The University of Malta is truly proud of its 420-year-old history and looks forward to the future with confidence. I extend an invitation to all to come to the University to explore and discover what takes place here.
The need for a sustainable framework of financing is urgent- Juanito Camilleri
Throughout this nation’s history, many of its leaders were and continue to be alumni of our University. It is today’s students who will create tomorrow’s industry, provide employment opportunities, mould a sustainable and growing economy and find solutions to current and emerging problems.
This country is investing substantially in its tertiary students and its researchers, but the challenges ahead are daunting and the need for a sustainable framework of financing is urgent.
During the Open Week from November 5 to 10, which we have called Discover University!, we would like to share with you examples of how our institution is evolving and growing. We would like to show you how University is going about its business of producing well-prepared graduates and excellent researchers in varied fields of study, whose work is bound to make a positive difference to our lives.
The University of Malta has a student population of over 11,500 following one of almost 800 courses on offer. There are many who have either followed a course here or who have visited before and who may know a particular part of the University well. Today, I encourage them to visit us again and discover some other area they are unfamiliar with.
I would also like to extend an invitation to prospective students, whether young or mature, and to alumni, to come and see all the exciting developments that are happening. I would like to see students bring their parents, grandparents, family and friends and to visit other areas of the University they may have never explored.
I would like to extend a welcome to business people and to employers.
There will be around 200 activities taking place throughout the week in November.
The library will be open together with the language, science, healthcare, and engineering laboratories.
Visitors will be able to talk to researchers, authors and other academics and practitioners from a wide range of areas of expertise.
Exhibitions, talks, presentations and demonstrations related to IT, sports, healthcare, the performing arts, science and the humanities are just some of the activities on offer.
At the ICT laboratories you can see how special effects are created in movies.
At the Signal Processing Laboratory you can experience virtual flying over Malta. You can also see how digital TV corrects errors in the picture, or experience signal processing algorithms converting Maltese text to speech, so you can hear your computer speak to you in Maltese.
A medieval dinner is being organised on November 10 to celebrate the cultural richness of the tastes, sights and sounds of the period.
Another event, It’s Never Too Late to Learn, organised by the Centre for Labour Studies, aims to encourage prospective mature students to study at University.
Guests are welcome to visit the Msida campus, areas of the University at Mater Dei Hospital, the Junior College and Argotti Botanic Gardens.
For details visit www.um.edu.mt/discoveruniversity.
This year we are also broadening Discover University! through our presence in the Three Cities with Skopri l-Università fit-Tlett Ibliet.
This programme of activities will be held tomorrow in September 4 Square, Senglea, on Wednesday in St Margaret College’s primary school ground, Cospicua, and in Vittoriosa’s Victory Square on Friday.
The event will show the links between the Three Cities and the University, both in the past and in the present, as well as promoting academic and social aspects of campus life.
For more details on this event visit www.um.edu.mt/skopri.
Prof. Camilleri is rector of the University of Malta.