University sets up institute for sustainable development

The university this morning officially launched its institute for sustainable development which aims to offer an opportunity for collaboration of different stake holders in the application and development of support strategies for decision making.

Director Maria Attard said the primary objective of the institute was to assist, through research, in the realisation of national plans to improve infrastructure, productivity, entrepreneurship and quality of life in Malta.

It also aimed to provide advice and assistance on issues of sustainable development as well as promote and catalyse science and technology commercialisation, the creation of start-ups and new business ventures and the transfer of innovation and technology to industry.

University rector Juanito Camilleri said the institute aimed at collaborating with leading institutions to develop study programmes and post-graduate research for the creation of a knowledge based economy and society. It would act as an incubator on campus.

Prof. Camilleri said the university was looking at creating a post-graduate programme to help the commercialisation of ideas and innovation emerging from within the university through feasibility studies and business plan formulation and the development of new business ventures.

“This institute will make the university of Malta more relevant to the socio-economic development of our country,” he said.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi spoke on the importance of sustainable development.

He said the university had transformed itself from just a supplier of human capital to an institution which responded to the country’s needs, coming up with specific courses in the principle economic drivers of the country.

The government, he said, was investing €3.5 million a day in the social development of the country through welfare programmes, education and free health care.

In the context of sustainable development he mentioned the rent and Mepa reforms, saying the latter aimed to achieve more consistency and enforcement through better use of land.

“Sustainability is all about duty and obligation, not only towards the present generations but even more for future generations.

“National competitiveness in a globalised world hinges on research which has economic value,” he said.

He commended the university’s initiative and said that the institute would become a reference point for research.