University role in Valletta renaissance

"The University should dedicate time and energy towards the success of the Valletta project"

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has now promised to regenerate Valletta. The University must not miss the opportunity this presents for the Faculty of Architecture and its students to strongly contribute to, and gain from, such a magnificent step.

The University is rightly proud to have a distinguished Faculty of Architecture. Its academics are interested in both baroque and modern architecture. These characteristics could certainly contribute to the Piano plans of combining a modern approach to Valletta's baroque environment. The faculty is not lacking in culture either.

The University is also fortunate to have a premises in the midst of the city, which is being actively developed not only as a structure but also as a living environment.

Rector Juanito Camilleri is to be commended for his initiative to once again start awarding certain degrees at the University church in Valletta. The ceremonies were impeccably planned and reflected both the dignity of the University and the occasion as well as the stature of Valletta. This is an example of how functions that benefit the University and Valletta should be organised.

The initiative should perhaps be extended so that the graduation ceremony at Valletta would also include other professions rather than restrict it to medical and legal graduands and postgraduate degrees. However, this consideration should in no way diminish the excellent idea to start using the University church once again for graduation ceremonies held at Valletta.

The University should now fully back the Prime Minister by dedicating time and energy towards the success of the Valletta project. Its contribution to art and culture and moreover architectural development should not be restricted by the pressing problems the University is facing such as the mammoth task of establishing an ICT teaching and research centre of excellence or meeting the huge expenditure needed to upgrade University facilities in general.

The University needs to take the lead and encourage the Prime Minister to get things moving as fast as possible. Students, especially those of architecture, must be vociferous participants and supporters. It could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of participating in Piano's work.

The University's prestige would be enhanced if the acclaimed Piano could be involved to the extent possible in its teaching and research activities. Richard England could also perhaps be invited to play a more visible role in his association with the University and with other architecture professors and lecturers.

Professors and lecturers at the faculty, who have demonstrated expertise time and again and who have also sometimes been perhaps too severely criticised, now have a golden opportunity to prove their worth, even if only by evaluating the salient points of development. They may certainly contribute by explaining in layman's terms in the media the reasons and arguments behind building certain structures.

Other University staff and students may also contribute by planning ahead the city's logistical needs so that there may be as little inconvenience as possible while the actual building works are in progress.

Although such a development should not alienate the University from its current areas of excellence, it should attract contributions from other faculties in addition to that of architecture.

The Valletta project should cater for training and educational needs of those taking up a career in the arts, museums, archaeology, music, entertainment and in other areas. The project must be planned to serve as places for student placements and be the 'laboratories' for the departments of archaeology and history, and University institutes such as the Mediterranean Institute and its various units, not least music studies.

The Faculty of Engineering and the Centre for Communication Technology should also take up an active interest and participation. The list of potential beneficiaries could go on.

The Valletta project should take into consideration the need for the University to have training grounds for its students. One should not repeat the mistake committed at Mater Dei Hospital where educational needs were only inserted in the hospital structure as an afterthought.