https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/692 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:46:40 GMT 2026-09-10T00:46:40Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148995 Title: From policy to practice : human resource development and diversity, equality and inclusion in a small island state Authors: Thake, Anne Marie; Cutajar, JosAnn Abstract: Problem: Organisations in Malta face growing pressure to implement diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) aligned with global and European standards. However, translating these norms into meaningful, context-sensitive practices within a small island state presents challenges. Tensions arise between formal compliance requirements and genuine inclusion when addressing intersectional inequalities related to gender, disability, nationality, and LGBTIQ + identities.; Solution: Using a qualitative approach based on interviews with HRD practitioners and black-letter analysis, this study shows how HRD actors include DEI into organisational development. Beyond formal policies on recruitment and pay equity, practitioners advance inclusive leadership development, mentoring, employee networks, and culture-building initiatives. Guided by institutional and paradox perspectives, these strategies balance regulatory compliance with transformative inclusion.; Stakeholders: Key stakeholders include HRD practitioners, organisational leaders, employees from diverse backgrounds, and policymakers shaping national and European equality frameworks. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148995 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148916 Title: How norms depend on the presence and status of observers : the relational contingency of everyday behaviors in 90 societies Authors: Simpson, Brent; Eriksson, Kimmo; Vartanova, Irina; Strimling, Pontus; Merchan Tamayo, J. Paola; Abdi, Khalid Ahmed; Ad, Neta; Aldashev, Alisher; Mohammad Ali, Habib; Aliyev, Khatai; Alrefaee, Yasser; Alvarado Ortiz, Alberth Estuardo; Andersson, Per A.; Andrighetto, Giulia; Arikan, Gizem; Aruta, John Jamir Benzon R.; Lutete Ayikwa, Christian; Baños-Chaparro, Jonatan; Barrera, Davide; Batkeyev, Birzhan; Batool, Azma; Berezina, Elizaveta; Bimina, Stéphanie Ngandu; Björnstjerna, Marie; Blumen, Sheyla; Boski, Paweł; Boštjančič, Eva; Boum II, Yap; Briguglio, Marie; Thu Bui, Huyen Thi; Caycho-Rodríguez, Tomás; Chen, Yanyan; Chiweshe, Manase Kudzai; Choi, HoonSeok; Contreras-Ibáñez, Carlos C.; Čorkalo, Dinka; Cruz-Torres, Christian E.; Czakó, Andrea; de Zoysa, Piyanjali; Demetrovics, Zsolt; Dinić, Bojana M.; Drače, Saša; El-Haddad, Rita W.; Engelmann, Jan B.; Pérez, Ignacio Escudero; Euh, Hyun; Fang, Xia; Frank, Celine; Freidin, Esteban; Fulop, Marta; Gamsakhurdia, Vladimer; García Jiménez, Mauro Alberto; Gardarsdottir, Ragna B.; Gavreliuc, Alin; Hugues D. Gill, Colin Mathew; Gjoneska, Biljana; Glöckner, Andreas; Graf, Sylvie; Grigoryan, Ani; Growiec, Katarzyna; Haas, Brian W.; Haddock, Geoffrey; Hadjisolomou, Stavros P.; Hadžiahmetović, Nina; Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Hosein Haji; Hakoköngäs, Eemeli; Halama, Peter; Hapunda, Given; Hartanto, Andree; Hazrati, Mahsa; Herbas-Torrico, Boris Christian; Holka, Szilárd; Hřebíčková, Martina; Hunter, John A.; Ibikounle, Moudachirou; Ilisko, Dzintra; Hjördísar Jónsdóttir, Harpa Lind; Kaminskiene, Zivile; Kapoor, Hansika; Kapović, Iva; Karim, Gassemi; Kawakami, Kerry; Khachatryan, Narine; Kirschner, Julian B.; Kiruja, Jonah; Kiyonari, Toko; Kohút, Michal; Kousar, Shazia; Krasniqi, Besnik; Landa-Blanco, Miguel; Landon, Barbara; Lep, Žan; Leslie, Lisa M.; Li, Yang; Liik, Kadi; Lin, Ming-Jen; Lobos Rivera, Marlon Elías; López-López, Wilson; Maloku, Edona; Mandal, Mohona; Manhique, Bernardo Ananias; Mbende, Nathan Mpeti; Mendes