THE
LUMINARY
UNIVERSIT Y OF MALTA ALUMNI NEWSLET TER
www.um.edu.mt/alumni
MAY 2014
Microsoft Malta,
University sign MOU
Microsoft Malta and the University
of Malta recently signed a
Memorandum of Understanding that
effectively establishes an alliance
between the Microsoft Innovation
Centre and the University of Malta
Business Incubator, TAKEOFF.
The agreement was signed by
Adrianna Zammit, Country Manager
of Microsoft Malta and Prof. Juanito
Camilleri, Rector of the University
of Malta and is in line with the
vision shared by both parties which
seeks to foster knowledge transfer
in technology and business skills
through
training,
workshops,
software
products
testing,
demonstrations,
and
through
providing logistical infrastructure for
innovation-driven Micro-, Small- and
Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs)
in the ICT sector.
Through this MOU, Microsoft
Malta and the University of
Malta, through joint programme
activities, training, promotional and
networking events and educational
activities will be assisting in the
creation of sustainable businesses
by providing business incubation
facilities, infrastructure, resources
and support to create innovative new
products and services, bring those
products and services to the market
and support the fostering of wellmanaged competitive businesses,
develop a qualified workforce and
maintain their expertise.
“This memorandum of understanding effectively seals Malta’s
University as an active and prime
partner of our Microsoft Innovation
Centre where we will be providing
working space, hardware, software
and further training opportunities
for all programme tenants selected
by the Joint Steering Group of University’s Business Incubator,” said
Adrianna Zammit after the signing of
the agreement.
“Although this agreement is being
signed today, our collaboration with
University is far from new. We have
enacted the Azure Educator Grant
to two lecturers and 30 students,
that consisted in data storage and
related services with a total value
of $40,000, we hosted an IT Pro
Camp at the MIC by setting up cloud
computer engineering labs running
on Microsoft Cloud platform.
Students were immersed in real
life challenges in building a Private
Cloud platform utilising the latest
Microsoft software. Other initiatives
included the Million Dollar Idea
weekend held at MIC and various
technology talks held at the ICT
Faculty on Microsoft’s Public Cloud
platform through which we CONT>
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Microsoft Malta, University sign MOU
CONT>
are bridging the gap between academia and
industry,” added Adrianna Zammit.
Prof. Juanito Camilleri said that “the aim of the
TAKEOFF facility and programme is to deliver a tailored
package of benefits and guidance to entrepreneurs from
inside and outside of the University that will allow them
to transform their ideas into market- and investor-ready
ventures. The alliance with Microsoft Malta broadens
the resources and support provided through TAKEOFF
by connecting start-ups to Microsoft’s worldwide
network of Innovation Centres specialising in access to
resources, experts and facilities for collaboration and
skills development.”
Through this MoU, the University of Malta will provide
access and use of working space within the University
Business Incubator to MIC programme tenants
selected by the Joint Steering Group, will offer business
mentorship and networking opportunities.
National Symposium of Health Sciences
On Thursday 24 April 2014, the Faculty of Health Sciences
held a National Symposium of Health Sciences, the main
aim of which was to showcase the research that is being
conducted at the Faculty by members of the academic
staff and postgraduate students.
The Honourable Minister of Education Mr Evarist
Bartolo was present for the opening of the Symposium
and gave an opening address, together with the Dean
of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor Angela
Xuereb Anastasi.
Professor Clive Mulholland, the Deputy Vice
Chancellor (Research & Student Experience) at the
University of South Wales, UK opened the Symposium
with a keynote lecture entitled ‘Survival of the fittest:
Course Design and the Impact of Technology’ during
which he explored how course design may change as a
result of modern technology.
A Faculty Journal - The Malta Journal of Health Sciences
(MJHS) - was officially launched during the symposium.
The journal is an open access online journal. A book of
abstracts, a supplement to the newly-launched journal,
was distributed to all the participants.
The Dean’s awards were also presented during
this event. The successful students are the following:
Mark Briffa (Applied Biomedical Science), Sabrina
Camilleri (Nursing), John Carabott (Applied Biomedical
Science), Christina Fiorini (Communication Therapy),
Roberta Mangion (Occupational Therapy), Mario Rapa
(Radiography), Stefan Sciberras (Communication
Therapy), Chantelle Zahra (Occupational Therapy) and
Bernice Zarb (Nursing).
Closing speeches were given by Professor John Rizzo
Naudi and the Honourable Parliamentary Secretary for
Health, Mr Chris Fearne.
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Engineering
Summer
School in IPD
Prof. Dr Ing. Jonathan C. Borg from the University of
Malta’s Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering, together with Prof. Dr Ing. Sandor Vajna of Ottovon-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany, set up a
two-week PhD Summer School on Integrated Product Development (IPD). The Summer School, one spin-off from
the sabbatical period of Prof. Borg, is aimed at researchers interested in both understanding and researching the
various interrelations between design, manufacturing
and business issues, as well as other complex aspects involved in the life cycle of products/services.
The first session of this Summer School was hosted
in Malta by Prof. Borg early in May. Twelve participants
from nine countries attended this Malta session, including PhD candidates from Daimler AG and PSA Peugeot
Citroën. During the Malta session, participants had
the opportunity to be exposed to research work taking place in the Concurrent Engineering Research Unit
(CERU) and to lectures related to the scientific principles of an IPD approach. The second session of the 2014
IPD Summer School will now take place in Magdeburg
in September.
6th International Conference of the Popular Education Network
The 6th International Conference
of the Popular Education Network
(PEN) was recently held at the
University of Malta, Valletta
Campus. Convened by Professor
Carmel Borg, Faculty of Education,
the conference was an opportunity
for university-based teachers and
researchers, student-activists, and
others involved in higher education,
and who share a common interest
in popular education to meet,
exchange ideas, learn from one
another, and enjoy some much
needed solidarity and conviviality.
The Popular Education Network
was established in 1997. The core
statement of purpose was originally
intended to politicise the theory and
theorise the practice of popular education in a very particular and uncompromising way. As such, in this
network, popular education is understood to be popular, as distinct
from merely populist, in the sense
that it is rooted in the real interests
and struggles of ordinary people,
overtly political and critical of the
status quo, and committed to progressive social and political change.
Recognizing that many scholars
who support this definition
of popular education work in
considerable isolation in their
own institutions, the conference
was an opportunity to discuss
such themes as the effects of
globalisation on academics’ work;
sustaining political commitment
and ideological coherence in hard
times; developing alliances and
strategic collaborations; radicalising
research and making it ‘really
useful’; respecting diversity without
abandoning solidarity; developing
more democratic, creative, and
expressive ways of working, and
other topics.
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1989 B.Ed. (Hons) Graduates celebrate 25 years
A group of alumni who graduated B.Ed. (Hons) in 1989 organised a reunion on Wednesday 30 April 2014 to celebrate
their 25th anniversary. The reunion was held in the KSU Common Room at the Msida Campus.
This newletter is published by the Communications and Alumni
Relations Office within the University of Malta.
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