corporation,
in association with the Department of History, organised an interdisciplinary
conference on Maltese Elites and Economic Development in Historical
Perspective. Various native elites and their links with Malta's economic
and social development were explored thereby focussing on a crucial theme
in current historical studies and in the sociology of development.
December
Psychology Honours students presented their research findings at the 1998 Psychology Seminar. The newly introduced Cutty Sark prize sponsored by NAPA for outstanding performance was awarded to Sharon Arpa for her dissertation entitled: Stress, job satisfaction and coping strategies among University Academic Staff and to Liliana Gambin whose dissertation was ... and a father is born: a study on the factors affecting first time fathers' involvement with their one year old infant.
The University Vocal Ensemble and the Collegium Aureum
under the baton of Mro. Dion Buhagiar held its annual Christmas Concert
at St. John's Co-Cathedral. The evening's programme featured various Maltese,
Italian and French Christmas melodies.
1997 witnessed considerable strengthening of the University's international networking. The conclusion of a large number of bilateral agreements and the University's admission to the Santander and Compostela networks, (in addition to its membership of the Utrecht network) were major steps forward in this direction. Fifteen bilateral agreements were signed with universities as far apart as Slovenia, Canada, Australia, the UK, the USA and Italy. These link agreements facilitate the exchange of students and lecturers and joint participation in research projects. The university also participates actively in the negotiation of cultural agreements with foreign countries and the formulation of programmes under this agreement. Several of these were negotiated in 1997 including with Cyprus, Slovenia, Italy, France and Germany.
In line with its policy of internationalization and with a view to ensuring that the standard of courses offered is at par with the best universities, the University welcomed some one hundred lecturers and examiners from overseas universities during 1997 and again in 1998.
A medium-term objective of the University of Malta is to have overseas students represent five per cent of the total student population. During 1997, 400 overseas students originating from 70 different countries, were registered as full-time students rising to 500 in 1998 from 78 countries. A good number of these were pursuing postgraduate studies. The number of overseas students on campus was substantially augmented by others coming on short exchange and transfer programmes with other universities.
As a result of a change in course regulations, overseas students now have a much greater opportunity to read Medicine in Malta than previously. Up to thirty places each year are being reserved for overseas students; this change enabled the Norwegian government to register nine students to follow the medical course in Malta in 1997 and a similar number was registered in 1998.
One of the briefs of the International Office is to develop the short courses programme. A major success was recorded in 1997 with the launching of a 13-day programme for Elderhostel (USA) highlighting Malta's role as keystone of the Mediterranean. This programme was repeated ten times during 1997 and increased to seventeen in 1998.
In addition, the International Office organised several short summer courses in a variety of areas ranging from Archaeology to the Mediterranean Environment and to European Contract and Banking Law. These courses are proving to be very popular with overseas students.
The University of Malta also works closely with a number of American Universities which run summer programmes in Malta, very often with the help of Maltese lecturers. Exchanges with American universities both on a bilateral level and under the ISEP programme are steadily increasing and through them students from all over the United States are coming to spend anything from one semester to a year in Malta. This widespread geographic provenance in turn offers Maltese students going to the USA a much wider selection of universities at which to study.
Through its links with the Council on International Educational Exchange, the University offers students the possibility of spending some time working and touring in the United States and in Australia. Last year's participants were enthusiastic about this programme which is expected to increase rapidly in popularity over the next few years.
The international office maintains close links both with the Maltese
Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as with foreign embassies in Malta
through which the award of scholarships is made. Many activities including
concerts, art exhibitions and public lectures have been held as a result
of joint collaboration.
FACULTIES
Art Unit
Classics & Archaeology
English
History
Italian
Maltese
Philosophy
The Faculty of Arts is one of the largest Faculties with a student population totalling some 800. Nine traditional departments - Arabic, Classics and Archaeology, English, French, History, Italian, Maltese, Philosophy and Sociology - and thirty-five different areas of study, each administered by a Board of Studies and a Coordinator make up the Faculty of Arts. The creation of a new department of International Relations has recently been approved by the University Council. While striving to maintain the best of its traditions, it continues to experiment in new fields of study and new methods of teaching and assessment.
The Faculty of Arts offers full-time and part-time courses leading to BA, BA (Hons.), MA (Qualifying), MA, MPhil and PhD. The final examination for the first three courses has been restructured this year and will take the form of a synoptic examination. As from June 1998, this consisted of four three-hour synoptic examination papers for the BA (two in each principal area of study); four for the BA (Hons.) and two for the MA (Qualifying).
As part of the University Open Day activities, the Department of Arabic
held an Arab Culture Exhibition based mainly on folkloristic trades, food,
marriage ceremonies and horse racing. Old and Modern Arab architecture
was also exhibited.
The Art Unit functions under the auspices of the Faculty of Arts. In the course of 1997, it organized two exhibitions of paintings, both by established artists, which were held on campus in February and May. The first brought together a retrospective collection of works by Mr Lino Borg, a lecturer on artistic techniques in the B.A. Art course and works by Ms Jessica Debattista, a mature B.A. (Hons) Art student. The second was dedicated to Malta in a series of water colours by Douglas Eckheart, Professor of Painting at Luther College, Decorah Iowa, USA, who was seconded to the Art Unit as a visiting professor, during the second semester of the academic year.
Visitors included Dr Stig Miss, Director of the Thorvaldson Museum, Copenhagen, who spoke on Mattia Preti's Maltese Paintings for Taverna while Madame le Professeur Anne Prache, from the University of the Sorbonne (Paris IV) gave a monographic course on the French medieval stained glass tradition.
A study tour focussing on the art and architecture of Norman Sicily was organized during the Easter recess. As a result of an agreement between the Art Unit and the Friends of the Cathedral Museum which encourages students to share their research findings, several students gave talks at the Cathedral Museum, Mdina. Mattia Preti's St John's Ceiling, Bernardo de Dominici's Biography of Mattia Preti and Vincenzo Bonello as a Pioneer in Maltese Art History and Criticism were among the subjects discussed.
Another significant initiative was the work carried out during the summer
months on the setting up of an art historical museum at the Attard Parish
Centre.
Professor Antonio Sagona and Mrs Claudia Sagona from the University of Melbourne who were on a research visit in Malta, gave a one-credit course on Punic Malta to Archaeology students.
On the occasion of Open Day an exhibition was mounted at the Archaeology Centre. This was entitled The Multidisciplinary Field of Archaeology. Students explained to children from various Secondary Schools the basics of some Archaeological instruments.
1998's visitors included Dr Chris Hunt from the University of Huddersfield who gave a one-credit course on Environmental Archaeology and Professor Maria Giulia Amadasi Guzzo from the Università di Roma, 'La Sapienza', who gave a series of lectures entitled Origine e sviluppo della scrittura alfabetica. Her visit fell within the Italo-Maltese Cultural Agreement and was an exchange visit to that made by Dr Anthony J. Frendo, Head of Department. He had previously given a series of lectures at 'La Sapienza' entitled Le lingue semitiche: origine, classificazione ed interdipendenza con particolare attenzione al semitico di nord-ovest.
At the Malta Expo held in Sarasota, Florida during early April, Professor Anthony Bonanno and Dr Anthony J. Frendo lectured on Prehistoric Malta and Phoenician-Punic Malta respectively. Ms Linda Eneix, President of the OTS Foundation in Florida, gave a generous grant to the Department towards the setting up of an archaeological laboratory.
The main training and research activity for 1997 and 1998, were the
second and third season respectively of excavation at the Tas-Silg site
at Marsaxlokk which provided students with an opportunity to gain 'hands-on'
experience and conduct research into some of the most important phases
of the history of the Maltese Islands in antiquity. The excavation was
linked with the Summer School in Archaeology organised by the International
Office.
The teaching commitment of members of the department included the Contemporary British and American Novel and the Commonwealth Novel (Africa). Other courses included Film and Literature and an Advanced Course in Contemporary Literary Theory for students in the M.A. Programme with the participation of guest speakers from the Department of Philosophy.
