In April each year, Dr Margaret Mangion coordinates the WCIW events in Malta in collaboration with various entities. Locally, the main theme for WCIW 2019 was ‘sustainability’. This was approached through a variety of activities that addressed sustainability from different perspectives and helped to raise awareness about the need for creativity and innovation across different strata of society. Events varied in form and content with the aim of attracting different audiences.
08-12 April 2019: Strategic Decision Making Workshops - The WCIW 2019 programme kicked off with three interactive game-based workshops delivered by visiting lecturer Dr Joanna Radomska from the Strategic Management Department at Wroclaw University of Economics, Poland. One workshop was about aspects of decision making in organisations and the other two were about leading strategic change. These sessions were open to students and staff of the University of Malta, and to the general public.
11 April 2019: Creative Approaches to Waste Reduction - This event focused on sustainable practices from a food preparation and fashion perspective. It included hands-on activities that raised students’ awareness of consumption practices and their implications. It was co-ordinated and supervised by Dr Margaret Mangion in collaboration with Dr Lorraine Portelli and Ms Lucienne Barbara from the Department of Health, Physical Education and Consumer Studies within the Faculty of Education, and led by BSc in Home Economics students for fellow students on other courses.
11 April 2019: Keynote Presentation on 'The Psychology of Being Creative' - Next on the WCIW programme was a keynote presentation on 'The Psychology of Being Creative' by Dr Margaret Mangion at the ‘Undertones: Mental Health and Arts Seminar’. This was organised by Dr Alexei Sammut and Dr Josianne Scerri from the University of Malta’s Department of Mental Health within the Faculty of Health Sciences.
12 April 2019: Mini Hackathon on Sustainability - The final activity for WCIW 2019 was a mini hackathon aimed at exploring different approaches for sustainable practices in traffic management and food waste. This event was organised in collaboration with the University of Malta’s ICCSD (Institute for Climate Change and Sustainable Development) with the support of the Mediterranean Conference Centre. Dr Therese Bajada and Ms Margaret Camilleri Fenech from the ICCSD set the scene, while Master in Creativity and Innovation students and alumni facilitated the hackathon.