14 - 19 March 2011
Sponsored by:
Contents
Discover University! Open Week ............................................................................... 3
Prime Minister Dr Lawrence Gonzi’s Visit .................................................................. 3
The Rector’s Visit to the Marquee ............................................................................. 4
The Library ................................................................................................................. 4
Communicating Values through Art ........................................................................... 5
Meet Our Alumni ....................................................................................................... 5
Exhibition at the the Built Environment .................................................................... 6
The Maltese Economy ............................................................................................... 7
An Art Exhibition ........................................................................................................ 7
Divertiamoci in Italiano .............................................................................................. 8
A Play:
On a fait le marché avec papa.................................................................................... 9
Dyslexia and Self-Esteem - A Performance Ethnography Experience ...................... 10
Education ................................................................................................................ 11
Education Resilience ................................................................................................ 11
Information and Communication Technology ......................................................... 12
History of Art ........................................................................................................... 13
Archaeology ............................................................................................................ 13
French ...................................................................................................................... 13
Oriental Studies ....................................................................................................... 13
Spanish .................................................................................................................... 14
Translation and Interpretation Studies .................................................................... 14
Health Sciences ........................................................................................................ 14
Medicine and Surgery .............................................................................................. 14
Engineering .............................................................................................................. 14
Biology ..................................................................................................................... 15
Chemistry ................................................................................................................. 15
1
Physics ...................................................................................................................... 15
Sustainable Development ........................................................................................ 16
Islands and Small States ........................................................................................... 16
Dance Studies ........................................................................................................... 16
Anthropology ........................................................................................................... 17
Geography ................................................................................................................ 17
Music ........................................................................................................................ 17
Linguistics ................................................................................................................. 17
Physical Education and Sport ................................................................................... 18
Torusim, Travel and Culture...................................................................................... 18
European Documentation and Research .................................................................. 18
Earth Systems ........................................................................................................... 18
Diplomatic Studies ................................................................................................... 18
All Jazz - University of Malta Wind Ensemble .......................................................... 19
Musical ..................................................................................................................... 19
The Trial of La Valette ............................................................................................... 20
Junior College ........................................................................................................... 21
Honey Bees and Maltese Honey .............................................................................. 21
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Junior College Drama....................................... 21
Junior College Choir ................................................................................................. 21
Junior College Orchestra .......................................................................................... 22
Young Enterprise ...................................................................................................... 22
Music with an International Theme ......................................................................... 23
NAFRA and Big Band Brothers Concert ................................................................... 24
An 18th Century Meal ................................................................................................ 24
2
Discover University! Open Week
The Rector, Professor Juanito Camilleri, set up a Committee to coordinate Discover University!
Open Week 2011. Activities held at the Msida Campus, the Valletta Campus as well as the
Gozo Campus showcased the University’s many facets through a number of themes including
the courses offered, research carried out, student life, sports, cultural activities, academic
talks and seminars.
The various events were aimed at attracting prospective University students, alumni and
members of the general public who were interested in finding out how the University works
and plays.
Prime Minister Dr Lawrence Gonzi’s Visit
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, accompanied by the University Rector, Prof. Juanito Camilleri,
the University Secretary, Mr Simon Sammut, and Pro Rectors Prof. Alfred Vella, Prof. Richard
Muscat, Prof. MaryAnne Lauri as well as representatives from Middlesea Insurance plc, toured
the campus during the opening day of the ‘Discover University!’ Open Week.
3
The Rector’s visit to the Marquee
The Marquee was the hub of activity for Discover University! Open Week. Different zones
presented a number of facets of University life, such as: the alumni community, courses
offered at the University, research, several faculties and the MUP (Malta University Press).
The Library
The University Library gave visitors the rare opportunity to see how a book ends up on
the bookshelf, who orders and catalogs items for the library, and what other things the
library does.
Visitors also had the opportunity to meet some of the most renowned authors in Malta
through the ‘Meet the author experience’. The authors shared their experiences whilst
highlighting the importance of books and libraries in today’s society.