Professor Peter Vassallo, Head of the Department was visiting professor in the Department of English Studies at the University of Rome, La Sapienza, where he lectured on the novels of D.H. Lawrence. He was visiting research scholar at Lincoln College, Oxford where he carried out research at the Bodleian Library. He was also guest specialist lecturer at the British Institute in Florence where he lectured on D.H. Lawrence and the Myth of Persephone.
Professor Daniel Massa delivered a paper on Ideological Dimensions in Commonwealth Literature at the University of Toronto and also delivered a paper on Knot and Gender: Othello and Shakespeare's Problem Plays at the University of Sousse, Tunisia. Dr Lydia Sciriha was visiting academic at Victoria University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia where she taught two courses on sociolinguistics and conducted research among the Maltese community.
In the field of Linguistics, research into issues relating to the intonation of Maltese continued. Dr. Sandra Vella presented a paper on Intonational variation across dialects: the effect of the timing implementation of pitch accents on the overall perception of accent difference at the 3rd AIDA International Conference (Association Internationale pour la Dialectologie Arabe) held in Malta in April 1998. She also attended the 6th international meeting on Laboratory Phonology, LabPhon6, held in York in July 1998.
Ms Stella Borg Barthet obtained her Ph.D with a thesis on Myth and History in the West African Novel. She also presented a paper on the Ghanaian writer, Ayi Kwei Armah entitled: Sharing Histories in Armah's The Healers at the triennial meeting of the Association of Commonwealth Literature.
In the B.A.(Hons.) final examination in English, six students were awarded
a First Class Degree, this excellent result being confirmed by Professor
Nicholas Roe, the Visiting External Examiner from the University of St.
Andrew's, Scotland.
The Department of History offers a wide range of study-units in most of the standard areas of European, Mediterranean and Maltese history from medieval to contemporary times at undergraduate level as well as supervision in these areas at postgraduate level. Through inviting distinguished scholars from overseas to lecture on specific topics, it also endeavours to offer diversity of approach - political, social, economic and cultural.
The principal objectives of the undergraduate History programme, leading
to BA or BA (Hons.) are :
ïto explain the principles and method of historical inquiry;
ïto provide a conceptual framework that will enable students to make
meaningful judgments about the past;
ïto develop intellectual, analytical, critical and organizational skills
that will be of value to students in any future career.
A paper on The Teaching and Learning of Italian in Malta was presented by the Head of Department at Expoeducation 1997, a conference on multimedial approaches to the teaching of Italian which was held in Bari. He also gave a series of lectures at the University of Macerata. These included: L'italiano della televisione; Su alcune proposte per l'insegnamento dell'italiano come L2 and La letteratura italo-maltese. During a return visit, Professor Alfredo Luzi and Professor Antonio D'Isidoro conducted a one week seminar on Modern and Contemporary Italian Literature. In July, the External Examiner, Professor Franco Musarra, from Leuven University gave a lecture on Ungaretti to B.A. and B.Ed. students of Italian.
In the course of 1998, Dr. J. Eynaud was elected Vice-President of the
Associazione
Internazionale dei Professori d'Italiano (AIPI) while Professor J.
Brincat was elected Vice-President of Società Linguistica Italiana
(SLI).
Professor Oliver Friggieri addressed an International Congress on Aspects of Twentieth Century Exile Literature organized by the Association Internationale des Critiques Littéraires which was held in Rome. He was one of the poets invited from various European countries to recite their own poetry at the Avlaia Theatre, Thessaloniki, Greece. The recital was conducted in the native tongue with subsequent English and Greek translations.
A talk by Dr Arnold Cassola entitled La Maltea ta' Hipolito Sans - Epika minsija tas-seklu sittax dwar l-Assedju ta' Malta, dealt with a forgotten epic poem on Malta that had been published in 1582 in Valencia. Apart from giving a very detailed poetic account of the happenings during the Great Siege, it also throws new light on the life of La Valette indicating that he was sixty seven years old at the time and therefore born in 1498 rather than in 1495 as previously imagined.
A number of research projects in the field of Linguistics produced several
publications which were the result of cooperation between the department
and the Institute of Linguistics. This cooperation also led to the strengthening
of the teaching of both the Maltese Linguistics stream within the department
and the General Linguistics course offered by the Institute of Linguistics.
Specialized courses in Phonetics and Phonology of Maltese, Maltese Psycholinguistics,
Maltese Morphology and Syntax and courses in Grammatical Categories and
Parts of Speech were offered.
A collection of essays entitled Interfaces was published to mark Professor Peter Serracino Inglott's 60th birthday and his retirement as Head of the Department of Philosophy. This Festschrift was edited by Professor Joe Friggieri and Professor Salvino Busuttil and contained papers by members of the department as well as distinguished scholars from universities overseas. Professor David Cooper from the University of Durham, gave a series of public lectures to coincide with the event.
The Philosophy Society continued to be very active and the six meetings that were held were all very well attended. In 1998, these took the form of video-interviews with Paul Ricoeur, Julia Kristeva, Jacques Derrida and Terry Eagleton which were then discussed.
Professor Joe Friggieri's paper on the Individuation and Description of Actions presented at a conference on Donald Davidson in Karlovy Vary, was published in Epistemologia (Tilgher, Genoa, xx, 1997, pp. 117 - 146).
Two books, edited by Rev Dr Emanuel Agius were published: Germ-line intervention and our responsibilities to future generations (Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht) and Future Generations and International Law (Earthscan, London).
At the end of the first B.A. course (1993-1998) to be organised under
the auspices of the University Gozo Centre, twenty students graduated with
Philosophy as a principal subject area.
For further information see http://www.arts.um.edu.mt
The Faculty continues to expand its research interests which are currently focussed on Osseointegration, Periodontology, Endodontics and Epidemiology of Oral and Dental Diseases and Dental Abnormalities.
Continuing Education remains one of the Faculty's priorities. The Annual Dental Conference Smile for Health organised by the Department of Health's Department of Dentistry in which members of the University Staff participate, remains the main forum for continuing education for general dental practitioners. The External Examiner, Professor David McGowan, Professor of Oral Surgery, University of Glasgow, gave a lecture to the Dental Association of Malta as part of the Continuing Education Programme. Other visitors to the Faculty, came from the University of Umea, Sweden and from the University of Copenhagen.
Regretfully, the department's dental equipment which was used to provide
humanitarian dental care to school children in Korce, Albania was lost
in the January riots in that country. With the full participation of staff
and students, the department has raised funds to re-equip a three-unit
dental clinic at Preca College in Korce so as to continue with this humanitarian
project.
Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy
The Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy provides courses in these fields as well as in Banking & Finance, Marketing, Public Policy and Tourism in order to meet the rapid developments which are taking place in Malta. It also aims to be a leader in research activities related to these specialised areas. An interdisciplinary Business & Computing option is also offered. The Social Work/Social Administration Programme now falls under the umbrella of the Department of Public Policy. Over 290 undergraduates, postgraduates and diploma students graduated from the Faculty in 1997 with a further 400 graduating in 1998.
In conjunction with the University Gozo Centre, part-time courses leading to the Diploma in Commerce and a Certificate in Social Care were conducted. A number of short certificate courses were run conjointly with Malta University Services Ltd.
Business executives from various academic backgrounds including Engineering, Management, Pharmacy and Medicine are seeking to enhance their management skills through the newly introduced Master of Business Administration course. The course curriculum of the new MBA Executive part-time programme is especially designed to offer an insight into the possibilities and problems of economic development as well as of management issues.
The Faculty welcomed the following External Examiners for the 1997 and 1998 Examination Sessions: Professor R. Kinsella (Economics), Professor P. McKiernan (Management), Professor S. Gray (Accountancy), Professor P. Bourke (Banking & Finance), Professor M. Mullard (Public Policy), Professor C. L. Jenkins (Tourism) and Professor N. Manning (Social Work/Social Administration). In the fields of Accountancy and Public Policy, Professors C. Emmanuel and E. Page respectively were External Examiners in 1998.
Under the auspices of the Bank of Valletta Chair of Banking & Finance, Professors E.P.M. Gardener, M. Bowe and R. Mcdonald visited the Faculty and lectured to students following courses in the Banking Major of the B.Com. and B.Com.(Hons).