Teixeira, Maria Luisa; Mohammed, Linda Lila; Moore, Schontal N.; Moraligil, Bahar; Muradzada, Nijat; Nanda, Herwin; Nastina, Ekaterina; Nejat, Pegah; Nettle, Daniel; Nipassa, Orlando Julio Andre; Noe-Grijalva, Martin; Ntampaka, Pie; Ntone, Rodrigue; Nussinson, Ravit; Oljača, Milan; Onyedire, Nneoma G.; Onyishi, Ike E.; Panagiotopoulou, Penny; Parvez, Md. Shahin; Pasin, Gian Luca; Pedović, Ivana; Pérez de León, Pablo; Perez Floriano, Lorena R.; Persson, Minna; Pop-Jordanov, Nada; Portillo, Jose Roberto; Potang, Angela; Quesada-Román, Adolfo; Raver, Jana L.; Rodrigues, Ricardo B.; Rodríguez-Romero, Juan Diego; Romanò, Sara; Ross, Robert M.; Rosun, Nachita; Sadiković, Selka; San Martin, Alvaro; Smederevac, Snežana; Smith, Sarah Jane; Soboleva, Natalia; Sonessa, Daniel Erena; Stanley, Samantha K.; Stoyanova, Kristina; Stoyanov, Drozdstoy; Takemura, Kosuke; Thøgersen, John; Tiliouine, Habib; Tung, Hans; Ulambayar, Tungalag; Uzdavinyte, Elze Marija; Waechter, Randall; Wu, Junhui; Yambiyo, Brice Martial; Yankson, Eric; Yeh, Kuang-Hui; Van Lange, Paul A. M. Abstract: Norms are fundamental to social life, but basic questions about how they are affected by social context remain. Specifically, how do normative constraints depend on the presence and status of observers, and how do such relational contingencies vary across cultures? Using data from more than 25,000 individuals across 90 societies, we test several hypotheses linking normative constraints on everyday behaviors (like arguing, laughing, cursing, kissing, and crying), to the presence and status of observers. We find that behaviors widely viewed as appropriate in private become more constrained in the presence of others (an observer effect), and even more so when those others are higher in status (a status effect). Both observer and status effects are culturally universal, but the observer effect shows more variation across cultures. In particular, we find that observer effects are larger in societies that emphasize individualizing moral foundations, that is, avoiding harm and unfairness to others, because these societies are more permissive of actions when others are not around. The relative stability of status effects across cultural contexts suggests a universal tendency to defer in social hierarchies. These findings shed light on the relational contingency of everyday norms and underscore the role of such norms in the maintenance of social order and reproduction of inequality. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148916 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148874 Title: The rule of law in tax judgements of the ECtHR Authors: Attard, Robert Abstract: This chapter examines how the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) applies the principle of the rule of law to guard taxpayers against arbitrary state authority. It outlines how key components of the rule of law—such as requiring a solid legal basis in domestic law, determinacy, foreseeability, non-arbitrariness, non-discrimination, and access to judicial review—are interpreted through ECtHR case law to set standards for quality and fairness in national tax measures. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148874 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148863 Title: Filmat : “L-ippjanar urban għandu jiffoka fuq l-interess tan-nies" Abstract: Il-President tal-Kamra tal-Periti, André Pizzuto qal li huwa importanti li l-ippjanar urban jiffoka fuq l-interess tan-nies, u mhux l-interess personali. Dan qalu waqt il-programm Andrew on 103 waqt dibattitu li fih ipparteċipaw il-preżentatur Andrew Azzopardi, l-akkademika mill-Università ta’ Malta Dr Marie Briguglio, u l-artist u ambjentalist Steve Bonello. [silta] Tue, 01 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148863 2021-06-01T00:00:00Z