University year opens - Rector lists progress

University Rector Prof Juanito Camilleri this morning reviewed progress being made by the University as he welcomed students to a new academic year.

In an address following Mass, the Rector said that the theme he chose for this year highlighted the need for Malta to remember the crucial role the University of Malta has played through history to make this country what it is, "but more importantly it invites us all to commit unreservedly and wholeheartedly to this institution to ensure that it retains its position at the heart of the social and economic development of Malta in its European, Mediterranean, and global context," Professor Juanito Camilleri added.

The Rector said that in the past year the University made significant steps forward to strengthen its research infrastructure. An agreement had been reached with academic staff, which provided a framework to encourage individual research but which also allowed for the creation of a corporate research programme, in response to the needs of industry and the country at large, as well as to exploit opportunities for collaboration with European and global counterparts.

INFRASTRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS

Prof. Camilleri said that the University managed to secure in excess of €20 million for the purchase of equipment to strengthen the facilities for research mainly in the fields of medicine, science and engineering.

A €50 million investment by the government and the European Union covered infrastructural projects that had already started and that would continue over the next two years.

He said that excavation work for the building of the Computer Services Centre and for the Faculty of ICT was complete and the construction phase would start soon.

The extensive work on the library facade was almost complete and work was now being carried out on the construction of the new main data centre next to carpark 5. This would ensure continued operations and safeguard data, resources and research should a major fault develop. In the meantime, work on the Junior College expansion continued at a steady pace.

Another project consisting of the building of an integrated administrative information system started a few months ago. This would help ensure better and more efficient use of resources, and a better quality of service to students and academics by the University.

An office for Corporate Research and Technology Transfer was set up and a director recruited to help the University build the administrative capacity to manage its corporate research portfolio and to exploit it and disseminate it as broadly as possible.

The Rector said that the University was continuing to forge international collaborations, mainly through participation in European Framework and Interregional programmes.

"The University of Malta must continue to identify strategic partners of repute," he added, "I am pleased to announce the launch of two dual International Masters Programmes which have commenced classes at our Valletta campus. The first, in tandem with James Madison University, is on Sustainable Environmental Resource Management. The second, in tandem with San Diego State University, is on Integrated Marketing Communications," he said.

NEW MASTERS PROGRAMMES

Prof. Camilleri said the University was also in advanced stages of preparation to launch another two dual international masters programmes in the next academic year. The first was in tandem with Western Michigan University on Criminology and Criminal Justice while the second was with George Mason University on Conflict Resolution and Mediterranean Security.

Prof Camilleri said that there were also several other very promising prospects being explored with an eye to extending the growing profile of bilateral or multilateral dual and joint degree programmes. He highlighted another two major achievements last year in the University's internationalisation strategy - an agreement reached with the government of Kuwait which had secured a significant steady influx of Kuwaiti students to pursue their studies in a range of subjects, and another concerning the Confucius Institute to be located in Binja Guże Cassar Pullicino which was soon to be up and running.

GROWING DEMAND FOR POST-GRADUATE COURSES

The University said it had so far this year accepted 2,296 applications for courses, of which 1,347 were from female students. The Admissions Office was currently processing applications from students who sat for the MATSEC and the University's September supplementary sessions and whose results were published. They had been advised that in case of a positive result which should qualify them for their course, they could start attending lectures even before receiving the official letter of acceptance.

The University said there was an ever increasing demand for post-graduate courses, for which there were 1,091 Maltese applicants this year.