Dott. V. Scotti and Dott V. Bernini lectured on Development Economics and Transport Economics respectively to students specialising in Economics. In late 1997, Professor David Milne from the University of Prince Edward Island, Canada joined the Department of Public Policy for a year's sabbatical. Apart from teaching undergraduates, Professor Milne, who is an expert on the administration of small island states, is carrying out research on Malta.
Professor Kostantin Theile from the University of Reutlingen, Germany lectured students following the MBA Executive and MBA full-time course, and also assessed MBA student projects submitted for the Entrepreneurship Module. Professor Richard Kotas gave a half day seminar to B.Com.(Hons) students specialising in Tourism while a seminar on Tourism Strategy in Malta was organised together with students visiting Malta from Leeds Metropolitan University.
Members of the Department of Marketing delivered lectures on their areas of specialisation at Clarion University, Pennsylvania, U.S.A, on the doctoral programmes at Henley Management College, U.K. and at Curtin University Campuses in Perth Western Australia and Singapore.
During 1998, Dr G. Pirotta Senior Lecturer in the Department of Public Policy - while on a year's sabbatical leave - was appointed Visiting Tutor and Lecturer in Politics at Plater College, Oxford. In addition he acted as tutor to postgraduate students of St Cross College and Hertford College.
During 1998, Mr Edward Warrington, Lecturer in the Department of Public Policy graduated D.Phil from the University of Oxford. In addition he was appointed Co-Editor of the international journal Public Administration and Development.
The Department of Public Policy was involved in the establishment of a new University Institute of Public Administration and Management which was set up on the initiative of the Public Service and aims to provide a closer, more formal link between it and the University. The new Institute will provide opportunities for further training and retraining of civil servants in an endeavour to enhance their career prospects and strengthen the government's infrastructure. Its aim is to conduct certificate, diploma and degree courses in public administration; organise public lectures and conferences; carry out research including an ongoing evaluation of the effects of public policy on society and publish reports, books, papers and journals.
As in previous years, certificates and prizes were awarded to students
of the B.A. (Hons) Accountancy course by the leading international accounting
firms and institutes. These include the Chartered Institute
of Management Accountants, Deloitte & Touche, Price Waterhouse, K.P.M.G.,
Coopers & Lybrand, Grant Thornton and the Malta Institute of Accountants.
Arts and Languages in Education
Foundations in Education
- Youth Studies Programme
Maths, Science & Technical Education
Primary Education
Psychology
Library and Information Studies
In 1997 the Faculty of Education, while consolidating many of its different activities linked to formal and informal educational services, focussed rather more specifically on an overview of its teacher training programme. This was achieved primarily through the Tomorrow's Teachers research project which established 12 working groups in order: 'To discover the strengths and weaknesses of current pre-service teacher education and training programmes; to systematically compare current local practice with that obtaining in other countries, to identify trends, as well as to develop insights in addressing perceived problems and to make recommendations regarding changes in structures and practices that will help improve our contribution to the national educational enterprise.' The results of such deliberation were presented at a two-day conference in June, at which insights generated by each Working Group led to a policy document for teacher education and training in Malta. At the end of the conference, goals and agendas for the second cycle of consultation and research were set out. The evaluation exercise has led to a strategy for teacher education reform, due to be implemented by October 1999. It has also led to the publication of a series of handbooks for students and staff, in order to ensure quality and standards in such areas as dissertations, teaching practice as well as assessment.
The Faculty of Education saw a number of changes in the course of the year. The Youth Studies Programme and the Inclusive Education Programme became housed in the Faculty, the former, under the umbrella of the Department of Foundations in Education and the latter, under that of the Department of Psychology. Following the end of their terms of office, Dr Charles Calleja, Head of the Department of Arts and Languages in Education, Professor Charles Farrugia Head of the Department of Primary Education and Professor Frank Ventura, Head of the Department of Maths, Science and Technical Education were replaced by Dr Antoinette Camilleri, Dr Joseph Mifsud and Dr Paul Pace respectively. Professor Charles Farrugia was reappointed Pro-Rector of the University while Dr Ronald Sultana replaced Professor Kenneth Wain as Head of the Department of Foundations in Education and also as Dean of the Faculty.
A major achievement was the publication of the first two issues of Education 2000. The journal is published in collaboration with the Education Division and sets out to help teachers reflect on a wide range of classroom and school-related issues. The Faculty's Comparative Education Programme published the second volume (two issues) of the Mediterranean Journal of Educational Studies, an international journal with a regional focus.
The B.Ed.(Hons.), B.Psychology, B.Communications and P.G.C.E. courses continued to attract large numbers of students. Other courses which commenced in 1997 were: Diploma in Educational Administration and Management, Diploma in Library and Information Studies, Diploma in School Counselling, Diploma in Adult Training and Development, Diploma in Facilitating Inclusive Education and Certificate in TEFL. The postgraduate M.Ed. courses in Primary Education, Assessment and Evaluation, Applied Linguistics (Maltese) and Teaching English as a Foreign Language also saw an increased intake.
In 1998 the Faculty of Education celebrated the 20th anniversary of its establishment at the University of Malta. Several initiatives were taken, including the publication of a Faculty Prospectus, the production of a bibliography listing the Academic Publications by Members of Staff, and the launch of a totally refurbished Teachers' Resource Centre, aimed at providing support to student teachers during their field placement.
The Faculty also focussed much of its attention and energy on planning the restructuring of the B.Ed.(Hons.) course, which is due to be launched in October 1999. Several Faculty seminars and conferences were held in order to develop a vision for the education of tomorrow's teachers, with comparative research being carried out to increase awareness of European and international trends in this area. An important shift in the Faculty's programme was the emphasis on teaching in a context of diversity and a number of research projects were launched in this field, most notably the Let Me Learn initiative in collaboration with Rowan University in the USA. A number of academics spent a period of attachment at that institution for training, and staff development was offered to all the Faculty, with a view to developing knowledge and skills in the area of education and disability issues. The year also saw the publication of the first report on Illiteracy in Malta, a project coordinated within the Department of Arts and Languages in Education.
The Faculty's research profile was strengthened by several key publications in international journals, with each member of staff aiming to have one, and more often two and more articles accepted in academic reviews. The two Faculty publications, namely the professional journal Education 2000, with its goal of dissemination of good practice and sound pedagogical models to teachers in classrooms and the Mediterranean Journal of Educational Studies, which is the responsibility of the Comparative Education Programme and which is the only refereed publication of its kind for the region, kept to their production schedules and continue reflecting the Faculty's leadership in educational development both nationally and regionally.
Over and above all this, several members of staff contributed substantially to the educational community in Malta in several ways. Many were appointed Presidents of School Councils and others acted as consultants to the state or the non-state education sector. Most importantly, Faculty members were involved in the drawing up of draft National Curriculum for schools and in giving feedback relating to the different aspects that were highlighted for discussion.
Other Faculty Programmes not necessarily linked to teacher education
or schooling enriched the Faculty's contribution to national projects.
The Programme of Youth Studies organised the Youth Work - 2000 seminar,
and has representation of staff on the Council of Europe Research Consultants
and Citizenship Education Project. The Programme for Education in Correctional
Facilities organised the European Prison Education Association annual conference
while the Programme for Education in Inclusive Settings participated actively
on the Ministerial Committee on Inclusive Education.
Arts and Languages in Education
Art, English, French, German, History, Italian, Maltese, Music, Religion, and Spanish have continued to be offered in the B.Ed. (Hons.) programme. At M.Ed. level two courses are running: English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics (Maltese).
The Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Programme was established to provide the relevant training for the teaching of English as a Foreign Language and also to contribute to research in the field within the local context.
The Early Literacy Programme seeks to support research projects regarding
the teaching of early literacy and the early identification of literacy
difficulties amongst Maltese children.
Members of the department were variously appointed on the National Commission for Education; contributed to the development of an educational programme at the correctional facilities at Corradino or advised on women's issues in Malta. Responsibility for coordinating the Faculty's Postgraduate Certificate in Education course also lay with the department.
A Gender Study Group has been set up and meets regularly to discuss various issues related to the politics of gender relations in Malta. Historians, sociologists, educators and anthropologists have presented research papers and plans are in hand for their eventual publication.
