New Department of German at university

The University of Malta is now in a position to offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the German language, following the setting up of a Department for German, bringing the language at par with other languages such as Italian and French.

University Rector Juanito Camilleri explained that until now the university could only offer the BA (General) in German Studies because of a small nucleus of part-time staff within the Faculty of Arts who had to provide services to students registered for German with the Faculty of Education.

In view of these limitations and the lack of full-time staff, the Faculty of Arts was not in a position to offer an Honours Degree or any post-graduate degrees in German.

Following a decision of the University Senate for the setting up of a Department of German in October last year and the employment of one full-time lecturer, the university made contacts with the German Academic Exchange Services (DAAD) which is supporting the employment of a second full-timer. It also committed itself to support the department through exchange visits and through the provision of technical materials.

Speaking at the launch of the department, Prof. Camilleri said it will now provide teaching at undergraduate and post-graduate levels and basic language courses in German within the DegreePlus programme. He said 10 students will be starting an MA German course in the forthcoming academic year. Prof. Camilleri expressed his hope that this would be just the first step in a lasting relationship between DAAD and the University of Malta.

Also present at the launch was Gunter Gloser, the German Minister of State for Europe at the Federal Foreign Office. He said education was the tool to increase prospects and multilingualism opened horizons, making the European Union's future viable.

The German minister will this morning meet Foreign Minister Tonio Borg.