https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/332 2026-11-12T18:30:58Z 2026-11-12T18:30:58Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150966 2026-11-12T09:45:45Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: An ethical appraisal of ESG in business Abstract: This thesis critically examines whether the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework meaningfully advances ethical responsibility in business, or whether ethics has instead been reduced to a compliance-driven exercise of measurement, reporting, and disclosure. It traces the historical evolution of ESG from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), critically evaluates its Environmental, Social, and Governance Pillars, and analyses its philosophical foundations through the ethical theories of utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics. Drawing upon complementary frameworks - including Kate Raworth’s Doughnut Economics, Alex Edman’s Grow the Pie, and Rajeev Peshawaria’s concept of steward leadership - the thesis argues that, while ESG provides a valuable mechanism for institutionalising sustainability within financial markets, it is insufficient on its own to guarantee ethical business conduct. Ultimately, it concludes that genuinely responsible business depends less on governance metrics and regulatory compliance than on purpose driven, virtuous leadership, proposing a reframing of ESG as “ESL” - Environmental, Social, and Leadership. Description: M.A. Bus. Ethics(Melit.)

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Doublet, Nicholas Joseph https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150909 2026-11-11T06:30:35Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Voices through a visitation : clergy, parish life, and ecclesiastical reform in the apostolic visitation of Pietro Dusina (Malta, 1575) Authors: Doublet, Nicholas Joseph Abstract: The apostolic visitation conducted in Malta in 1575 by Mgr Pietro Dusina, delegate of Pope Gregory XIII, represents one of the most important documentary sources for understanding the condition of the Maltese Church in the decade immediately following the Council of Trent. Undertaken within the broader programme of post-Tridentine reform, the visitation sought to assess the discipline of clergy, the administration of the sacraments, the condition of churches and benefices, and the conformity of local practices with the norms promulgated by the Council. [excerpt]

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150858 2026-11-09T13:32:54Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Bioethics and prostitution : towards an ethically coherent legislative model Abstract: Prostitution can be understood not only as a legal or social issue, but also as a bioethical one, because it raises important questions about vulnerability, autonomy, dignity, integrity, harm, and inequality. This dissertation examines prostitution through the broader framework of European bioethics and bio-law, whilst also drawing on the principles of justice, beneficence and non-maleficence as practical guides for assessing legislation. The study was carried out through a literature review of bioethical, legal, philosophical, and empirical sources related to prostitution and the ways in which it is regulated. It investigates how prostitution may be understood as a bioethical problem, how intersecting vulnerabilities shape the lives of those involved, and how current legislative models respond to these realities. The findings demonstrate that prostitution cannot be adequately understood through individual choice alone, since it is often deeply connected to trauma, coercion, addiction, poverty, stigma, and structural inequality. The analysis also shows that legal models differ significantly in their ethical coherence and practical effects. Among the models examined, the Nordic/Equality Model emerges as the most ethically coherent, since it seeks to reduce exploitation without criminalising the person in prostitution. At the same time, the dissertation argues that no legal model is sufficient on its own unless it is accompanied by meaningful support systems. The dissertation therefore proposes and suggests that ethically coherent legislation should be combined with trauma-informed care, realistic exit pathways, housing support, and healthcare access for those who wish to leave prostitution. Description: M.A.(Melit.)

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Camilleri, Charló https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150857 2026-11-09T13:30:39Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Riħet il-betula Authors: Camilleri, Charló Abstract: Matteo, min-naħa jgħix bejn it-thewdin u t-treddin li jidwi f’rasu minn moħħ li ma jiqafx, u mill-oħra, il-kuntatt mad-dinja ta’ barra. Ħsibijiet, ħsus u sensazzjonijiet, bħal riħet il-betula, iqajmuh għal tifkiriet mgħoddija, li jgħaddu minn quddiem għajnejh u quddiem il-qarrej mingħajr ordni jew sekwenza. Id-dinja ta’ barra li tibqa’ għaddejja bir-ritmu tagħha, tiżvolġi bħal sottofond għal dak li jgħaddi minn moħħu, u fl-istess ħin tiġi mistħarrġa b’distakk. Ħwejjeġ ta’ kuljum, ġrajjiet storiċi, tbatija siekta, u ħsibijiet moħbija jitfanndu flimkien fi ġrajja meqjusa u melankonika. Huma u jterrqu ma’ Matteo fil-kurituri ta’ moħħu u l-frammenti ta’ ħajtu hawn imniżżla, il-qarrejja mistiedna jħallu dan ir-rumanzett ta’ diqa siekta, jistedinhom biex huma wkoll iħallu ħsibijiet, ħsus u sensazzjonijiet tal-imgħoddi jiġbduhom fid-dinja ġewwinija tagħhom magħġuna minn tifkiriet li jidhru frammentati, imma li jsenslu l-misteru tal-ħajja. Kull wieħed mill-għaxar kapitli jista’ jinqara għalih waħdu, iżda kollha flimkien isenslu ġrajja waħda minsuġa mir-riflessjoni u l-ħsus ġewwinija tal-protagonist.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z