The number of students enrolled in the Youth Studies Programme has continued to increase. The third group of Diploma students has graduated and the first BA Youth and Community Studies students graduated in 1998.
Following the completion of the first Youth Studies Curriculum Development project and that concerning Juvenile Delinquency and the Pursuit of a Criminal Career, the full five-year course is being re-evaluated.
Another major breakthrough, has been registered in the Fieldwork Placement project. Following the success of the pilot project with Dudley Metropolitan Borough, UK for students to do their Fieldwork Placement abroad, during 1997 more students were successfully placed at Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Southwell House Youth Project, London and the Lothian and Borders Police, Edinburgh, during the summer period. Contacts with foreign institutions have been further enhanced with the appointment of Dr. A. Azzopardi, course coordinator, as National Correspondent at the Youth Directorate of the Council of Europe.
The major event for the Programme of Youth Studies, during 1998, was
the graduation of the first group of undergraduates. Fifteen
students obtained their BA in Youth and Community Studies during the graduation
ceremony in November while another twelve students were awarded the Diploma
in Youth Studies. The course of youth studies has continued to gain in
popularity among students with the number of applications for optional
credits from students registered with other Faculties doubling over the
previous year.
Maths, Science & Technical Education
The following subjects have continued to be offered in the B.Ed. (Hons.) programme: Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Geography, Home Economics, Maths, Physical Education, Physics and Technical Education. The IT Committee has initiated a Certificate in IT Education.
Members of the department sit on the committee responsible for the coordination of the National Environmental Education Strategy and are involved in two projects run by the Science and Technology Education Network of the Malta Council for Science and Technology, namely, the State of Science Education in Malta Research Programme and the INNOVA Science and Technology Awards project.
Four B.Ed.(Hons.) students attended the 1997 European Environmental
Education Fair held in Luneburg, Germany. Besides giving a joint presentation
of a case study about The Use of Electronic Media in Environmental Education
in Malta, the Maltese delegation led by Dr Paul Pace, also exhibited three
multimedia packages and an Internet website that were part of the students'
dissertation research. The visit was made possible through the SOCRATES
exchange programme.
The Department of Primary Education has expanded its professional and academic interest in the areas of early childhood education, junior schooling and school development research.
Members of the department conducted in-service training in mentorship and professional development for schools.
It was also involved in a number of Ministry of Education projects, such as the Creative Arts Mid-Week Project, the Primary Curriculum Review in Mathematics, IT and Science, Maltese, English and Social Studies.
A Masters Programme in the Primary Curriculum has also been introduced. The department also runs its own live radio programme: PRIMED, which discusses primary education issues. Use is also made of Radju ta' l-Università to support primary education courses, courtesy of the BBC.
The department maintains its links with the University of Bristol, University
of Exeter, Christchurch College, Canterbury, Rowan University, USA (the
LetMeLearn project), European Distance Education Network, ABO Akademi,
Finland, Institute of Education, London and with the Open University.
In October 1997, the Department of Psychology launched the new format of its full-time day courses leading to the degree of Bachelor of Psychology and Bachelor of Psychology (Honours). It was also responsible for courses leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Psychology as one of the areas of study. The number of students enrolled in these programmes hovers around the 250 mark.
The Department was also responsible for the Educational Psychology Programme of the B.Ed.(Hons.) and P.G.C.E. courses. Four part-time evening courses are also conducted under the auspices of the department. These lead to the Diploma in Counselling, Diploma in Education: Children with Special Needs, Diploma in Facilitating Inclusive Education and Certificate Course in Supporting Learning in Inclusive Settings.
In July, the Inclusive Education Programme organised a well attended International Conference on Inclusive Schooling and Communities.
In November 1997 and December 1998, the department organised the annual
Psychology Seminar which was attended by psychology students, psychologists
and other professionals as well as the general public. The half-day seminar
served as a forum where some of the best B.Psych.(Hons.) dissertations
could be presented. The theme of the presentations ranged from occupational
stress among Maltese nurses, to the experience of retirement.
Library and Information Studies
February saw the conclusion of the 1996-1998 Diploma course in Library & Information Studies with 22 students graduating in November, three with distinction.
In May, the Coordinator hosted Donato Tamble', Professor of Archival Studies at the Archivio di Stato di Roma, and professor at the Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza. He gave a credit entitled Introduction to Archival Science. His visit was made possible through collaboration with the Istituto Italiano di Cultura.
Contacts were intensified with overseas universities offering Library & Information Studies programmes. Close links have been forged with the School of Library, Archive & Information Studies at University College London and with the Department of Library Science at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, both schools having provided visiting professors to our programme of studies.
Ongoing research concerns the study of Melitensia or Maltese informational
and knowledge materials as a national information resource and their storage,
preservation and dissemination as national memory.
Further information about the activities of the Faculty can be obtained
from the following Website: http://www.educ.um.edu.mt/Educ/Default.htm
Communications & Computer Engineering
Electrical Power & Control Engineering
Microelectronics
Manufacturing Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Metallurgy and Materials Engineering
Communications & Computer Engineering
The Department of Communications and Computer Engineering is responsible for course modules in the B.Eng.(Hons.) and B.Sc.(Hons.) I.T degrees. Students from various faculties including Science, FEMA, Education and Engineering follow some of the modules, notably those offered in the area of Computer Logic and Architecture.
Dr. Paul Micallef successfully obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Surrey after presenting a thesis entitled: A Text to Speech Synthesis System for Maltese. Mr. Adrian Muscat obtained an M.Sc. degree. in RF & Microwave Engineering from the University of Bradford.
Research in collaboration with the University of Lecce on Multimedia
Communications was started with funds obtained through the Italo-Maltese
Financial Protocol. Research in the fields of speech processing and communication
coding is also conducted.
Electrical Power & Control Engineering
The department continued to develop the Energy Quality Research Laboratory. One of the main research activities focussed on the Digital Simulation of Hybrid Power Filters and the development of an AC/DC converter with suppressed current harmonics. Other areas of interest include the vector control of 3-phase induction motors and energy saving in connection with the design and operation of electrical building services.
The Electrical Power and Energy Quality Research Group continued working on the research project Power Factor Correction and Current Harmonics Suppression of Non-Linear Loads.
Dr. Joe Cilia and Dr. Cyril Spiteri Staines were awarded their Ph.D.
from Nottingham University with which an exchange programme was initiated
this year.
In June1997 two research projects were officially accepted for funding under the Fourth Italo-Maltese Financial Protocol. The first involved the Design of Integrated Circuits and Microsystems and is being carried out in collaboration with the Integrated Microsystems Research Group of the University of Pavia. The second project, in conjunction with the Department of Communications and Computer Engineering, is titled Integrated Digital Signal Processing and Telecommunication Systems and is being carried out in collaboration with the University of Lecce. A number of research engineers have been appointed to work on both projects.
An IC implementing analogue neural network with on-chip backpropagation learning for phoneme recognition was designed as part of the postgraduate research work and fabricated through EUROPRACTICE services. The IC was successfully tested and the results were presented at the 1997 IEEE Conference on Electronics, Circuits and Systems.
In collaboration with the University of Hong Kong, research work in optoelectronics continued while the department is also active in the areas of image processing, computer vision and machine intelligence.
Development work for industry has been expanded and the design and manufacture of product test equipment which includes both hardware and software for a number of firms is underway. In addition, the department will be redesigning products for a local company in order to enhance the functional and economic competitiveness of these products. A Calibration Laboratory for electronic equipment has also been set up with the goal of providing a Calibration Service traceable to NAMAS standards. Considerable interest has been shown by industry in this service and a number of firms have already sent their electronic equipment to the laboratory for calibration.
Mr.I.Grech obtained his M.Sc. in November 1997.
The department carried out linear dimensional calibration for a number of companies. Various industrial projects were also undertaken. These included design of jigs for Methode-Electronic (Malta), automatic profile cutting machine for Seifert and others for Baxter, Playmobil 1+2+3 and Toly Products.
The department was responsible for the running of two diploma courses: the Diploma in Total Quality Engineering and the Diploma in Industrial Engineering. It was also involved in assisting the local manufacturing engineering sector.
