The abusive or incorrect use of electronic devices could lead to a dead end and to a regression rather than society's development, the head of the Oriental Studies Department at the University, Anthony Frendo, warned yesterday.
To prevent this from happening, this superb invention that had revolutionised civilisation needed to be used in conjunction with the appropriate development in literacy, he said.
Addressing graduates at the Jesuits' church, Valletta, as graduation season commences, Prof. Frendo said to achieve true knowledge, people had to combine the best use of information technology with an ever more refined literacy.
"Knowledge is not identical to data... To restrict our research to the use of electronic gateways, templates and hyperlinks is precisely to 'surf' the field of knowledge and to gather data in one of the most efficient ways," he said.
He differentiated between literacy as understood traditionally and electronic literacy, saying they should not be seen as choices but work hand in hand and at the same pace.
Rev. Martin Micallef, who was one of the speakers, spoke of theology and reflected on what it meant to be a Christian in a changing socio-cultural context.
"Its task is to promote and to realise a more harmonious relationship between faith and reason. The search for truth is a basic element of human nature and dignity. It is confidence in human ability to seek and live by the truth that led to the foundation of great universities across Europe," he said.
The graduates
Master of Arts in Creativity and Innovation
Sponsor: Dr S. Dingli
Rachael Rose Blackburn Sciberras, Patrick Cuschieri, Carla Farrugia, Gavril Flores, Kim Galea, Esther Huy, Christopher Magri, Stella Robertson, Kevin Schembri, Martin Schwarzer, Andrea Stellato, and Zoltan Wysmyk.
Master of Arts in European Studies
Sponsor: Prof. P. G. Xuereb
Sarah Attard, Claudine Borg, Josephine Borg, Marvic Borg, Joseph Borg Camilleri, Clayton Buttigieg, Moira Caruana, Mariella Galea, Donna Micallef, Laurabelle Portelli, Amanda Sciortino, and Diane Seychell.
Master in Mediterranean Historical Studies
Sponsor: Prof. D. Fenech
Charles Daniel Saliba and Jennifer Zammit.
Master in Contemporary Diplomacy
Sponsor: Prof. D. Fenech
Michael Bulwaka*, Rudaralingum Coopamootoo*, Philip Donald Kargbo*, Liene Norberg* and Uchenna Okoli*.
Master in Translation
Sponsor: Prof. D. Fenech
Mary Jo Caruana, Mariza Pace and Charlene Saliba.
Master of Arts
Sponsor: Prof. D. Fenech
Angele Attard, Bjorn Azzopardi, Karen Bonanno, Michael Bonanno, David Bonello, Graziella Bonnici, Sarah Borg, James Bridges, Myriam Calleja, Reuben Callus, David Camilleri, Ylenia Cauchi Carter, Alessandro Cristina, Priscilla Cutajar, Romina Delia, Marita Egere, Fabrizio Emanuel Ellul, Beverly Farrugia, Jason Joe Farrugia, Reno Fenech, Rachel Ferriggi Waldron*, Natasha Galea, Domenic Garcia, Sandra Gauci, Sergio Grech, Delia Inguanez, Stephen Lughermo, Marilyn Mallia, Sarah Jane Micallef, Rene` Monseigneur, Rachel Muscat, Paul Simon Portelli, Denise Pulis*, Paul Claudio Saliba, Bernadine Satariano, Claudia Sciberras, Laura Sghendo and Clive Vella*.
Master of Arts in Islands and Small States Studies
Sponsor: Prof. L. Briguglio
Mario Camilleri, Mary Rose Cini, Liliana Curmi, Charmaine Gatt, Selma Gatt, Daniela Grech, Isabelle Vella, Robert Xerri, Vicky Xuereb and Flavia Zammit*.
Master of Arts in Cultural Heritage Management
Sponsor: Prof. J. Cassar
Lisa Gwen Baldacchino.
Master of Conservation in Applied Conservation Studies
Sponsor: Prof. J. Cassar
Claire Bonavia, James B. Crawford* and Antonia Sammut.
Master in the Science of Performative Creativity
Sponsor: Dr S. Mercieca
Guillaume Boulais, Dimitros Karoglou*, Francesco Martino* and Marco Montalto.
Master of Music
Sponsor: Dr S. Mercieca
Rita Antida Scicluna.
Doctor of Philosophy
Sponsor: Prof. D. Fenech
Albert Bell, Patricia Micallef, Michael Refalo and Stephen Zammit.
* In absentia