The big warm-up
Last Wednesday the University Chaplaincy organised a meeting for freshers at the chapel of St Thomas More next to the Old University Gate. During the first part of the meeting, the students were split up according to faculty for an informal 45-minute...
Last Wednesday the University Chaplaincy organised a meeting for freshers at the chapel of St Thomas More next to the Old University Gate. During the first part of the meeting, the students were split up according to faculty for an informal 45-minute get-together to discuss Campus life. I headed off with the Bachelor of Arts group to a room in the chaplaincy where second-year BA (Hons) undergraduates Samuela Galea and Monica Micallef created a warm atmosphere with some lively introductions and plenty of first-hand advice.
A hand-out was given to help students understand the credit system. The second-year students explained some technicalities of the credit system which, at first glance, can be quite daunting given the time frames within which a substantial number of credits must be tackled. Ms Galea and Ms Micallef sought to reassure students that the workload is manageable given the right attitude. They emphasised that it is possible to make the most of extra-curricular opportunities and keep up with academic work so long as you manage time wisely and enjoy what you are doing.
Success is, more than anything, a question of mastering a love of learning. Once you truly start appreciating the beauty of knowledge for knowledge's sake, things start falling into place. You see links between distant subjects as you immerse yourself in your chosen areas. There will be the occasional unit with which you can't be too bothered but, for the most part, classes and the work that goes with them should not be seen as a chore. On this high note, we headed back to the chapel. There the recently-launched Degree Plus Programme for first-year students was explained, with a special emphasis on the Voluntary Work option, by which students are awarded for units of an alternative nature.
Students may participate in this programme by, for example, opting to give 20 hours of their time to voluntary work. A student may choose to contribute in projects focusing on one of the following groups: Children, refugees, persons with special needs, elderly or young people. The environment is also an option. Other areas in the Degree Plus Programme include culture and heritage, entrepreneurship, special language courses and information and communication technology. The programme captures the spirit of learning in a wider sense than we are traditionally used to with its emphasis on character formation. This happens by means of exposure to actual and created settings, an experience which sharpens both practical skills and insight in the aforementioned areas. Interested students may visit www.um.edu.mt/degreeplus for further information.
Freshers' Week, running from October 1-5, will see a number of stands on campus in a bid to introduce students to the diversity they may take advantage of during their years at University. The relaxed atmosphere is guaranteed to make freshers feel at home. Ms Galea and Ms Micallef, for example, will be at the MKSU - the University Students Catholic Movement - stand, as will members of the many other organisations which make our University even more dynamic both on and off campus. A mixture of meetings, doing the rounds and getting to know people is a pleasant way to settle in as comfortably as possible.
As I left, I recalled the words of a fresher who said that university is about meeting people your age, people older and people younger and coming away with something valuable from each and every one of them. It was an echo of my son's enthusiasm earlier that afternoon following his first day in Grade Two. I had gone to the Freshers' Meeting expecting to feel out of place. Instead I got to know some great people who were thrilled at the prospect of higher learning. For someone who entered a more compact University, a few years after the Numerus Clausus system was abolished, the new reality is amazing. It augurs well for our country.
Tips for Freshers
• Explore University premises during Freshers' Week so you won't get lost on your way to a lecture and turn up terribly late.
• Check the timetable frequently so you are aware of any last-minute changes.
• Choose your credit units with care; if you are unsatisfied with your choices, there is the (limited time) add and drop option.
• Do not be afraid to approach lecturers; if you are willing to learn, they are willing to be of assistance.
• Make use of University Library Orientation Tours; the Head of Reader services informed me about a number of other opportunities in which students may learn how to best use the resources available. These include the course-related tours which are offered throughout the academic year.
• Manage time wisely; the first semester will be relatively slow to take off but things will pick up dramatically during the second semester. There is no time to lose.
• Take a photo of your happy self next Monday and stick it to the wall with a large "Keep Your Enthusiasm" scribbled next to it!
A hand-out was given to help students understand the credit system. The second-year students explained some technicalities of the credit system which, at first glance, can be quite daunting given the time frames within which a substantial number of credits must be tackled. Ms Galea and Ms Micallef sought to reassure students that the workload is manageable given the right attitude. They emphasised that it is possible to make the most of extra-curricular opportunities and keep up with academic work so long as you manage time wisely and enjoy what you are doing.
Success is, more than anything, a question of mastering a love of learning. Once you truly start appreciating the beauty of knowledge for knowledge's sake, things start falling into place. You see links between distant subjects as you immerse yourself in your chosen areas. There will be the occasional unit with which you can't be too bothered but, for the most part, classes and the work that goes with them should not be seen as a chore. On this high note, we headed back to the chapel. There the recently-launched Degree Plus Programme for first-year students was explained, with a special emphasis on the Voluntary Work option, by which students are awarded for units of an alternative nature.
Students may participate in this programme by, for example, opting to give 20 hours of their time to voluntary work. A student may choose to contribute in projects focusing on one of the following groups: Children, refugees, persons with special needs, elderly or young people. The environment is also an option. Other areas in the Degree Plus Programme include culture and heritage, entrepreneurship, special language courses and information and communication technology. The programme captures the spirit of learning in a wider sense than we are traditionally used to with its emphasis on character formation. This happens by means of exposure to actual and created settings, an experience which sharpens both practical skills and insight in the aforementioned areas. Interested students may visit www.um.edu.mt/degreeplus for further information.
Freshers' Week, running from October 1-5, will see a number of stands on campus in a bid to introduce students to the diversity they may take advantage of during their years at University. The relaxed atmosphere is guaranteed to make freshers feel at home. Ms Galea and Ms Micallef, for example, will be at the MKSU - the University Students Catholic Movement - stand, as will members of the many other organisations which make our University even more dynamic both on and off campus. A mixture of meetings, doing the rounds and getting to know people is a pleasant way to settle in as comfortably as possible.
As I left, I recalled the words of a fresher who said that university is about meeting people your age, people older and people younger and coming away with something valuable from each and every one of them. It was an echo of my son's enthusiasm earlier that afternoon following his first day in Grade Two. I had gone to the Freshers' Meeting expecting to feel out of place. Instead I got to know some great people who were thrilled at the prospect of higher learning. For someone who entered a more compact University, a few years after the Numerus Clausus system was abolished, the new reality is amazing. It augurs well for our country.
Tips for Freshers
• Explore University premises during Freshers' Week so you won't get lost on your way to a lecture and turn up terribly late.
• Check the timetable frequently so you are aware of any last-minute changes.
• Choose your credit units with care; if you are unsatisfied with your choices, there is the (limited time) add and drop option.
• Do not be afraid to approach lecturers; if you are willing to learn, they are willing to be of assistance.
• Make use of University Library Orientation Tours; the Head of Reader services informed me about a number of other opportunities in which students may learn how to best use the resources available. These include the course-related tours which are offered throughout the academic year.
• Manage time wisely; the first semester will be relatively slow to take off but things will pick up dramatically during the second semester. There is no time to lose.
• Take a photo of your happy self next Monday and stick it to the wall with a large "Keep Your Enthusiasm" scribbled next to it!