https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/142959 Wed, 27 May 2026 15:50:12 GMT 2026-05-27T15:50:12Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143082 Title: Dedication and commitment to the public services [Foreword] Abstract: Keith Bartolo currently holds the position of principal at the Institute for the Public Services. He strongly believes in fostering a culture of training and development within the public service sector. He believes that training is an essential part of ensuring the success of our public service, and he is committed to providing employees with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their roles. Furthermore, Mr. Bartolo encourages all employees to engage in the training and development programmes and work collaboratively to create an innovative, creative, diverse, and inclusive public service. [excerpt] Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143082 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143080 Title: Greening the public service.....a noble delusion or an achievable milestone? Authors: Deidun, Alan Abstract: The dire need to address pressing environmental challenges. notably the climate change and biodiversity loss ones, amongst others, has led to the introduction of increasingly ambitious targets and to even more strident political commitments. Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143080 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143078 Title: How Baroque architecture can effectively be of interest on a national scale and how the public service can be instrumental to achieve the ultimate aim of promoting it Authors: De Lucca, Denis Abstract: On the recommendation of the academic Senate of the University of Malta, the Council of this university, at its meeting of 28 September 2023 approved the setting up of a new department within the University of Malta whereby the former International Institute for Baroque Studies at the same university has now been incorporated within the Faculty for Built Environment of the same university and has been renamed the Department of History of Architecture. Besides inheriting the teaching and research in Baroque studies that, since 1996, had been the responsibility of the former International Institute or Baroque Studies, the new department at the university of Malta will be ultimately tasked with disseminating knowledge about the overall history of the European architectural heritage of mankind with particular reference to the origins and sequential development of architectural scenarios in the Maltese islands during the two golden ages of their manifestation - Prehistory and Baroque, the latter coinciding with the period of the rule of the Hospitaller Order of St John then known as the Sacra Religione Militare di Malta (Dal Pozzo, 1703- 1715) when the building of Valletta created the right environment for a rich urban setting for the mushrooming of several Baroque buildings and art collections with a marked concentration in unique specimens of architecture such as the Conventual church of St John the Baptist and the Magisterial Palace of Grand Masters drawn from the most influential noble houses of Baroque Europe (Bonello et al., 2018; De Lucca, 2004). [excerpt] Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143078 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143057 Title: Major determinants of effectiveness in the composition of public sector boards of directors : a Maltese viewpoint Authors: Baldacchino, Peter J. Abstract: As is the case with all listed entities, good corporate governance (CG) practices within public sector entities (PSEs) are essential for such entities to attain long-term growth (Kaufmann et al., 2005). In this connection, Matei and Drumasu (201 5) also emphasize the significance of such practices in PSEs for achieving success and thus preventing considerable losses being unfairly borne by the taxpayers. The purpose of this article is to discuss one important aspect of these practices, that is, the effective composition of PSE Boards of Directors ("Boards"). It overviews some of the Board diversity major determinants of such composition effectiveness based mostly on recent research studies in which the author has been involved relating both to those entities listed on the Maltese Stock Exchange (MLEs) and to Maltese PSEs (MPS£s). The latter consist of entities which are directly or indirectly controlled by the Maltese government, and which are established under the Companies Act (Cap. 386 of the Laws of Malta). The determinants to be included are Board diversity, Board independence and mix, Board size and the links between the Chairperson and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). [excerpt] Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143057 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z