The University of Malta traces its origins to the founding of the Collegium Melitense by the Jesuits in 1592. The College was raised to University status by Grand Master Manoel Pinto de Fonseca in 1769. Situated at Msida, it is the highest teaching institution of the State by which it is mainly financed and is open to all those who have the requisite qualifications.
Over the past few years, the University has reviewed its structures in order to be in line with the Bologna Process. Conscious of its public role, the University strives to create courses which are relevant and timely in response to the national, regional and international needs. The supreme governing bodies of the University are the Council and the Senate. There are over 11,000 students including over 1000 foreign/exchange students from nearly 84 different countries, following full-time or part-time degree and diploma courses.
The University has been involved as coordinator and partner in numerous externally funded and EU-funded projects including Horizon 2020, Framework Programme, Lifelong Learning Programme, Erasmus+, Tempus and various other international and regional programmes and initiatives. The University is also represented in a number of European and international University networks and groups.
The Institute of Ethics was established in September 2008 with the mission to create ethical awareness in relation to all fields of the university´s activities and to play a leading role in raising public awareness of, and stimulating debate about, ethical issues. The Institute’s staff is committed to creating a community of scholars able to engage with professionals working in the private and public sectors, as well as with researchers from other academic disciplines to promote a systematic approach to applied ethics in various fields–including business, technology, politics, media, healthcare and the life sciences.
The Director of the Institute of Ethics is Professor Bert Gordijn. He has studied Philosophy and History in Utrecht, Strasbourg and Freiburg in Breisgau. In 1995 he was awarded a doctorate in Philosophy from the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, followed by a doctorate in Bioethics from the Radboud University Nijmegen in 2003. Bert has been a Visiting Professor at Lancaster University (UK), Georgetown University (USA), the National University of Singapore and the Fondation Brocher (Switzerland). He has served on Advisory Panels and Expert Committees of the European Chemical Industry Council, the European Patent Organisation, the Irish Department of Health and UNESCO. Bert is Editor-in-Chief of two book series: "The International Library of Ethics, Law and Technology" and "Advances in Global Bioethics" as well as a peer reviewed journal: "Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy", all published by Springer. He is Secretary of the European Society for Philosophy of Medicine and Healthcare and President-Elect of the International Association of Education in Ethics.
Bosshard G., Broeckaert B., Clark D., Materstvedt L.J., Gordijn B. & Müller-Busch H.C., ‘A Role for Doctors in Assisted Dying? An Analysis of Legal Regulations and Professional Positions in Six European Countries’, Journal of Medical Ethics 2008, 34, 28-32.
Gordijn, B. & Janssens, R., 'Euthanasia and Palliative Care in the Netherlands. An Analysis of the Latest Developments', Health Care Analysis 12(3), 2004, 195-207.
Gordijn, B., ‘Euthanasie und medizinisch assistierter Suizid. Die neuesten Entwicklungen in den Niederlanden’, Kritische Vierteljahreszeitschrift für Gesetzgebung und Rechtswissenschaft 84(4), 2001, 457-465.
Gordijn, B., ‘Freiwillige aktive Sterbehilfe in den Niederlanden. Von der Duldung zur gesetzlichen Regelung’, Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift 126(46), 2001, 1307-1309.
Gordijn, B. & Janssens, R., ‘New Developments in Dutch Legislation concerning Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide’, The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 26(3), 2001, 299-310.
Janssens, R. & Gordijn, B., ‘Clinical Trials in Palliative Care: an Ethical Evaluation’, Patient Education and Counseling 41(1), 2000, 55-62.
Gordijn, B. & Janssens, R., ‘The Prevention of Euthanasia through Palliative Care. New developments in the Netherlands’, Patient Education and Counseling 41(1), 2000, 35-46.
Janssens, R. & Gordijn, B., ‘Palliativmedizin in den Niederlanden’, Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift 123(14), 1998, 432-435.
Gordijn, B., 'Euthanasie: strafbar und doch zugestanden? Die niederländische Duldungspolitik in Sachen Euthanasie', Ethik in der Medizin 10(1), 1998, 12-25.
Università degli Studi dell'Aquila
UNIVAQ considers the international cooperation fundamental for the full participation in the EHEA and ERA. The policy aiming to become a reference point for a globalised knowledge world for higher education and research allowed the cooperation with Universities from EU and Third Countries. The centralised “International Project Office” supports academic staff in preparing and managing projects and disseminates results and experiences to the University bodies. The office, in cooperation with IRO, implemented several International projects in the fields of education, research and cooperation (LLP, international degrees, EMA2, EMA1, TEMPUS, ESF, Italy-France, EC-Canada, Marie Curie, FPs, Life, Interreg IIIA,B,C, IVC, etc.). The internationalisation gave rise to 1 joint Bachelor and honour Bachelor degrees, 5 joint Master degrees, 1 Erasmus Mundus Master degree, 7 Erasmus Mundus Action 2 (Pakistan, Central Asia, South East Asia, Middle East and Balkans).
The university currently participates (as coordinator or partner) in several FP7 projects, 16 TEMPUS projects and hosts numerous international programmes financed by the EU and the Italian Ministries of Education and Foreign Affairs for both educational and research aims. In the framework of the cooperation projects and of more than 200 bilateral agreements with institutions from all over the world UNIVAQ hosts about 1000 international students from EU and Third Countries. Graduated are provided of a Diploma Supplement. UNIVAQ is developing a quality assessment procedure following the ENQA guidelines and standards.
UNIVAQ has a solid experience in managing transnational partnerships participating in several EU programmes as coordinator or partner in projects aiming to achieve the key objectives of Lisbon Strategy and Europe 2020.