The Office for Professional Academic Development (OPAD) supports University of Malta (UM) academics at all stages of their careers by providing access to a wide range of professional development opportunities. Our aim is to foster academic excellence, enhance career satisfaction, and strengthen the UM academic community.

OPAD focuses on three interconnected streams of academic practice:

• Learning & Teaching – Enhancing pedagogy, exploring innovative approaches to student learning, and supporting holistic advising and mentoring.
• Research & Scholarship – Advancing research practice, fostering publishing success, and increasing scholarly impact.
• Service & Leadership – Building leadership capacity, supporting governance and committee work, and enabling meaningful contributions to academic and professional communities.

In addition, OPAD places importance on well-being by supporting academics in achieving a healthy work-life balance and nurturing positive professional relationships.

Through its programmes, workshops, and initiatives, OPAD fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration, builds community among academics, and connects individual academic growth to the University’s mission and strategic priorities. Our offerings are designed and delivered by UM colleagues, with occasional contributions from international experts to provide additional perspectives and expertise.

To achieve its goals, OPAD partners with:

• Deans, Directors and Head of Departments on departmental-specific academic development initiatives.
• Committees and administrative directorates on professional development initiatives targeting academics.

OPAD works closely with the Office for Human Resources Management & Development.

The Director of OPAD, Dr James Cilia, works with the OPAD Advisory Committee to pursue the OPAD’s mission and to prioritise programmes and services.

As OPAD continues to grow, its services and activities are evolving to meet the needs of UM academics. We welcome feedback and suggestions on how OPAD can best support your professional development. Please contact us at opad@um.edu.mt.