4
Communicating Values through Art
As 2011 is the European Year dedicated to Volunteering, the University Chaplaincy organised
a series of art workshops towards the creative interpretation of the values which constitute
active citizenship.
People from different age groups were invited to participate and to share their thoughts and
feelings on this subject in an artistic manner. The results of each workshop were exhibited at
the Chaplaincy for general public. This venture was conducted to promote awareness and to
encourage young people to volunteer in one of the various organisations and NGO’s active in
Malta.
Meet Our Alumni
Dott. Tonio Portughese
Dott. Tonio Portughese, an alumnus of the
Department of Italian, talked about his experiences
as a University student and about his career to First
Year students of the Depatment of Italian of the
Faculty of Arts.
Dr John Paul Grech
Dr John Paul Grech, the Permanent Secretary within
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an alumnus of the
University of Malta, was invited by the Department
of International Relations of the Faculty of Arts to
talk about his life as a University student and about
his experiences in the careers that he pursued.
5
Exhibition at the Faculty for the Built Environment
The Faculty for the Built Environment organised an exhibition during Discover University!
Open Week which manifested some of the work that fresher students produced during their
first semester. The work included drawing assignments, photographic essays, and model
making.
The objective of the assignments was to introduce students to tools of visual communication
(drawings, digital and plastic) and to help them develop a degree of visual literacy.
6
The Maltese Economy
The Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy organised a seminar entitled
L-Ekonomija Maltija - Fejn Qiegħda u Fejn Sejra.
During the seminar, conducted in the Maltese language, Professor Lino Briguglio discussed
the current structure of the Maltese Economy while Dr Gordon Cordina delved into the theme
of future prospects. Professor Roderick Pace, Director of the European Documentation &
Research Centre talked about the Malta-EU nexus and its effect on the Maltese Economy. The
seminar will be chaired by Dr Saviour Gauci, the Dean of the Faculty.
Following the seminar, Professor Josef Bonnici launched a new publication, authored by
Professor Lino Briguglio, entitled Macroeconomics and the Maltese Economy.
An Art Exhibition
Dr Raphael Vella, coordinator of the undergraduate and postgraduate degrees within the
Department of Arts and Languages in Education, Faculty of Education, took visitors on a brief
tour of the exhibitions being held on campus. The exhibitions are the work of the students
following the B.Ed. (Hons) Art and M.Ed. Art courses.
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The Faculty of Education organised a series of events, among which:
* Divertiamoci in Italiano
* On a fait le marché avec papa
* Dyslexia and Self-Esteem - A Performance Ethnography Experience
Divertiamoci in Italiano
Organised by the Department of Arts & Languages in Education and the Mediterranean
Institute, this event was directed to Form 2 students studying Italian locally and was held also
through the collaboration of the Italian Embassy in Malta and of four schools: San Andrea
School, Immaculate Conception Tarxien, St Ignatius College Tal-Handaq and St Benedict
College Sta Lucia. The 100 students who participated in the activities were engaged in a series
of games and presentations all revolving around the theme of Italian language and culture, to
mark the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Unity of Italy.
8
A Play:
On a fait le marché avec papa
The French Programme within the Department of Arts and Languages in Education (DALE),
Faculty of Education, organised an event centered around a saynète, a short comic play called
On a fait le marché avec papa, adapted from the world-famous Petit Nicolas series by SempéGoscinny. Groups of secondary and post-secondary level students were invited to come and
watch the play, andUniversity students preparing to become teachers of French within DALE
prepared a booklet with language activities on the vocabulary, expressions, and French culture
elements contained in the play.
