University funding policy needs to be reviewed to allow for long-term research projects to be sponsored, according to the dean of the faculty of health services, Angela Xuereb-Anastasi.

“Once areas of excellence and related projects are defined, then such areas should be funded on a two-to-five year budgetary basis for medium to long-term plans to be made possible, and to make potential for outside funding and commercialisation a reality,” she said.

Speaking during a graduation ceremony held yesterday at the Jesuit Church in Valletta, Prof. Xuereb-Anastasi added that there should be a policy through which the University of Malta would receive funds to manage such projects.

“The difficult truth is that an exponential increase in research funds must be forthcoming if the university is to take its place among its European partners,” she said.

Prof. Xuereb-Anastasi added that if the University was to excel, its staff had to be given the time to dedicate to research. Flexibility on teaching loads was an important part of research strategy.

PhD graduate Julian Kristian Buhagiar also spoke about the need to increase the University’s budget.

Bachelor of Engineering and Architecture (Hons)
Sponsor: Prof. Alex Torpiano

Joachim Walter Abela, Michael Anastasi, Audrey Ann Attard, Michael Attard Previ, Gilbert Bartolo, Pierre Bianchi, Greta Bond, Lisa Bonello, Jonathan Bonnici, Daniel Borg, Sarah Anne Borg, Stefania Buhagiar, Matthew Cachia Zammit, Brenda Camilleri, Clint Camilleri, Corinne Marie Camilleri, Elaine Camilleri, Silvienne Camilleri, Matias Camilleri De Marco, Trevor Francis Caruana, David Cilia, Rene` Cutajar, Sharon Falzon, Joseph Galea, Jurgen Gatt, Ivynne Luke Grixti, Keith Grixti, Shalane Krauer, Joslyn Maree Magro, Andre Mangion, Kurt Meilak, Cristina Micallef, Kristian Micallef, Nadia Micallef, Lara D Mifsud, Carlo A Muscat, Anton Muscat Xerri, Vanessa Pisani, Matthew Psaila, Nicholas Psaila-Savona, James Schembri, Matthew Sciberras, Andrew Scicluna, Adrian Spiteri, Paul Spiteri, Ian Turban, Claudia Vella, Kyle Vella, Krista Xuereb, Stephanie Xuereb, Zack Xuereb Conti, Diane Marie Zahra, Mattea Zahra, and Rebecca Zammit.

Master of Science in Cultural Heritage Management
Sponsor: Prof. Alex Torpiano

Noella Fenech.

Master of Science in Conservation Technology for Masonry Buildings
Sponsor: Prof. Alex Torpiano

Gaston Michel Camilleri, Maria Roberta Galea, and Maria Mifsud.

Master of Science in Engineering
Sponsor: Dr John Charles Betts

Michael Attard, Reuben Debono, Lawrence Fenech, Amanda Galea, Kristian Lanzon, Christopher Joseph Magri, Michael Sapienza, Andre Spiteri, and Samuel Zerafa.

Master of Science in Integrated Product Development
Sponsor: Dr John Charles Betts

Kenny Muscat.

Master of Philosophy
Sponsor: Dr John Charles Betts

Sandro Azzopardi.

Master of Arts in Baroque Studies
Sponsor: Prof. Dennis De Lucca

Clint Calleja, Clifford Galea, and Paul Anthony Muscat.

Master in Information Technology
Sponsor: Dr Ernest Cachia

Mattheus Yeomans, Audrey Zammit, and Mario Zerafa.

Master of Science
Sponsor: Dr Ernest Cachia

Neil Aquilina, Bernard Cachia, Andrew Calleja, Marvin Corrado, Andrew Cortis, David Cristina, Andrea Demarco, Andrew Gauci, Owen Sacco, Ruth Maria Schembri, and Matthew Xuereb.

Master of Science in Human Language Science and Technology
Sponsor: Dr Ernest Cachia

Mohammad Fazleh Elahi, Gebrekirstos Gebremeskel, Bushra Jawaid, Olga Kudeykina, Jianqiang Ma, and Hua Zhenghan.

Master of Health Science in Health Services Management
Sponsor: Prof. Angela Xuereb-Anastasi

David Borg, Josephine Cassar, Gabrielle Marie Debono, Charmaine Farrugia, Kevin Gafa’, Theresa Runza, Felicity Sciberras, and Sally Zammit.

Master of Science
Sponsor: Prof. Angela Xuereb-Anastasi

Helen Attard Bason, Pauline Borg, Mark Anthony Camilleri, Bernard Micallef Cann, Rodianne Micallef Cann, Elmira Petrova, Antoinette Saliba, Fiona Josette Scalpello Hammet, Alan Sciberras, Alexia Sciberras, and Georgette Rita Spiteri.

Master of Science
Sponsor: Prof. Charles Sammut

Karl Agius, Daniela Attard, Josepha Bezzina, Denise Ann Buhagiar, Mark Anthony Caruana, Elaine Chetcuti, Jane Coates, Stephanie Farrugia, Lin Li, Anastasia Pavlova, Giannella Pisani, Joseph Piscopo, Rachel Portelli, and Beppe Vella.

Master of Science in Applied Chemistry
Sponsor: Prof. Charles Sammut

Lara Maria Trapani.

Doctor of Philosophy
Sponsor: Dr Ernest Cachia

Julian Kristian Buhagiar.

Doctor of Philosophy
Sponsor: Dr John Charles Betts

Marvin Bugeja, Alexia Grech, and Andrew Sammut.

Doctor of Philosophy
Sponsor: Prof. Charles Sammut

Daphne Attard, and Pierre-Sandre Farrugia.