https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/8928 2026-08-19T07:39:10Z 2026-08-19T07:39:10Z Erben, Şeyma Esin https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148440 2026-08-07T09:09:07Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: On the swing : temporariness and intercultural communication competence among migrants from Türkiye in Malta Authors: Erben, Şeyma Esin Abstract: This study examines the intercultural communication competencies (ICC) of migrants from Türkiye living in Malta. The research employs mixed-methods research design, combining a questionnaire completed by 105 participants with six months of participant observation. The study engages in a critical theoretical dialogue with approaches that treat ICC as an individual skill repertoire and instead discusses ICC as a relational practice shaped by structural and contextual conditions. The findings indicate that while language proficiency is significantly related to ICC, its explanatory power remains limited. The length of stay in Malta does not appear to be directly related to ICC. Field observations suggest that this may be linked to a widespread experience of transience, with many participants positioning Malta somewhere between permanent settlement and a stopover. In this context, migrants frequently socialize within their own cultural groups and other international migrant networks; Malta's character as a society shaped by intensive migration may further sustain this pattern. A negative relationship is observed between social network homogeneity and ICC, while a positive relationship emerges between ICC and openness to the local community. These findings suggest that treating ICC as a relational practice shaped by social network structures, settlement intentions, and the migration context may offer greater explanatory value than approaches focused on individual skills alone. This study contributes to existing discussions in the ICC literature by highlighting the structural and relational dimensions of ICC from the Maltese context.; Bu çalışma, Malta'da yaşayan Türkiye doğumlu göçmenlerin kültürlerarası iletişim yetkinliklerini (KİY) incelemektedir. Araştırma, 105 katılımcıyla gerçekleştirilen bir anket ile altı aylık katılımcı gözlemini birleştiren karma yöntemli bir araştırma tasarımı kullanmaktadır. Çalışma, KİY'yi bireysel bir beceri repertuarı olarak ele alan yaklaşımlarla eleştirel bir kuramsal diyalog kurmakta ve KİY'yi yapısal ve bağlamsal koşullar tarafından şekillenen ilişkisel bir pratik olarak tartışmaktadır. Bulgular, dil yeterliğinin KİY ile anlamlı biçimde ilişkili olduğunu ancak açıklayıcı gücünün sınırlı kaldığına işaret etmektedir. Malta'da kalış süresinin KİY ile doğrudan ilişkili olmadığı görülmektedir. Alan gözlemleri, bu durumun yaygın bir geçicilik deneyimiyle ilişkili olabileceğini ve birçok katılımcının Malta'yı kalıcı yerleşim ile geçici bir durak arasında konumlandırdığını düşündürmektedir. Bu bağlamda göçmenler sıklıkla kendi kültürel grupları ve diğer uluslararası göçmen ağları içinde sosyalleşmekte; Malta'nın yoğun uluslararası göç alan bir toplumsal yapıya sahip olması da bu örüntüyü pekiştirebilmektedir. Sosyal ağ homojenliği ile KİY arasında negatif bir ilişki gözlenirken KİY ile yerel topluma açıklık arasında pozitif bir ilişki ortaya çıkmaktadır. Bu bulgular, KİY'nin yalnızca bireysel beceriler üzerinden açıklanmasının sınırlı kalabileceğine ve sosyal ağ yapıları, yerleşme niyetleri ve göç bağlamı tarafından şekillenen ilişkisel bir pratik olarak ele alınmasının daha açıklayıcı olabileceğine işaret etmektedir. Bu çalışma, Malta bağlamından hareketle KİY'nin yapısal ve ilişkisel boyutlarını görünür kılarak KİY literatüründeki mevcut tartışmalara katkıda bulunmaktadır.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Mallia, Megan Vassallo, Louiselle Mallia, Ġorġ https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147838 2026-07-07T05:35:45Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Monitoring media pluralism in the European Union : results of the MPM2026. Country report : Malta Authors: Mallia, Megan; Vassallo, Louiselle; Mallia, Ġorġ Abstract: This report presents the results of the implementation of the Media Pluralism Monitor in Malta for the year 2025 (MPM2026). The MPM is a holistic tool aimed at assessing the risk to media pluralism in the EU member states and candidate countries. It considers legal, political, and economic variables relevant for analyzing the levels of media pluralism in a democratic society. The Media Pluralism Monitor has been implemented annually by the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom since 2013/2014.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147396 2026-06-15T08:45:08Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: A visual exploration of cultural identity and belonging in Malta Abstract: This research offers an insight into cultural identity and sense of belonging of Malta’s inhabitants through photography, and public engagement. The practical project investigates how visual storytelling and individual experiences contribute to the understanding of cultural identity. Data has been collected through qualitative interviews and a dedicated Instagram account, @portraitsofmalta. Photographs captured as part of the practical segment of this research were shared on the aforementioned Instagram account. Public polls were created to encourage reflection on cultural identity and sense of belonging and allowed the researcher to gather further insights on the subject in question. Ultimately, this study demonstrates how photography and social media are powerful tools for capturing and understanding cultural identity in Malta’s increasingly diverse community. Description: B.Comms. (Hons)(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147395 2026-06-15T08:43:48Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Communication through a combination of art and poetry Abstract: This project dissertation investigates how the combination of visual art and poetry can enhance communication and emotional expression. Motivated by my personal passion for both painting and writing, the research aims to demonstrate that pairing these two artistic forms creates a powerful and clear communicative experience. The study begins with a literature review that examines the dynamic relationship between poetry and visual art, including the psychological and cognitive effects of imagery, colour, and nonverbal cues. It explores the concept of ekphrastic poetry – where poets respond to visual art – and the narrative power of illustration, drawing on works by key scholars and examples from notable artists and poets. The practical component consists of a creative project: a book pairing original paintings with thematically linked poems, reflecting personal experiences and emotions. This is supplemented by interviews with local artists working at the intersection of art and poetry, whose insights enrich the understanding of the creative process. A reflective journal documents the evolution of the project, detailing inspirations, techniques, and challenges encountered. Findings from the research and inferences of the project suggest that the interplay between visual and verbal media deepens audience engagement, clarifies meaning, and evokes stronger emotional responses. The dissertation concludes that integrating art and poetry not only enhances the communicative power of each medium but also fosters richer, more immersive experiences for both creator and viewer. This project-led inquiry highlights the value of interdisciplinary approaches in contemporary artistic expression. Description: B.Comms. (Hons)(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z