https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/7940 Sat, 11 Apr 2026 10:30:13 GMT 2026-04-11T10:30:13Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/99267 Title: Government's investment in childcare centres : the financial impact on the related stakeholders Abstract: The necessity for Government to supply childcare facilities emerged from the continuous pressure of local and foreign institutions to increase the female employment rate of Malta and kick off the economy. During these past years, the government has been investing millions of public funds in the opening of childcare centres in order to assist families to juggle their work and family commitments. However, the objective of this study is to go deeper than that and discover if this financial investment is paying off for the government being the service provider. It is the scope of this study to find out if this provision of childcare is leaving the desired impact, not only on the state but also on the families, the service users. Hence, the research took off by analysing the extent of the demand received by the government before and after the enactment of the childcare centres. This study proceeds with an evaluation of other states' family policies in regards of childcare and the extent of influence they have on the families' lifestyles. Consequently, with the intention to get the holistic opinions and views of all service users, families were presented with questionnaires that helped to identify various concerns. In order to obtain more information about the childcare provision and to clear some disputes that emerged from the feedback of the parents, a face to face, semi-structured interview was conducted with the senior official at the Foundation of Educational Studies, the foundation entrusted by the government to manage these childcare centres. Ultimately, the research came to an end by yielding a set of conclusions and recommendations that counter satisfactorily the uncertainties that instigated this study. Description: H.DIP.ACCTY.&FIN. Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/99267 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/83685 Title: A public policy analysis of Malta's responses to low cost airlines Abstract: In 2006, the Maltese government undertook the controversial step of giving incentives to low cost airlines (LCA) to increase their activity to and from the island. The over arching objective of this study is to conduct a public policy analysis of Malta's responses to LCA. The policy-making process is analysed by using the five step 'stagist' model. The study sheds light on the power struggles present amongst stakeholders, the influence they had on setting the agenda and policy direction, government's strategy to manage conflict and the decision making tools used by government to make the best choice amongst alternatives. The study is aimed at making tentative conclusions on which theory of political behavior is mostly reflected by this policy. The policy analysis is undertaken by: collecting secondary data namely through content analysis of policy documents, newspaper articles and legal notices; and a primary study based on conducting semi structured interviews with key stakeholders. The key findings of this policy show that: the Malta Tourism Authority undertook a rationalistic approach in analyzing the alternatives during the policy formulation stage; however one cannot say that the process followed a rational top down approach to policymaking as powerful stakeholders played a key role in influencing agenda setting and the policy direction; The Malta Hotels and Restaurant Association (MHRA) had the power to initiate the process by placing the issue on public agenda; through pressure from Air Malta and a particular Minister the policy decision was one of no action for around two years; stakeholders agree that one of the reasons, the policy in favour of giving incentives to LCA was adopted, was through increased pressure from MHRA; Air Malta believes that after the policy was implemented, the airline was weakened so much that it no longer occupies a key role in tourism development in Malta. Findings also show that stakeholders were not operating on the same level playing field in policy-making; the Gozo Tourism Association (GTA) did not have the financial resources to conduct a study to prove its argument against LCA due to its impact on domestic travel and to this day feels that its voice has not been heard. Through the findings one can conclude that the policy process reflects the game theory of policy-making. I believe that this will not generate effective policies and hence more importance can be given to collaborative planning, where stakeholders build a rapport based on trust and sharing of resources to ultimately reach a common goal and collectively reap the benefits. Description: B.COM.(HONS)PUBLIC POLICY Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/83685 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/83615 Title: Creativity and innovation in Maltese local councils Abstract: Local governance is an important democratic tool which helps governments to implement their strategies and policies. Maltese Local Councils are no exception. This study revolves around the issues of creativity and innovation in such councils which are adopted to improve efficiency and effectiveness. This study aims at giving a better understanding of how Maltese Local Councils operate within a set of rules that define their framework; and how they make best use of it to enhance their functioning. Among the subjects treated in this study are: the accumulation of financial resources in order to buy innovation; the human resource as an enabler; the fostering of new ideas; methods of communication and the use of new technology; and the procurement process. Interaction with the private sector is also studied. Based on the findings of the study a set of thirteen recommendations for improvement are given. Description: B.COM.(HONS)PUBLIC POLICY Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/83615 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/73319 Title: The images of the Maltese state as projected through value for money audits undertaken by the Malta National Audit Office Abstract: Value for Money Audits, have been carried out by the Malta National Audit office since the year 2000. Up to the end of 2012 forty-one VFM reports were issued on diverse topics covering most of the activities undertaken by the state and making recommendations in order to improve the effectiveness of these activities. The scope of this study was to use these forty-one reports in order to draw an image of the Maltese state through their analysis. Each of the reports was studied in detail and the prevailing images of the state were extracted and documented in a grid. The grid was then used in order to assess which of the images of the state are the most prevalent in the Maltese state. The most prevalent traditional images were those of Sovereignty and Paternalism. This study delved in detail into each of the individual images using the VFM audit reports as a basis. In the concluding chapter then, an overall image of the state was extracted. As a result of this study, two new images of the state were coined. These were found in the majority of VFM reports reviewed. One of these images, lniquia Parens, depicts the state as an unfair parent that treats the children showing most respect in a manner worst than it treats its disrespectful children. The second image that transpired through this study was that of the bad planning with which the state undertakes its activities. Description: M.A.PUBLIC POLICY Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/73319 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z