Dr. M.A. Saliba obtained his Ph.D. degree in Experimental Nuclear Physics from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver after having previously completed a M.A.Sc. degree in Robotics, Control & Industrial Automation. Mr Conrad Pace was awarded an M.Sc. in Mechatronics from the University of Lancaster.
The Journal of Applied Statistics published a paper by Mr. Vladimir Brajkovic entitled Mechanics of microelectronics examined by design of experiment techniques. This paper was a condensed version of a final year project conducted by Mr. Brajkovic in collaboration with ST Microelectronics Ltd.
Research focussed on the development of a solar geyser, mobile robot
safety and robust navigational control, including sensory data interpretation
and evaluation for improved system reliability and safety.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering was involved in the setting-up of the Environmental Engineering Innovation Award sponsored by Panta Lesco Ltd. In conjunction with the Malta Development corporation, a seminar on Biotechnology and Engineering was organised.
Mr. Martin Muscat was awarded an M.Sc. in Pressure Vessels from Strathcylde
University. Two third year students were the first from the Faculty to
spend a semester at the University of Memphis and Virginia State University,
USA.
Metallurgy and Materials Engineering
In collaboration with the Institute of Machinery at the University of Catania, the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering carried out research work in the field of thermal infrared imaging technique to determine the fatigue limit of austempered ductile iron. Close links for joint research and collaboration were maintained with Birmingham University, UK and the Technical University of Clausthal, Germany on the Kinetics of the austempering reactions in a ductile iron alloyed with copper and nickel and quantitative metallurgical analysis of cast iron using x-ray diffraction techniques as well as with Pittsburg State University, USA.
The department had three project proposals approved for funding under the Italo-Maltese Protocol, namely: the setting up of an Advanced Heat Treatment Workshop; the setting up of a Surface Engineering Workshop and Welding Services of Weld Quality Assurance. These projects entailed the purchase of state of the art equipment, training of staff and collaborative research work with the Universities of Bologna, Catania and Palermo.
In September 1997, the department jointly with the Istituto di Ricerca e Tecnologia delle Materie Plastiche, Napoli, forwarded an INCO DC proposal entitled New Polymer based materials and Related Technologies for Electro - optical Devices.
Together with its counterpart at the University of Massachusetts, a proposal titled Modification of Polymers using Ion Implantation has been presented. The project seeks funding from the United States.
Dr. Juliana Mallia was awarded a Ph.D. in Metallurgy and Materials,
thereby becoming the Faculty's first doctoral graduate.
European and Comparative Law
The department collaborates closely with the European Documentation and Research Centre in joint initiatives and projects such as the EDRC Newsletter and the organisation of the annual EDRC State of the European Union Conference. This cooperation has also led to a number of local and overseas publications as well as to the organisation of student study visits to the E.C. Institutions.
The external examiner for 1997 was Professor John A. Usher, who is the Director of the Europa Institute at the University of Edinburgh. Another visitor was Professor David Williams from the University of London. Professor Francis Snyder was visiting external examiner for 1998. While in Malta, he delivered a paper on E.M.U. revisited: Are we Making a Constitution? at a talk sponsored by the Chartered Institute of Bankers and another paper on Trading with China at the Malta External Trade Corporation.
Two new courses, one on E.C. Financial Services Law and one on SME Law
and Policy were introduced on the Magister Juris in European and Comparative
Law. Six students graduated M. Juris (European and Comparative Law) in
1998.
Medicine
Surgery
Anatomy
Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Physiology and Biochemistry
Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Paediatrics
Pathology
Pharmacy
Psychiatry
Public Health
The start of the academic year 1997/'98, saw the implementation of an
annual intake of medical students. Forty new students joined the course
of Medicine & Surgery. An agreement reached with the Norwegian Government
provided for ten places on the course to be reserved for Norwegian students.
Professor Mark Brincat was reconfirmed as Dean of the Faculty. Preparations
continued for the IV Maltese Medical School Conference to be held in March
1999.
The use of multimedia in clinical teaching was introduced this year and has been received enthusiastically by most teaching staff and students. There has been an increase in the number of clinical tutorials held. The June and September sessions of the MD Finals saw a change in format, the traditional essay question being replaced by short descriptions of a number of clinical situations to which candidates have to react using their clinical acumen and problem solving skills.
In February, the department organised a three-day postgraduate course in Diabetes in conjunction with the Maltese Diabetes Association and the European Association for the study of Diabetes. Some eight thousand Maltese Liri were obtained by Dr J Azzopardi from the latter as well as from Novo Nordish, Eli Lily, Servier, Bayer AG and Sandoz Pharma.. An evening postgraduate course in Diabetes was organised over a number of weeks for family practitioners.
The department continues to form part of the WHO/IDF DiabCare QNet which is developing and promoting information technology for the improvement of diabetes care in Europe. To this end, a grant of 5000 ECU has been obtained from the European community. Malta is responsible for the organisation of the DiabCare activities of the Mediterranean Group.
Current research activities include studies on Diabetes, cancer therapy,
asthma, Hepatitis C, the establishment of databases on kidney and inflammatory
bowel diseases, the History of Medicine, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus,
smoking, trends in ward admissions, basal metabolic rates as well as commitment
to and involvement in the further development of the undergraduate medical
curriculum.
Postgraduate surgical training is based on the United Kingdom model of Basic and Higher Surgical training. This has been a success story so far. In 1997, nine basic surgical trainees took their FRCS II and all were successful. This achievement was repeated in 1998. Discussions were entered into with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh with a view to establishing collaboration in various fields.
The department is seeking to involve a number of these young newly qualified
surgeons in its academic activities. Every Tuesday afternoon, Grand
Round Surgical Meetings were organised at the Medical School and were
sponsored by various pharmaceutical companies. The department has links
with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer
which in 1997 held its Spring Meeting in Malta. Some 140 top cancer specialists
attended this meeting. It is also represented on the European Board of
Urology. In December 1998, a group of surgeons participated in the second
meeting of the European Society of Surgery in London.
The Department of Anatomy continued to perform research on the effects
of Tetraclinis Articulata and is expanding its research to include cancer
of the bladder and ovary, cancer genetics and other genetic diseases.
It has also continued looking into familial subnormality and Fragile X
syndrome.
Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics
The department coordinates all the pharmacology modules and related practical sessions for undergraduate B.Pharm., M.D. and B.Ch.D. students. Research activities focus on the pharmacology of drugs used in bronchial asthma and epilepsy. In collaboration with the Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, research into the genetics of asthma is being carried out. Dr Ian Hall visited Malta in June, to lecture on the subject. An Epilepsy Society of Malta was set up and is affiliated to the International League against Epilepsy. The effect of protein supplementation on athletes is another area of interest.
A link agreement in pharmacological sciences was signed with the University of Pisa in order to conduct research in areas of mutual interest. In collaboration with the University of Minnesota, a successful International Pharmacokinetics School was organised in September 1998. This was attended by participants from several countries including Finland, Italy, Hungary, Holland, Ukraine and Libya.
Dr. Mark Micallef from Fujisaki Institute in Japan joined the Department's
research programme as a visiting member of staff. His areas of specialisation
include tumour immunology and immunopharmacology.
In the field of molecular biology, research continued into the structure
and function of the enzyme super oxide dismutase. The objectives of this
work are the study of the super oxide dismutase genes of the nematode Caenorhabditis
elegans; the study of the amino acid residues responsible for the metal
ion specificity and enzymatic activity of Escherichia coli iron super oxide
dismutase and the study of the oxidative stress response of eukaryotic
cells. In behavioural neuroscience, studies into the significance of brain
reward mechanisms in relation to depression and drug abuse are underway.
In biosensors, work proceeded on the development of sensors for on-site
detection of heavy metal pollution of water resources.
The Malta Representative Committee of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists attended two overseas meetings and programmes in postgraduate education continue to proceed. In 1998, three members of staff obtained the Membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
New links with the University of Nottingham's School of Human Development have been established with the appointment of Professor M. Brincat as Professor in Reproductive Medicine in this unit. A number of joint programmes are expected to be undertaken both at postgraduate level as well as in the Fellowship training programme.
