Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono recently distributed certificates to 173 candidates who had followed courses at the University Gozo Centre between last December and July this year. The award ceremony was held in the central courtyard of the University Gozo Centre in Xewkija.
The following courses were offered: Word Processing and Spreadsheet for Office Work, The Challenges of Today's Families, Internet and Website Creation, Basis of Medicine, Communication Skills, Coping with Negative Emotions, and SAGE - the Accounting Package.
The courses were co-ordinated by Frank Tabone, Laner Cassar, Saviour Formosa, Professor Maurice Cauchi, Ruth Falzon, and Ivan Grixti.
The one-day seminars held were Portraits of the Self, Understanding Dyslexia and Maximising a Dyslexic Student's Potential, co-ordinated by Laner Cassar and Margaret Naudi Griffiths.
Minister Debono, commenting on the activities of the Gozo Centre, said that its partnership with the Gozo Ministry is bearing fruit. This year 26 students graduated with very good results after following courses at the University Gozo Centre, 21 obtained a BA and five obtained the B.Com degree.
She said that this is indeed a very impressive result and is clear evidence that the University Gozo Centre is making a very important contribution to Gozitan society. In October new degree courses are to be offered in addition to the BA, B.Com and MA options.
She was pleased to note that about 20 students have applied to join a master course in Gozo.
Referring to the short courses offered at the Centre, Mrs Debono expressed satisfaction that these courses are attracting participants from all walks of life and of different age groups.
Professor Lino Briguglio, who presided over the event, said that he was very pleased that so many students are seeing the need for further training and attending the courses offered by the Centre. This already shows that the Centre is filling a very important void.
Professor Briguglio said the Gozo Centre is now considering offering summer short courses for foreign students as part of what is to be called the Gozo Summer University. He thanked the Minister for Gozo and the University authorities for their continuous support of the Centre.