David Attard was yesterday appointed University Chancellor for the next seven years, taking over from John Rizzo Naudi, who held the post for 15 years.
Among those attending the ceremony, held at the Presidential Palace in Valletta, were President George Abela, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Parliamentary Secretary Clyde Puli, University Rector Juanito Camilleri and Prof. Rizzo Naudi.
Prof. Attard, who read law at the University of Malta, promised he would do his utmost to ensure the University acted in line with local legislation.
Recalling the day, in 1988, when he was the one who informed Judge Maurice Caruana Curran he was to become the first Chancellor of the University of Malta, Prof. Attard said Malta should be proud of its University’s international fame.
President Abela said he admired Prof. Attard as a scholar and an academic of international repute. In 1988, on Prof. Attard’s advice, the government asked the United Nations to act on the global warming issue. His proposal led to the 1992 UN Convention on the Protection of Global Climate. Dr Abela said the Chancellor’s post carried more than administrative power. One of its duties was moral authority. “As the new Chancellor, Prof. Attard will make sure the University imparts to students values which strengthen our country.”
When asked about his new responsibilities, Prof. Attard said: “Being appointed Chancellor of a 400-year-old institution with an outstanding academic achievement is a major task.”
He said Malta’s educational investment was of interest both to present and future generations and he expressed hope the University would further consolidate its academic achievements.
“Apart from new challenges, our admission in the EU provided us with new openings. I believe our students benefit tremendously from cross-fertilisation of ideas. Meeting new students is educational in itself.”
He said he wanted to promote Malta’s niche areas of excellence and would like to see more American students doing maritime, Mediterranean or Caravaggio studies in Malta. Having built good ties with Japanese, Chinese and Indian institutions, Prof. Attard said he would work at bringing more students from these growing economic giants to Malta’s shores.