Research continues primarily in the field of Connective Tissue Changes and Sex Hormones as well as in Infertility, recurrent Miscarriages, Colposcopy and Diabetes in Obstetrics.
A successful interdepartmental joint Paediatrics/Obstetrics Meeting
was organised.
The links established with visiting subspeciality staff from Great Ormond
Street, London (Cardiology, Nephrology and Neurology), Birmingham Children's
Hospital (Cardiology), The Royal Marsden Hospital, London and Surrey (Oncology)
and University College Hospital (Endocrinology) have been further strengthened
with the establishment of several joint research projects. The first phase
of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC)
has been concluded and published. A well attended Paediatric Update
was held at the end of October, 1998.
The Department of Pathology continued to be extensively involved in the teaching of pathology to students in various courses run by the Institute of Health Care.
The haematology/genetic study group meetings organised by Professor
A E Felice have continued as a regular feature as did the Journal Club
meetings. Satisfying advances in research have been made in molecular biology
of haemoglobinopathies, the endocrine control of osteoporosis, the investigation
of fungal disease as well as the pathological and social impact of road
trauma.
Research includes the validation of pharmacy services, bioequivalence and bioavailability studies, chronopharma-cology and pharmacoeconomics. Ms Lilian Azzopardi was awarded an International Scholarship by the International Pharmaceutical Federation Foundation for Educational Research.
A group of 25 undergraduate students visited Servier Laboratories in Paris and were shown round the research facilities.
In conjunction with the Institute of Health Care, a two day Graduate symposium on the Tradition of Excellence in Health Care was organised. Papers on the various research projects being carried out by the department and the Institute were presented.
The Malta Pharmaceutical Students Association was successful in its bid to host the 1999 Congress of the European Pharmaceutical Students' Association (EPSA).
Publication of the Journal of Euromed Pharmacy with contributions on various subjects including analgesia and anaesthesia in Malta and the use of psychotropic medications in a corrective facility continued.
The Department hosted Professor Patrick D'Arcy, Emeritus Professor,
Queen's University of Belfast and Dr. Sam Salek from the Welsh School of
Pharmacy, University of Cardiff. Three members of staff, Dr. Lilian
Azzopardi, Dr. Maria Cordina and Dr. Claude Farrugia successfully completed
their studies leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
A Basic Sciences and Clinical Psychiatry Foundation Course
was
organised jointly with the Health Division. This course aimed at providing
a foundation in Psychiatry for those doctors not proceeding to become Psychiatrists,
but who could have a useful career as non-specialist members of the Department
of Psychiatry or who require this experience for other fields of medicine,
such as neurology or general practice. A multidisciplinary weekly case
presentation and topic presentation programme was also organised jointly.
1997 saw the first graduation of 12 doctors who had followed the recently introduced M.Sc. course in Public Health - the first taught postgraduate degree course to be organised within the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery. Discussions were held with the Nottingham School of Public Health with a view to future cooperation in the organisation of this course.
A Festschrift in honour of Professor Herbert Gilles, former Dean of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, was published in the Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Vol 91 No 7, 1997.
Dr Gauden Galea consulted extensively for the World Health Organisation on Epidemiological Research advocacy as well as conceptual development of healthy islands. In 1998, he took up a two-year assignment with WHO in Fiji.
Research activities include involvement in a WHO study on Age associated
Dementia Prevalence, screening for High Risk Elderly, Polio eradication
and Hospital Manpower Analysis.
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence
Computer Information Systems
Mathematics
Physics
Statistics & Operations Research
Board of Studies for Information Technology
Professor Alfred J Vella took over as the new Dean of the Faculty from
Professor Albert Leone Ganado while Professor Josef Lauri was reappointed
Pro-Rector. The creation of a Department of Statistics and Operations Research
within the Faculty adds new areas of teaching and research in applied mathematics.
1998 saw the graduation of the Faculty's first two Ph.D.s, both in the
field of Biology.
In 1997, the department expanded its postgraduate teaching programmes through the introduction of a new M.Sc. programme in Biology, specializing in Marine Aquaculture. An Open Learning Programme leading to a Certificate in Biology was launched in collaboration with University Radio consisting of broadcasts, practical classes and field visits. The department remained active in various research fields including fish farming technology, Maltese floristics, terrestrial and marine phytocoenoses and seagrass biology. Other research areas studied, involved work on shore and shallow water marine benthos, faunistics of the Maltese Islands with particular reference to the biogeography and human impact on small island ecosystems and conservation biology. A field survey to study cetaceans around the Maltese Islands was also initiated.
The Marine Ecotoxicology Laboratory directed by Professor Victor Axiak won another European Union research contract through the INCO Programme support for MEDA. This programme, which is being undertaken by a consortium of five European research centres and headed by Thomson-CSF (France) aims at developing airborne remote sensing techniques simulation for the assessment of monitoring and surveillance of south Mediterranean maritime ecosystems. The Department of Biology hosted the first management team meeting for this project, in 1998.
The Marine Ecology Research Group, directed by Professor Patrick J.
Schembri, currently forms part of a consortium of research laboratories
which have been awarded a contract by the European Commission under MAST
III programme of the EU's 4th Framework Programme. The research project,
titled BIOMAERL: Maerl biodiversity, functional structure and anthropogenic
impacts, is concerned with the ecology and assessment of human impact on
maerl grounds in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The eighth meeting
of partners for this programme was held in Malta in 1998 and was organised
and hosted by the Marine Ecology Research Group.
November saw the graduation of the first group of M.Sc. students. The department also provided taught courses to education, agriculture and pharmacy students. Research work continued in the areas of environmental geochemistry, organic photochemistry, the colloidal state as well as in the inorganic chemistry of transition metal complexes and analytical chemistry. Two university research grants were won by the department in support of its work.
Research work on the environmental chemistry of tributyltin compounds involved the investigation of the interaction of these pollutants with organic matter in compost and the development of a protocol for the analytical determination of tetrasubstituted alkyltins in air. Another project involved the study of benzene and toluene in local urban air and results from this work were published during 1998. Another paper on work performed during the previous years on the occurrence of tributyltin and its environmental metabolites in the local marine environment was also published.
Research also involved projects dealing with physical chemistry themes,
particularly, the production of nanoparticles in surfactant media, gelatin
surfactant interactions and solubilisation of organotins in surfactant
media as well as in other areas, namely, analytical and organic chemistry.
Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence
Following the launch of the new undergraduate degree programme in Information Technology in 1995, the Department of Computer Science and A.I. continued to install the infrastructure and laboratories to cope with over 150 students. Moreover, the department took a leading role in the launch of a new evening diploma course in I.T. which has so far attracted 30 students. The department was actively involved in the setting up of an independent Computing Services Centre in order to ensure a professionally installed and maintained state-of-the-art I.T. infrastructure for the University.
Two three-year research projects were launched, namely: STORY: the design and development of web-based multimedia authoring tools for children and HOOPLA: the design and development of a higher-order object based programming language. Two other projects: are underway, namely, MALTILEX: The development of a computer-based lexicon of Maltese and MEDWATER: An EU-funded project involving European and Mediterranean partners whose aim is the development of a Decision Support System for Water Resources Management in semi-arid regions.
External collaboration included the appointment of members of staff as expert proposal evaluators for the EU 4th Framework Programme and participation in an initiative for the development of a web based resource centre for the United Nations International Institute on Aging (INIA).
The department was also involved in the setting up of the National Domain
Name Service for the Internet, the National Commission for Information
Technology and the Malta Internet Foundation. This was established to serve
the local Internet community providing inexpensive, fast and reliable access
for the greatest possible number of users and providers. Research links
with the universities of Cambridge and Kent have been maintained.
The number of students reading for informatics-related topics continued to increase and science students are joined by others who come from banking & finance, education, engineering and communications. The main research interests of the department are in the areas of distributed computing, interoperability of objects, databases, software quality assurance and software methodologies and Malta Heritage Virtual Models.
The department has set up a modern intranet service and also maintains an Internet Malta Network Resources www. registry which keeps improving the range of services it provides. The department has deployed a full range of DBMS software based on Oracle and a complementary fourth GL tool set. In collaboration with the Faculty of Architecture, the Museums Department and the University of Tubingen, a project dealing in virtual reality of local interest has been launched. Links with Tubingen were further strengthened by Professor Wolfgang Strasser's third visit to the department.
