https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/76451 2026-04-04T15:52:38Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/78724 Title: Societas.Expert : issue 2 Abstract: The faculty for social wellbeing research magazine for academics, students, alumni, stakeholders and the general public in collaboration with corporate dispatch.; 1/ Editorial - Andrew Azzopardi & Jesmond Saliba -- 2/ Introduction - Pat Bonello -- 3/ Between a rock and a sea - Andrew Camilleri -- 4/ Becoming community - a posthuman perspective - Joanne Cassar -- 5/ The new eta in social welfare regulation - Matthew Vella -- 6/ Community involvement the gift that keeps on giving! - Catherine Smith -- 7/ The essence of dialogue - Maria Pisani -- 8/ The war that made 'me or not' just another face in the crowd - Janice Formosa Pace -- 9/ Community engagement and organisational psychology - Katya De Giovanni -- 10/ Voluntary work, my identity and the COVID-19 experience - Ruth Falzon -- 11/ Working with person with intellectual disability through self-advocacy - Anne-Marie Callus-- 12/ Against the odds - Maris Catania -- 13/ The benefits of participatory action research in community development - Jamie Bonnici -- 14/ Economics, end-games & engagement - Marie Briguglio -- 15/ My experience of community engagement - Claudia Psaila -- 16/ The embalmed 10,000 - Andrew Azzopardi -- 17/ The new normal - Pat Bonello -- 18/ The demise of social theory and the 'promise' of sociology - Albert Bell 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/78723 Title: Editorial : not just another face in the crowd! Abstract: Following the successful publication of the first edition of societas.expert we are now in a position to submit the second edition, with possibly a third in the coming months. 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/78722 Title: Introduction Abstract: The Faculty for Social Wellbeing, besides being an essential institution within the University of Malta, is also a Faculty which has a strong sense of community belonging, “a sense of membership and mutual concern that enables needs to be met” (Leviten-Reid et al., 2020, p. 18). In the case of the Faculty, perhaps differently from other Faculties, the sense of belonging and solidarity is with persons who are among the most vulnerable members of society. Faculty members - whether academics, students or administrative staff – are aware of their connection and commitment to others which “has been found to foster citizen participation, collective action, and civic engagement” (Leviten-Reid et al., 2020, p. 18). Within the Faculty, these three elements abound but are not always visible or acknowledged, and much less advertised. Although the concept of not blowing your own trumpet is one to be lauded, bringing community engagement into the spotlight, as this magazine sets out to do, has a number of advantages. First of all, it can highlight the connection between the Faculty and its stakeholders, including service users, who are, ultimately, the beneficiaries of the Faculty’s operations. Through the various community engagement initiatives of its members, the Faculty allows its stakeholders to drive its operations and make them relevant to society and its wellbeing. Secondly, knowing about community engagement initiatives can encourage more community engagement and make this the declared norm within the Faculty. In this way, alongside teaching/learning and research, being engaged in the community could be acknowledged as the third arm of University life. The third advantage is that, through this magazine, the contributors will have the opportunity to create awareness about their particular involvement in the community. This could be seen as a form of advocacy and will raise the profile of the Faculty in being attuned to societal needs. It could also provide faculty members with points of reference and information about areas where they lack expertise. 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/78721 Title: Between a rock and a sea Abstract: A deep furrowed brow. Something was troubling my friend studying in the UK while discharging his weekly priestly duties in his local parish. He had been informed that the last flight coming to Malta would leave the following week. His choice: stick it out with his flock with the risk that if he were to be sick and things take a turn for the worse, he would die alone away from his family and friends, or come back to Malta and serve his parish in exile while finishing his studies here. A tough choice; he came back. 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z