https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/110694 Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:21:23 GMT 2026-04-07T19:21:23Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/110823 Title: Shaping perceptions : investigating employer branding, intention to join and the mediating effects of anticipatory psychological contract Authors: Haber, Romina Abstract: As a micro‑state in the European Union, Malta has seen a drastic change in its labour market in recent years. Malta has seen an increase in the availability of work with as many as 25 new companies being registered on a daily basis (Anastasi, 2019). Employment rates have shot up, particularly amongst females (National Statistics Office, 2018). Furthermore, the amount of foreign nationals working in Malta has reached 44,564 persons at the end of 2017 when compared with a mere 4,000 workers in 2002 (Jobsplus, 2017). However, this has not been enough to fulfil the overwhelming demand for employees. Faced with such fierce competition, employers need to resort to ways which can secure the best talent available. One such way is to invest in good employer branding. Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/110823 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/110822 Title: Towards the prevention of obesity : an experimental study to shape policy decisions Authors: Vassallo, Liberata Abstract: Over the years, Malta underwent, and is still undergoing, changes in its cultural and behavioural attitudes. This transformation is reflected in popular lifestyle and a shift from a Mediterranean to a Western diet. Technological advances have led to a more sedentary lifestyle. These changes have led to an increase in obesity among the Maltese, rendering Malta the most obese nation in the European Union (Cuschieri et al., 2016). Maltese men placed in the second place at 66.8%, while Maltese women placed first at 55.2% (Eurostat, 2019). Fri, 01 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/110822 2022-07-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/110821 Title: Using evidence-based management in practice : a case study on the pricing and reimbursements of medicines Authors: Vella Bonanno, Patricia Abstract: In the last twenty-five years, there were several initiatives for European Member State (MS) collaboration for pricing and reimbursement. Initially, these were driven by the MSs, were voluntary, lacked coordination between them, and were not systematic (World Health Organisation [WHO] 2015). Council Conclusions of different Presidencies of the Council of the European Union supported MS-driven voluntary cooperation on health technology assessment (HTA) (Council of the European Union, 2016; Council of the European Union, 2017). Pricing and reimbursement authorities of most MSs collaborated within the ‘European Network for Health Technology Assessment’ (EUnetHTA) (EUnetHTA, 2018); however, difficulties were experienced with implementation (European Commission, 2016). In 2018, the European Commission came up with a legislative proposal: ‘Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on health technology assessment and amending Directive 2011/24/ EU’ (European Commission, 2018). In parallel, initiatives for the development of ‘regional cooperations’ within groups of MSs had started, and Malta was signatory of the Valletta Declaration. Fri, 01 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/110821 2022-07-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/110820 Title: “The effectiveness of online training courses at the Institute for Public Services : benefits and limitations” Authors: Gouder, Joanne Abstract: Although the Public Service had been exploring new and innovative ways of improving employee training since the early 2000s, which also included a gradual shift from traditional classroom-based to online tuition at the Centre for the Development of Research and Training—today known as the Institute for the Public Services—the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 necessitated the immediate shift to online tuition in order for the IPS to continue delivering its training services effectively to public officers. This was also the time when a substantial number of public officers were working from home. Notwithstanding its many benefits, online learning has presented both the Public Service management and the benefitting public officers with various challenges. Fri, 01 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/110820 2022-07-01T00:00:00Z