Internationally, the department has maintained its contacts with Med-Campus and Leonardo project partners in Izmir, Lyons, Pisa, Cyprus and Sunderland. Close collaboration has also been established with REMPEC (Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean) and the department was awarded a contract by UNIDO to design and program a TROCS software system for emergency first response information software. The department is also endeavouring to initiate collaboration and establish research programmes with Italian Universities in the field of Health and Environmental Information Systems. Other contacts were maintained with Sheffield, City University and the Universities of Kent and Nottingham.
Mr Rodney Naudi obtained his M.Sc. with distinction.
In 1997, Professor J. P. Gauci retired from the department after long years of sterling service. The M.Sc. programme in Mathematics continued to be popular and saw an increase in enrolment.
The department focusses on two main research areas: Algebraic Graph Theory and Combinatorics: the emphasis being on spectral graph theory, the spectral reconstruction conjecture, singular graphs, reconstruction number, vertex and edge-deleted subgraphs; and Mathematical Physics: with emphasis on quantum mechanics, functional analysis, differential geometry and differential equations; the quantum Hall effect, the Anderson model, general relativity.
In September 1998, a mini-conference on Graph Theory was held in Malta, with invited speakers Professor Scapellato (University of Milan), Dr. W. Hilton (University of Reading), Professor Voloshin (Moldovia) and Professor J. Friddo, Professor Milacco, Professor Lizzio from Catania who attended together with many of their students.
The year 1998 also saw the setting up of the Mathematical Society in November, with the aim of delivering popular lectures and graduate seminars on a regular basis.
The Department of Mathematics also provides instruction to students
from the Faculties of Architecture, Engineering, Education and Economics,
Management and Accountancy and the Department of Pharmacy.
This year, third year practicals were designed as mini-projects spanning over 4-6 weeks, in which the students were required to design their own experiments and produce results. Collaboration in the medical applications of microwaves was forged with Bath University and Microsulis Ltd. and led to the installation of the first Microwave Endometrial Ablation system in a local private hospital.
The seismograph station at Wied Dalam continued to operate recording over 50 local and regional earthquakes and several teleseismic ones thereby providing rapid information to the media on shocks and tremors felt in Malta. Undergraduate and postgraduate research projects in seismology were initiated. The atmospheric pollution research project concluded its first two years of measurements of ozone levels at three sites and several features particular to the central Mediterranean were identified. The findings were presented in Karlsruhe, Germany.
The conversion of an internal combustion engine car to electric drive was completed with in-house technical support. A ìroad' version of a solar vehicle was also constructed. This vehicle employs a 600Wp photovoltaic assembly to power a permanent magnet motor. Surplus energy is stored in a battery pack. This vehicle achieved a top speed on a flat surface of 30 kph and had the ability to climb a 1 in 8 gradient with battery assistance. Trials were held on the University running track with the vehicle running continuously for up to 3 hours at average speeds of 15-20kph and top speeds of 25-28 kph. Road tests on the vehicle resulted in journeys of a maximum distance of 12km.
Dr A. Micallef obtained his PhD from Nottingham University on completion
of research into air pollution modelling and monitoring. He will be contributing
to the Department's atmospheric research and monitoring effort. Planned
projects involve short-range atmospheric emission-dispersion modelling
of vehicle-derived pollutants, indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring,
air quality data analysis, air pollution metrology, development of ambient
aerosol and gas sampling technology.
Statistics & Operations Research
The first B.Sc. (Hons.) Statistics & Operations Research course took off very satisfactorily with fourteen students taking the option along with another main subject. The study units for this new course were well received and a unit delivered by the Director of the Central Office of Statistics served to forge an important link with a prospective future employer of our students. Furthermore, this exposed students directly to suppliers of official government statistics.
Mr. L. Camilleri obtained his M.Sc. degree with a thesis on heteroscedasticity
in regression.
Board of Studies for Information Technology
Collaboration between the Department of Computer Science and A.I. and the Department of Computer Information Systems within the Faculty of Science and the Department of Communications and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering has led to the successful establishment of a new B.Sc.(Hons.) degree in Information Technology. Some 170 students are specialising in one of three I.T. streams, namely: Computer Science, Computer Systems Engineering and Informatics. The first students are due to graduate in 1999. An evening diploma course in I.T. is also run.
The Board has been instrumental in the launch of a Work in Industry
Scheme which exposes I.T. students to the local industry. Conversely,
through the activities of the newly formed students' association (ITSA),
the activities of the Board are publicised both on campus as well as with
industry at large.
The large number of students now opting for Theology as a main or subsidiary subject necessitated a reappraisal of teaching methods.
The increasing number of students registering for the M.A. has helped to further Faculty research interests in areas such as inter-religious dialogue, family studies and religious education.
Significant initiatives were taken to consolidate the Mediterranean religions programme and promote it on the international level thereby giving students the opportunity to situate Christian theology in a wider religious context. The annual Aquinas Lecture, given by the French theologian Renè Coste, explored the possible religious resources for the reconciliation of peoples living around the Mediterranean.
The Faculty hosted the biannual Conference of Catholic Theological Institutions for the European region. This provided an opportunity to present the Mediterranean Religions Project to a wider international theological audience. The theme was the challenge of the trialogue between the Jewish, Christian and Muslim religions in the teaching of theology.
In collaboration with the Department of Maltese, a seminar was held on the relationship of the literary author to God. This proved to be an extremely fruitful interdisciplinary discussion and provided a challenging opportunity to engage in an enriching, if somewhat complex dialogue between theology and literature - a priority interest area within the Faculty's programme of theology and human studies.
The Augustine Lecture, which was delivered by Dr. Carol Harrison from Durham University, again involved the participation of the Augustinian Order and enabled staff and students to keep in touch with this ancient theological and cultural tradition.
The Departments of Biblical and Pastoral Studies sought to develop a 'popular' theology. This is an important genre because it seeks to make religion comprehensible to the ordinary individual. The Department of Sacred Scripture, in collaboration with the Ghaqda Biblika Maltija held several courses for adult groups both at diocesan and parish levels.
Major publications were The Image of the Good Shepherd As a Source
for the Spirituality of the Ministerial Priesthood, written by Nicholas
Cachia and published by the Gregorian University; Stages of Faith-Sharing
Groups, written by Alfred Micallef and published in the U.K. and De
Sermone Domini in Monte, written by Salvino Caruana and published in
the series Opera Omnia of St. Augustine.
INSTITUTES
In July 1997, the Director of the Institute of Agriculture was appointed Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Agriculture and Fisheries by the Maltese Government. Since one of the constitutional aims of the Institute is to assist in the drawing up of national plans for agriculture, the Institute acted as the secretariat for the National Commission and presented a final report to Government at the end of the year.
The number of students enrolling continued to show an upward trend while the number of research students is also on the increase. Students may now apply for the following: Diploma in Agriculture, M.Sc. in Agricultural Sciences, M.Sc. in Agricultural and Veterinary Pharmacy, M.Phil. in Agriculture and Ph.D. in Agriculture. In response to various requests, plans were initiated with a view to introducing a course leading to a B.Sc. in Agriculture.
The academic staff complement of the Institute was strengthened during the year by the services of an Animal Nutritionist and a Plant Pathologist. Dr. Alexander Baker and Dr. Ernest Kirkby from Leeds University and Professor Gianpaolo Vanozzi from the University of Udine visited the Institute and lectured to students.
In December, the Institute became a member of AARINENA, the Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa and participated in its sixth biannual conference in 1998. The conference was held in Teheran and the Institute was represented by Professor A. Scicluna-Spiteri. A theme paper delivered by Dr M. Zehni, formerly of FAO, acknowledged the assistance given by the Institute of Agriculture in Malta.
The year 1998 marked the birth of a programme of academic collaboration and cooperation between the Institute of Agriculture and the Faculties of Agriculture and Veterinary Science at the University of Udine in Italy. This joint agricultural programme fell within the bilateral agreement between the two Universities of Udine and Malta. Professor Gian Paolo Vannozzi (Delegato della Ricerca at Udine) who was the original signatory of the agreement between the two Universities and is a well known agronomist visited the Institute four times in the course of 1998 and plans were made for a joint project involving the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries as well. This project will include an international M.Sc.(awarded by the two Universities) in Mediterranean Agriculture, furbishing of the laboratories at the Institute and a land-use survey of Malta using GIS technology.