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Dyslexia and Self-Esteem - A Performance Ethnography Experience
Research shows that dyslexia, or rather how students with a profile of dyslexia are supported
or not supported at school and in general, affects learning, performance, self esteem and
quality of life. These findings were very eloquently brought to life through Matthew Scurfield’s
performance which had three main aims:
*raising awareness that far too often, the experience of students with dyslexic at school, given the ‘closed’ too-academically oriented curriculum in our local community
and the messages given to these students due to a lack of understanding of their abilities and needs may be negative
*the importance of self esteem and its role in students’ and future adults’ quality of life
and effective living in the community
*drama can be a positive experience for students with dyslexia as well as help them
develop a positive self esteem.
The play was organised by the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education.
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Education
Several activities related to education were organised for children in secondary and postsecondary schools. Since languages form a very important part of the education sector, the
Department of Arts and Languages held the following activities to help students improve
their foreign language competence.
• Learning with Lena! The Eurovision Lesson
• Beyond the Classroom: improving your communicative competence in Spanish with
the help of Internet
The Department also organised ‘L’italiano a Malta: una lingua in pericolo?’, in which a discussion
took place regarding the sociolinguistic changes which recently have led to considerably less
exposure to Italian.
Music was also given importance by this Department as students explored musical elements
in a self-contained workshop during the session ‘Adventures in Music’.
The Department of Mathematics, Science & Technical Education also held different activities
throughout the week. The workshop ‘Rebooting Computing Education’ presented computing
education in a fun and exciting way, and ‘Science in the Home’ explained applications of
Physics and Chemistry found in the home.
Other activities held by the Faculty were the ‘Stone Carving Session’, and the workshop ‘Team
Up with Youth Work’, in which participants had to team up through non-formal games and
discover what it entails to become a youth worker.
Education Resilience
The European Centre for Educational Resilience in collaboration with San Gorg Preca College,
Maria Assumpta Seconary School, held a circle time session for secondary school students as
part of the Discover University! Open Week. A group of students from the school visited the
University where they participated in a Circle Time activity which is a useful and child-friendly
tool for the promotion of social and emotional literacy in schools and makes use of the peer
group itself as vehicle for the promotion of social and emotional health amongst students.
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Information and Communication Technology
Tour leaders took participants to the Faculty where they were involved in the following
sessions:
Hands on experience sessions: The Department of Communications and Computer Engineering
will held experience sessions whereby visitors were given the opportunity to experiment with
various telecommunications and computer software/hardware technologies.
Technology demonstrations: Staff from the Department of Microelectronics and
Nanoelectronics will demonstrated various equipment such as the IC probing microscope
station, VGA and keyboard interface for FPGA, and the engine control unit of an electric car
using FPGA.
Hands-on Programming through a 3D game: Visitors had the chance to use 3D educational
software to learn basic programming concepts whilst building simple computer programs of
their own.
Geographical Information Systems Demos: Visitors viewed demonstrations of specialist
software called Geographical Information Systems which use and manipulate maps in
interesting ways.
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History of Art
At the recording studios of CampusFM 103.7, students had the opportunity to meet Professor
Mario Buhagiar, from the Department of History of Art, to get to know his subject are as well
as his life of an academic at University.
Archaeology
On the occasion of the University’s Open Week, the Department of Classics and Archaeology
teamed up with a number of specialists from the University and from other cultural heritage
agencies to show how archaeologists, conservators, ancient historians, epigraphists, and
scientists study and preserve ancient pottery.
French
Journée de la francophonie
A number of cultural activities were held on the occasion of the Journée de la francophonie
which was organized by the Department of French.
Oriental Studies
In this talk, Professor Anthony Frendo, Head of the Department of Oriental Studies and CoDirector of the Confucius Institute, talked about the courses outlining the fascinating study of
the Near, Middle, and Far East. He concentrated on the importance and relevance of Arabic,
Hebrew, and Chinese and on the importance of coming to grips with such languages if we
want to enter into a dialogue with the complicated but fascinating world of the East.
The Arabic language programme within the Department of Oriental Studies had a booth from
which Arabists gave information about the relevance of the Arabic language, both locally and
internationally. Details were also given about the linguistic and cultural components of the
Arabic study-programme offered by the Department. Furthermore, the general public were
able to attend an informative presentation about Arabic language and culture.
