Higher education is under attack in several countries and the humanities and social sciences have to be defended “at all costs”, according to a professor from the University of Malta’s Faculty of Education.
Courses once lauded for their length and depth of analysis have been shortened into credits
Speaking during the year’s first graduation ceremony, Peter Mayo said education was important not only for employability but also for development of a democratic public environment.
“Rather than being widened to render the university and other higher education institutions more responsive to the democratic needs of society, the discourse is being reduced to one about another form of business governed by the principles of the market,” he said.
These institutions were expected to serve wider purposes than those of the economy and employment.
During his speech at the Jesuits’ church in Valletta, Prof. Mayo recalled a student protesting against university neoliberal reforms in Vienna, who said: “We will have higher educational degrees than our parents, but we will never attain their standard of living.”
Universities were being encouraged to transform themselves into places for “entrepreneurship” and to prepare people for jobs, while higher education institutions’ roles in contributing to a democratic public sphere were being severely curtailed.
“Courses once lauded for their length and depth of analysis have been shortened into credits and are outcome-based... Furthermore, most funded research takes on the form of research and development and is often evaluated in terms of the amount of money it manages to attract.”
Addressing the newly graduated, Prof. Mayo insisted the students’ role should not be underestimated.
Students had played a significant role in furnishing countries with public intellectuals. The universities’ neoliberal reform offered a “splendid opportunity” for academics and students to join forces as “public intellectuals” and not only denounce the reform but also turn this public issue into a broader all-encompassing concern, he said.
Speaking at the same ceremony, PhD graduate Rachael Agius, who described research as a roller coaster ride, encouraged her peers to “go down the slide again and again” and invited friends to do research as well.
Faculty of Education
Master of Education
Sponsor: Prof. Valerie Sollars
Marika Abela, Rita Agius, Carmen Aquilina, Alexander Attard, Sara Ann Baldacchino, Suzannah Bonello, Josianne Bonnici, Darlene Borg, Anna Bugeja, Lorraine Bugeja, Jonathan Camenzuli, Mario Cassar, Claudine Coreschi, Melanie Darmanin, Geraldine Degabriele Pace, Lara Fenech, Josanne Ghirxi, Anabel Grech, Mark Anthony Lughermo, Reuben Mifsud, Claire Mula Falzon, Maria Pace, Iamon Sammut, Marvin Spiteri, Carmen Tanti Rigos, Angela Vella, Katinka Zahra Lehtonen and Alison Zerafa.
Joint international degree awarded by the Dublin Institute of Technology, the University of Malta, and Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences under the EU’s Erasmus Mundus programme
Master in Early Childhood Education and Care
Sponsor: Prof. Valerie Sollars
Felicia Agbagbla*, Joyce Ofosua Anim*, Ivana Bankovic, Ramesh Bhandari, Anna Maria ĆCwidak, Bryndís Gunnarsdóttir, Erika Lisset León Castro, Tina Madunic, Daisy Montes Picardal, Roland Nawa Muchanga*, Martina Ozonyia, Rusminah Ridwan, Kassahun Tigistu Weldemariam* and Khan Zada*.
Faculty of Health Sciences
Master of Science in Health Services Management
Sponsor: Prof. Angela A Xuereb Anastasi
Joseph Brincat and Maria Alda Brincat.
Faculty for Social Well-being
Master in Counselling
Sponsor: Dr Maureen Cole
Anthea Agius, Jesmond Apap, Andre` Azzopardi, Carmen Bonanno, Fiona Marie Bonnici, Benjamin Calleja, Nicolette Camilleri, Rowena Camilleri, Mariella Camilleri Falzon, Stephanie Caruana, Dorianne Coleiro, Paul Cutajar, Alexia Cutajar Conti, Andrew Delia, Silvia Galea, Louiselle Grech, Lauraine Kenely, Sharon Martinelli, Mary Rose Meli, Marisa Mintoff, Hadrian Sciberras, Anna Maria Scicluna, Maureen Vella and Edward Zammit.
Master of Psychology
Sponsor: Dr Maureen Cole
Joshua Aquilina, Sunaina Balani, Anna Maria Borg Bartolo, Charmaine Dalli, Charlene Duca, Benjamin Gatt, Danae Melissa Gingell, Mariella Mamo, Erika Muscat Genovese, Mariella Schembri, Elaine Schembri Lia and Marika Spiteri.
Master In Youth and Community Studies
Sponsor: Dr Maureen Cole
Sarah Attard, Maria Stephanie Bugeja, Ylenia Camilleri, Maureen Muscat and Lara Tonna.
Master in Probation Services
Sponsor: Dr Maureen Cole
Odelsie Bayliss, Svetlana Bezzina, Anabel Bugeja, Deborah Bugeja, Victoria Martha Cassar, Mariella Cassar Camilleri, Dorian Cornelius, Rona Custo’, Sharlet Fabri, Marilyn Formosa, Glen Grixti, Marietta Lanzon, Donnalise Livori, Rebecca Jade Mangion, Maria Mifsud, Jocelyn Mizzi, Christian Rizzo, Ivan Sultana, Stephania Testa and Mary Anne Zammit.
Institute for Islands and Small States
Master of Arts in Island and Small States Studies
Sponsor: Prof. Lino Briguglio
David Attard, Patrick Bonnici, Duncan Borg, Frank Ivan Caruana Catania, Mariella Ciantar, Giuda Taddeo Cilia, Anthea Fabri, Eman Mangion and Lily Said.
Faculty of Education
Doctor of Philosophy
Sponsor: Prof. Valerie Sollars
Maria Colette Pisani.
Institute for Islands and Small States
Doctor of Philosophy
Sponsor: Prof. Lino Briguglio
Carmen Saliba.
Faculty of Health Sciences
Doctor of Philosophy
Sponsor: Prof. Angela Xuereb Anastasi
Rachael Agius.
* In absentia