Dr William C. Evans, the author of the well known textbook Trease and Evans, visited the Institute in May 1998, as he put it, ìto learn of the pharmacognosy achievements of the University'. He donated a copy of the latest edition of his book which has been translated into 30 different languages including Chinese ìto commemorate a delightful instructive visit'.
Courses in Micropropagation for the Department of Biology, in Phamacognosy for the Department of Pharmacy and a credit in Fruit and Protected Cropping for the Faculty of Education were conducted.
Main ongoing fields of research include: Investigations on local and
aromatic medicinal plants; Rabbit nutrition; Nitrogen plant nutrition on
local soils; Nutritive value of the local prickly pear stem leaves and
the use of micropropagation in local agriculture.
The Institute organized The Third International Conference on England and Italy: Literary and Cultural Relations which was held at the University of Malta from 21st-24th September. The Conference, which was convened by Professor Peter Vassallo, Director of the institute, was addressed by more than twenty scholars from some of the leading British and Italian Universities. The keynote speakers were Professors Denis Mack Smith and John Woodhouse from Oxford and Professors Agostino Lombardo and Piero Boitani from La Sapienza, Rome. The Conference was held under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, President of Malta.
Professor Alfonso Sammut's Bibliography of Anglo-Italian Comparative Literary Criticism was published posthumously by the Institute, edited by Professors Peter Vassallo and Franco Lanza. A tribute to Alfonso Sammut was held at the University at which the significance of this Bibliography to the academic world was stressed.
In 1998, the Institute published Volume 5 of the Journal of Anglo-Italian Studies, this special double issue being dedicated to the memory of Professor Gregory Lucente, formerly Professor of Comparative Literature at the University of Michigan and a member of the Advisory Editorial Board of the Journal. This volume contains articles by some of the leading scholars in this field of study.
Professor Peter Vassallo's article on "Shelley and the mask of falsehood
in Julian and Maddalo" was published by Lilla Crisafulli, Professor of
English at the University of Bologna, in a special volume devoted to research
on Shelley and Italy. He was also guest speaker at a Conference on Anglo-Italian
Literary Relations which was held at the University of Messina in honour
of Professor Lino Falzon who formerly headed the Dipartimento di Anglistica
there.
European Documentation & Research Centre
The European Documentation and Research Centre (EDRC) has the aims of establishing and running courses and engaging in research on policies and developments in the EU and beyond, applying in this effort, a multidisciplinary approach which also focusses on issues connected with Euro-Mediterranean relations as well as Malta's place in the process of European Integration.
An increase in the number of students enrolling for the B.A. and M.A. (European Studies) was registered while students from other faculties have started to show considerable interest in its courses as a secondary area of study. Several M.Phil students were also admitted. November 1997, saw the graduation of the first students with an M.A. in European Studies from the University of Malta. In collaboration with the Department of European and Comparative Law, the EDRC organised the annual student visit to the EU Institutions.
The individual in the EU and Malta: Some Central Issues and Malta, The European Union and the Mediterranean: Closer Relations in the Wider Context - the proceedings of the annual EDRC conferences held in April 1997 and March 1998 respectively, were published (Professor Peter G Xuereb ed.). The EDRC Newsletter, published quarterly, continues to provide readers with information on recent acquisitions as well as containing articles on the E.U. and E.U. - Malta studies. Fifteen Information Papers have also been produced to date.
Professor David Williams gave a public lecture on The role of the European Court of Justice in relation to EC Tax Law while Professor John Usher, Director of the Europa Institute of the University of Edinburgh, gave two public lectures in July '97. The first on The IGC and the EU - Union in Diversity? was sponsored by Corinthia Group of Companies while the second entitled Tax Discrimination, Capital Movements and the Single Market was organised in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Bankers who also sponsored Professor Francis Snyder's lecture entitled EMU Revisited: Are we making a Constitution? What Constitution are we making? Professor Snyder, Professor of European Community Law at the European University Institute in Florence was visiting external examiner in 1998. He also gave a second lecture on Trading with China which was organised in association with METCO.
With the support of the European Commission DGX, the EDRC played host
to a project meeting on EU-Mediterranean acquis approximation in April
1998. The proceedings of this Malta Meeting were published in book
form entitled The Mediterranean's European Challenge edited by Professor
Peter G Xuereb who is coordinator of a project involving over 50
researchers on Approximation To the Acquis Communautaire in the
Mediterranean region.
A database of the energy imports and energy utilisation in Malta has been set up and is being evaluated in the light of socioeconomic and environmental impact factors. The Institute is participating in discussions on the establishment of an energy policy for Malta. Advice about the application of energy conservation and renewable energy was given to various companies and industries. A laboratory to monitor the performance of solar water heaters and to evaluate the thermal performance of large-scale elements has been set up with the help of Malta Drydocks personnel.
The first grid-connected PV system has completed one year of successful operation. The monitoring of solar radiation and other weather parameters at Marsaxlokk and the wind monitoring programme at three sites have all been functional for more than a year and the results from data gathered have been published. Wind monitoring has been extended to another site in Kercem, Gozo. A database of wind parameters taken at Luqa since 1945 is being set up. Other weather data from Luqa, Qrendi and the data from the IET weather station are being analysed so as to establish wind maps for Malta. As part of an AVICENNE project, an experimental setup for investigations into the solar detoxification and disinfection of water was designed and built. Experiments were carried out in May and September.
The institute took part in Open Day, some 150 visitors attended its presentations. Similarly, on the occasion of Science Week about 150 students visited the IET at Marsaxlokk. Building on this positive experience, the Institute has embarked on a programme whereby 3rd to 6th Form students from all schools are invited for half-day teaching and demonstration sessions. Following the successful completion of a six week working experience at the IET by an American student, some 20 students from James Madison University came to the Institute for 4 weeks to carry out project work on renewable energy.
The Institute participated in a seminar on bioclimatic architecture
and energy conservation in collaboration with the Institute for Masonry
and Construction Research, Malta University Services and the Italian Cultural
Institute.
The Institute is currently running a full-time one-year postqualification course leading to the Diploma in Probation Services and a five year part-time course leading to a B.A. in Criminology. Furthermore, the Ministry of Home Affairs has entrusted it with the organisation of a course specifically for prospective police inspectors. Many students from other courses have also shown keen interest in criminology credits.
The Institute provides qualified and trained correctional/police personnel as well as equips students from other non-law enforcement professions with criminological knowledge, thereby broadening their career opportunities.
During 1997, the Centre for Criminology undertook the United Nations Crime (Victims) Survey. This research project was sponsored by the Government of Malta and the United Nations Inter-Regional Crime Research Institute (UNICRI). In July, the Institute organised and hosted the UNICRI International workshop on Probation which had worldwide participation and led to the compilation of a comprehensive report. This occasion also proved instrumental in establishing new links with foreign institutions while old ones were consolidated.
A course leading to the Certificate in Policing commenced in 1998 in
collaboration with Portsmouth University. Professor Stephen Savage designed
the course, while in the period April/May '98, the Institute hosted several
British lecturers.
In 1997, the course leading to the BA entered its fourth year with twenty-eight students following the course. Two courses leading to the Diploma in Commerce and the Diploma in Educational Administration and Management were also being run.
Other courses offered included: a course for Instructors in collaboration with the Government Department of Education; a refresher course in Obstetrics organised in collaboration with the Institute of Health Care; a short course in Financial Markets organised in collaboration with the Department of Banking and Finance; a course in collaboration with the University of the Third Age; a course in Systems of Knowledge and another in Environmental Studies both organised in collaboration with the Grupp Universitarju Ghawdxin and a three year course leading to the Advanced Level certificate in Lace Making of the London City and Guilds. In 1998, various other short courses were organised.
The sociocultural activities organised by the Centre included: an Evening of Music which attracted a very large audience and was given good reviews in the press and a Social Evening organised during the Chr