The Faculty of Arts is the “soul” of the University of Malta, according to sociologist Michael Briguglio.
Speaking at his own graduation ceremony at the Jesuit church, in Valletta yesterday, the former Alternattiva Demokratika chairman said the faculty encouraged students to be reflective and think critically rather than follow orders.
Referring to a 2012 study by the University’s Centre of Labour Studies, Dr Briguglio said the employment rate of arts graduates was remarkably high with only six per cent being out of work.
As for the rest of the university, almost 77 per cent were in full-time employment and almost 11 per cent part-time. The study also found very few significant differences with regard to gender and that some 63 per cent of arts graduates had a high level of job satisfaction.
In his academic address Martin Zammit, head of the Department of Oriental Studies, urged graduates to beware of distractions.
“Students have to negotiate the tortuous labyrinth of main areas of study, secondary areas of study, optional study units and elective study units,” he said.
Prof. Zammit said it was important for students to recover the “prerequisite psychological serenity” to reach the highest levels of academic creativity.
Faculty of Arts
Master of Arts
Sponsor: Professor Dominic Fenech
Arabic
Charelle Debattista.
Archaeology
Veronica Barbara, Ella Samut-Tagliaferro and Renata Zerafa.
English
Roberta Borg Parnis, Maria Roseanne Spiteri, Gabriella Stagno* and Irja Torvinen.
French
Anabel Marie Apap.
Geography
Alicia Maree Said.
German
Rita Anna Dalli and Michelle Vella Gobey.
History
Alison Scicluna and Bernardette Vella*.
History of Art
Janica Buhagiar, Marilyn Debono and Lawrence Pavia.
International Relations
Yves Cordina, Demelsa Grech, Lida Sherafatmand and Godwin Xuereb*.
Italian
Donatella Buttigieg, Sean Patrick Fenech, Annalisa Galea and Kristian Muscat.
Maltese
James Attard, Pauline Borg, Ylenia Carabott and Samantha Grima.
Modern and Contemporary Literature and Criticism
Aaron Aquilina, Daniela Brockdorff, Stefanie Cilia, Andrew Spencer Engwall, Julian Fleri Soler, Nagat Rajab Manson and Irene Scicluna.
Philosophy
Diana Caruana, John Nicholas Farrugia, Erika Mifsud and Joseph Saliba.
Sociology
Carmelina Caruana, Mariella Cortis, Vanessa Christine Demanuele, Nathalie Grima, Maria Mifsud, Maria Saliba Thorne and Zhanna Shtogryn.
Theatre Studies
Stefan Busuttil.
Master in Contemporary Diplomacy
Sponsor: Professor Dominic Fenech
Ene Abah, Kai Sonda Brima*, Garry Cronan*, Catherine Farrugia, Markus Franz Koller, Roxie Mcleish-Hutchinson*, Benjamin Mukabire*, Mary Murphy, Virginia Paque, Phakamisa Siyothula*, Ezra Zilla and Natasha Thomas*.
Master of Arts in Hospitaller Studies
Sponsor: Professor Dominic Fenech
Louis Bellizzi.
Master in Interpreting
Sponsor: Professor Dominic Fenech
Valerie Vella and Andrea Kathleen Zammit.
Master in Translation
Sponsor: Professor Dominic Fenech
Audrey Aquilina, Christine Bajada, Rowna Baldacchino, Elaine Borg, Noelle Borg*, Roxanne Bugeja, Rebecca Cachia, Simon Cassar, Kirsty Chetcuti, Nicolette Ciscaldi, Rossana Cremona, Claudia Farrugia, Stephanie Formosa, Jana Galea, Nadia Galea, Janice Mifsud, Gordon Lee Spiteri, Vincent James Tabone, Brendon Vella and Marija Vella.
Doctor of Philosophy in English
Sponsor: Professor Dominic Fenech
Joseph Mallia and Clare Helen Udras Ellis.
Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology
Sponsor: Professor Dominic Fenech
Michael Briguglio and Mary Grace Vella.
Doctor of Philosophy in Theatre Studies
Sponsor: Professor Dominic Fenech
Nicole Bugeja.
* In absentia