During the Hebrew Programme session, the nature, characteristics, and the cultural and
historical background of the Hebrew language were discussed. The activity also included
some hands-on activities, such as an interactive activity explaining the intriguing process of
deciphering and decoding ancient texts. Throughout the session, various images of ancient
Hebrew manuscripts were displayed, thereby giving the audience the opportunity to have a
closer look at ancient manuscripts.
13
Spanish
The Spanish Department prepared presentations and talks in which the audience had the
opportunity to look at where Spanish is at and where it is going as a world language.
Translation and Interpretation Studies
Students visiting the University Campus had the opportunity to visit the Interpreters’ Laboratory and watch student interpreters at work. They were invited to practise with students
in the booths so that they can have hands on experience and feel what it is like to work in
this sector. Members of Department and student interpreters explained how the booths
work, what qualifications are required to join Translation and Interpreting Masters Courses
and what the job opportunities that these courses lead to are.
Another event held by the Department was ‘Culture Clash: The US / Mexican Experience ‘.
Professor Carlos Morton, from the University of California Santa Barbara gave a talk illustrated with readings from his play El Jardin. The event was a collaboration between the US
Embassy and the Department of Translation & Interpreting Studies.
Health Sciences
The Faculty welcomed the general public during the Discover University! Open Week by
organising tours of the Health Sciences Labs, located at Mater Dei Hospital.
Medicine and Surgery
The Faculty of Medicine and Surgery held a number of tours and talks throughout the week.
The Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics organised a tour of its labs which focused
on experimental techniques to better understand the way medicines work. The lecture
‘How do medicines work’ provided information on how the era of ‘personalised medicine’
is going to change the way medicines will be prescribed, while the talk ‘Medicines and the
Internet’ provided an overview of the dangers and the threats to patient safety associated
with obtaining medicines over the internet.
Engineering
The Faculty of Engineering organised talks for the general public as well as laboratory
demonstrations during the Discover University! Open Week. Tours were also held for those
wishing to visit the Faculty, while postrgraduate students displayed their work in the Marquee
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Biology
The Department of Biology organisesd a series of ten evening lectures for the general public.
Topics concerned the areas of expertise of the members of the Department and included
wildlife, conservation, pollution, aquaculture and evolution.
Chemistry
The Department of Chemistry, in collaboration with the Science Students’ Society, organised
a tour of the Department, were participants visited the laboratories that were recently
furnished and modernised through European funds. The tour provided the opportunity to
observe the day-to-day activities of both undergraduate and postgraduate students, engaged
in their practical tuition and research experiments. The Department showcased the output of
its research activities, highlighting the contributions to science of its staff and students.
Physics
The Department of Physics organised several talks, seminars, workshops and presentations
for the general public. One of the themes was the impact of climate change on Malta, where
a number of presentations were given. During the High Performance Computing seminar, the
keynote presentation entitled ‘ClusterVision, an introduction to High Performance Computing
(HPC)’ was delivered by Mr Huggins. Another talk was ‘Astrophysics, Cosmology and the Story
of the Universe’ where observation sessions using several optical telescopes were held. The
theme of seismology was discussed during another seminar.
15
Sustainable Development
The Institute for Sustainable Development held
various talks and discussions regarding sustainable
mobility and scholarship schemes. Participants
were also provided with some introductory
concepts of Geographic Information Systems and
software technologies developed for this specific
science were demonstrated.
Islands and Small States
The Islands and Small States Institute organised
a public lecture on the theme: ‘The Economic
Vulnerability of Small Island States with Special
Reference to Malta’.
The speaker, Professor Lino Briguglio, explained
why the Maltese economy is highly exposed to
external shocks and why small island states require
good economic governance in order to withstand
their economic vulnerability.
