Launch of the MITLA Prize for Innovation in IT Law

The Faculty of Laws is delighted to announce the launch of the MITLA Prize for Innovation in IT Law Dissertation, a new annual award established through an initiative of Prof. Mireille M. Sant, Head of the Department of Media, Communications & Technology Law (within the Faculty of Laws), in collaboration with the Malta IT Law Association (MITLA).

The prize will recognise exceptional student research in the field of information technology law, highlighting work that demonstrates originality, creativity, and forward-looking analysis. Rather than being limited to the dissertation with the highest mark, the award will honour the piece of research that, in the judgment of the selection board, makes the most significant and imaginative contribution to our understanding of how law interacts with technology.

The first edition of the prize will be awarded for the best LL.B. dissertation submitted during the 2025/26 academic year. It is expected to become a yearly feature of the Faculty’s Dean’s Awards ceremony, celebrating innovative scholarship in one of the most dynamic and fast-developing areas of law.

Prof. Mireille M. Sant explained that “this prize was conceived as a way of encouraging students to engage more deeply with the challenges technological developments pose for the law. It aims to reward not just academic rigour but also originality and imagination, qualities that are essential in shaping the future of IT law.”

Dr Antonio Ghio, President of MITLA, added that “MITLA is proud to support and recognise fresh academic thinking in this rapidly evolving area of law. By rewarding original research, we hope to strengthen the link between academia and the professional community.”

This initiative reflects the Department’s ongoing commitment to promoting IT law as a vital field of legal education and research, encouraging students to engage critically with emerging issues at the intersection of law, technology, and society. It also represents an important collaboration with MITLA, the leading national body dedicated to advancing understanding and best practice in technology law.

The Faculty warmly thanks Dr Antonio Ghio (President) and Dr Gege Gatt (Vice President) of MITLA for their vision and support in helping establish this prize, which aims to inspire the next generation of legal thinkers shaping Malta’s digital future.