Rationality and knowledge are absent from the debate on illegal immigration and the University should be leading the debate, according to George Attard, director of the Institute of Agriculture.
"The debate has raged furiously and is being spearheaded by opinion leaders, politicians and even crack pots. Rationality and knowledge are the most conspicuous by their absence, making room for the discussion to degenerate," he said.
Dr Attard was last night addressing the first batch of students who received their postgraduate degrees at the Aula Magna, in Valletta.
Delivering his oration, he said university heads should come up with research projects that tackled issues and knowledge shortcomings they faced on a daily basis.
"Our university should be the intellectual leader of the country, by applying the proper expertise, taking the lead in this debate and studying this phenomenon happening around us," he said.
Dr Attard believes collective brainpower should be used to come up with real and realisable projects that would address the root causes, in a scientific, economic, human and social way. "University is not an 'I' thing! It is the ultimate 'we'," Dr Attard declared.
However, he also felt students had to fill the vacuum challenging their completeness as learned individuals, and encouraged the broadening of intellectual horizons in order to achieve universality of thought.
Dr Attard actively encouraged extracurricular activities: "Only the intermingling of the whole of the university population... can provide the melting pot in which the alloy of the complete member of the University of Malta can be forged."
Dr Attard pleaded for the growth and expansion of university through closer cooperation of certain fields of study - the university should not shy away from investing further in research and discovery.
While addressing fellow students, on a lighter, different note, PhD graduate Paul Falzon felt the degrees that were conferred to students were progress reports on the conduct of their lives, which should encourage them to move on and advance.
The following is a list of students who graduated yesterday:
Master of Arts in European Studies
Sponsor: Prof. Peter G. Xuereb
Caroline Attard, Reinhard Amante Attard, Bjorn Callus*, Francesca Camilleri, Annalisa Ferriggi, Reuben Gauci, Mohamed Khalil*, Milan Pajic, Marisa Scerri and John Vella.
Master in Integrated Resource Management
Sponsor: Prof. Alfred J. Vella
Audrey Anne Anastasi, Elaine Bajada, Simon Bajada, Mario Victor Balzan, Christopher Cousin, Louise Refalo and Yury Zammit.
Master of Arts in Islands and Small States Studies
Sponsor: Prof. Lino Briguglio
Jason Aquilina, Joseph Cassar, Jane Refalo, Carl Scerri and Matthew Vella.
Master of Arts in Creativity and Innovation
Sponsor: Dr Sandra Dingli
Maria Sabrina Aguis, Miren Arruza Zuazo, Olga Bogdanova, Jon Eguia Bengoechea, Tania Farrugia, Isabel Fereday, Marcia Grima, Christine Lofaro, Marylyn Mifsud, Matthew Poschwald, Melanie Schembri, Wendy Shapiro, Elizabeth Vella, and Ying Xue*.
Master of Science in Agricultural Sciences
Sponsor: Dr George Attard
Saviour Vella.
Master of Science in Agriculture and Veterinary Pharmacy
Sponsor: Dr George Attard
Michael Galea*.
Master of Gerontology and Geriatrics
Sponsor: Prof. Joseph Troisi
Gerald Koh*.
Master of Arts
Sponsor: Rev. Prof. Saviour Chircop
Joanna Azzopardi.
Master of Arts in Comparative Euro-Mediterranean Education Studies
Sponsor: Dr Paul J Pace
Michelle Attard Tonna, Trevor Borg, Louise Chircop and Jacqueline Micallef Grimaud.
Master of Arts in Cultural Heritage Management
Sponsor: Prof. Anthony Bonanno
Daniela Carla Agius, Anastasia Anastasi Vella, Helga Borg, Gabriella Borg Bonaci, Christian Debono, Fabrizio Mifsud, Michael Portelli, Nicoline Sagona, Ray Spiteri and Sharon Sultana.
Master of Music
Sponsor: Dr Simon Mercieca
Mark Anthony Cachia Sammut, Claire Massa and Jane Pace.
Master in Translation
Sponsor: Prof. Dominic Fenech
Mario Calleja, Maria Ciappara, Marcia Cocker, Juan Debono and Charmaine Vella.
Master in Translation and Interpreting
Sponsor: Prof. Dominic Fenech
Christine Grixti* .
Master in Contemporary Diplomacy
Sponsor: Prof. Dominic Fenech Patricia Duran Cotrina*, Shkendije Geci*, Eleonora Merlicco*, Ibrahim Naeem, Antonis Sammoutis* and Louben Tevdovski*.
Master of Arts
Sponsor: Prof. Dominic Fenech
Alison Abela*, Roberta Azzopardi, Christopher Bonnici, Krista Bonnici, Kevin Borda, Alison Borg, Davina Brincat*, Nicole Bugeja, Sarah Buhagiar, Josette Calleja, Amanda Catania, Tiziana Cauchi, Alexander Debono, Dorianne Decesare, Jeremy Demaria, Oriana Ellul, Nathalie Farrugia, Corinne Gatt, Roderick Livori, John Micallef, Carole Mizzi, Paul Muscat, Simitrio Pianciamore, Sean Pollacco, John Pulè, Louise Refalo, Sebastian Saliba, Mary Grace Spina, Hilary Spiteri, Carine Van Oevelen, Christopher Vella, Lorinda Vella and Roderick White.
Master of Arts in Baroque Studies
Sponsor: Prof. Denis De Lucca
Claudette Farrugia.
Doctor of Philosophy
Sponsor: Prof. Dominic Fenech
Paul A Falzon and Arthur Muscat.
*in abstentia