Dance Studies
Dr Joanne Butterworth gave a short talk about the new Bachelors in Dance Studies (Hons). The
students from the Mediterranean Institute following the Bachelors in Dance Studies (Hons)
course performed two ten-minute pieces which had been choreographed and devised by the
students themselves in a study unit called Dance Devising. Some selected DVDs which were
made by the students as their assignments for ‘Dance for Camera’ were also shown.
16
Anthropology
The Anthropology Department welcomed the general public to a series of talks by members
of staff and past students, as well as a series of short films and presentations on the subject.
The aim of these activities was to introduce visitors to the study of mankind. The Department
wanted to show how Anthropology is more than a subject, it’s a way of life and a way of
seeing the world.
Geography
The Department of Geography presented several lectures regarding Malta’s current situation.
One of the talks concerned our country’s drainage system while the other two dealt with
the changing demography in town centers, and the increase in transportation due to Malta’s
increase in population. A treasure hunt was also organized by the Geography Division and the
University of Malta Geographical Society.
Music
The Music Department organised several lectures and workshops in which a number of
themes were presented to the general public. Topics included the functions of music written
for motion picture, different ways of using recycled materials to teach children the concepts
of rhythm, pitch, tone and texture, Ethnomusicology and the compositional procedure and
the structuring of ideas. Two performances also took place during the week where The String
Quartet ‘Cuerdas’ performed a variety of classical and semi-classical music pieces, while Elaine
Mecieca, Maria-Elena Farrugia and Bettina Cassar, students of the Music Division, played a
selection of piano duets.
Linguistics
The Institute of Linguistics organized 2 one-hour interactive lab sessions in which linguists
introduced the areas of linguistics and language technology in an informal manner to those
present. The Institute also had a booth from which members offered information about the
various activities of the Institute. Moreover, the audience was able to use two programmes
that served as examples of how linguistics and language technology can be fun as well as
interesting. The Institute also held informative presentations about Linguistics and Human
Language Technology, which deals with the linguistic interaction between humans and
machines.
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Physical Education and Sport
A number of fun activities were organised by the Institute, where team building challenges
and games were held for groups of all ages.
Tourism, Travel and Culture
Dr George Cassar gave a talk about appreciating our heritage as heritage sites still offer
snapshots of days gone. Even though contemporary elements have now become an integral
part of their historical texture; such sites are still important centres for the transmission of
historical, social, architectural and cultural education to both students and tourists who visit
them.
European Documentation and Research
Visitors were informed about the European Union and the European Studies programme
as well as about the courses offered at the European Documentation and Research Centre
(EDRC). They were shown how to access information about the EU and its institutions from
their computers via the internet and got a glimpse of the life and activities of the EDRC.
Earth Systems
The presentation held during Discover University! Open Week introduced the audience to the
Institute of Earth Systems and to its teaching, research and outreach activities. The Institute
includes within it two Divisions, one focusing on environmental management and planning,
the other on rural sciences and food systems, as well as a Council of Europe Centre specialising
in coastal systems. The presentation outlined the various degree programmes offered by
the Institute at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and various job opportunities
available to graduates of the Institute’s degree programmes were also discussed. The
presentation provided an overview of the Institute’s various research and outreach activities,
including the main local and international projects in which the Institute is involved.
Diplomatic Studies
The general public was welcome to visit the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies
which has been developed into a centre of excellence focusing on Mediterranean affairs. Its
curriculum, including an extensive programme of visiting lecturers, constitutes an intensive
blend of theoretical and practical knowledge.
18
All Jazz - University of Malta Wind Ensemble
The University of Malta Wind Ensemble presented an All Jazz Concert in the Pavilion at Atriju
Vassalli (Quadrangle) of the University . This strong 11-piece Ensemble was set up in 2009 to
provide a high quality ensemble experience to wind players, drawn from different Faculties
and Institutes within the University. The programme, organised by DegreePlus, prepared for
this occasion included a range of jazz styles from Ragtime to Classic Jazz, as well as Swing to
Mainstream.
Musicals
The Pop Choir and solo singers from the Degree Plus courses performed excerpts from various
popular musicals which made a success at the West End and Broadway theatres.
19
The Trial of La Valette
Another event organised by DegreePlus was the short play ‘The Trial of La Valette’ was an
imaginary trial instigated by the women of Malta who accused La Valette, the Grand Master
of the Order of St John of manslaughter, besides other cases outside the conflicts of war,
which eventually led to the death of thousands of Maltese citizens. It was being stated that
at the time, Jean de La Valette intentionally put the lives of numerous Maltese in manifest
jeopardy and it was therefore the compact duty of the court to examine thoroughly the facts
of the case. The trial traced some of the events that happened during the Siege of Malta of
1565, some of the fact being real and other fictitious.
20
Junior College
The Junior College organised a number of tours where the general public had the opportunity
to visit the the gym, the laboratories and the science museum during the Discover University!
Open Week. A number of organisations such as the Astronomy Club, the Magic Club and the
President’s Award Club held various activities at Junior College Campus.
Honey Bees and Maltese Honey
During his talk Dr David Mifsud of the Biology Department at the Junior College focused on
the apiculture industry in Malta. He gave a brief introduction on how bees were reared in the
past and how this industry improved in later years. Problems associated with this industry,
honeybee diseases and how these can be controlled were also be discussed. Finally Dr Mifsud
explained how to recognise honey of good quality, and outlined the other products bees
produce, such as bees wax and propolis.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Junior College Drama
This amazing musical inspired by the legendary writer Roald Dahl, was performed by the
Junior College Drama group under the direction of Ms Clare Azzopardi and Ms Elaine Camilleri.
Junior College Choir
The Junior College Choir is under the direction of Ms Connie Frances Zerafa, and is made up
of 16-18 year old students. During the Discover University! Open Week, the choir performed
a selection of pieces from the film ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, as well as various
songs from different eras.
21
Junior College Orchestra
The Junior College Orchestra presented La Primavera, a grand vocal and instrumental concert
under the direction of Mro Manoel Pirotta and with the participation of solo youth singers:
Analise Mifsud (soprano), Ylenia Vella (alto), Keelan Ellul (tenor), Gilbert Delicata (baritone)
and Miguel Rosales (bass).
The ensemble also performed in the Pavilion at Atriju Vassalli, Msida Campus.
Young Enterprise
This year’s Young Enterprise teams had the opportunity to promote their product during
Discover University! Open Week.
22
Music with an International Theme
A World of Opportunities
The International & EU Office
manned one of the zones
in the Marquee. A number
of international students,
among which chinese, gave a
musical performance during
the event.
Performance of Launeddas by
Roberto Corona and Rocco Melis
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the
unification of Italy, Dr Anna Porcheddu introduced
a tribute on the exquisite traditional instrument of
her native Sardinia, the Launeddas.
This three-pipe instrument is the oldest and
most unique musical instrument in Sardinia, with
a beautiful and captivating sound. The players,
Roberto Corona and Rocco Melis, are renowned
expert performers, whose names are synonymous
with the launeddas.
The Journey Continues
Irish and Celtic Night
A musical performance featuring Irish and Celtic music was performed by students. The
repertoire included traditional tunes such as Danny Boy and Carrickfergus as well as other
popular tunes by Enya, the Corrs and Celtic Woman amongst others.
23
NAFRA and Big Band Brothers Concert
On Friday 18 March 2011 the University of Malta organised an extraordinary music event to
celebrate Open Week on campus. The concert featured the NAFRA folk ensemble and BIG
BAND BROTHERS, together live for the very first time.
An 18th Century Meal
Discover University! Open Week came to an end on Saturday 19 March 2011. To celebrate its
closure, a grand meal in the style of the 18th Century was held in the Senior Common Room,
University House.
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www.um.edu.mt/discoveruniversity
To view more photos go to:
www.um.edu.mt/events/photoalbum#du2011