Ceremony 8
Academic Oration
Wednesday 28 November 2012 at 1600hrs
SIR TEMI ZAMMIT HALL – MSIDA
Prof. Helen Grech
Dip.Sp.&Ther.,M.Ed.,Ph.D.(Manchester)
Faculty of Health Sciences
I am indeed honoured in being invited to address this solemn occasion today. On behalf
of my fellow academic members of staff I congratulate all the graduands who have
engaged in a committed journey of hard work, sacrifices and stamina which reached its
climax today. Needless to say, your beloved ones deserve a complementary award for the
support that helped you to receive the much strived for degree. Being a mother I am
aware that parents and partners suffer with you along the journey leading to your success.
So, well done parents and partners! I can feel the excitement and relief that you all have
in this hall; there is no better satisfaction than to witness your beloved one’s success and
fulfilment in life. Dear graduands, I hope that this is not the end of your educational route
but rather the beginning of a life-long learning process.
It is crucial that you engage in life-long learning. Men and women should equally seek
opportunities to continue their education. The European Commission is investing heavily
to promote a gender sensitive approach, particularly at the work place, in education and
research. Let the past 3 or so years be only the beginning of your learning journey. I
appeal to you to grab every opportunity in life and engage in courses to further your
knowledge and studies. It is likely that a number of you would now wish to concentrate
on becoming more financially independent and perhaps to start thinking of raising a
family and would like to take a break from your studies. It is hoped that this will be a
short break and surely, given the opportunities available today with emerging novel
information and communication technologies (ICT) for facilitating learning, some of the
past barriers for continuing education have been overcome. Continuing education and
professional development are crucial and achievable. For example, parental leave can be
a golden opportunity to further one’s studies during which time you need not concentrate
solely on child care. I am aware that a number of parents (particularly women) who
would have invested in 20 or so years of education find themselves rather lost when
suddenly their life takes a turn to parenthood. But indeed, given the resources available
today committed care for your children should not restrict you from going on with your
studies. Quality time is the key to successful parenthood and the same applies for
learning. So why not do both at the same time? The spirit of your initiative and stamina
should live on.
Hence, I invite you to reflect on this suggestion and to make wise efforts to create your
own opportunity for further education. Our pride is the students’ accomplishments when
they proceed to postgraduate studies. Thanks to local funding bodies such as the Malta
Government Scholarship Scheme (MGSS) and the Strategic Educational Pathways
Scholarships (STEPS) Maltese students are more than ever being given the opportunity to
further their studies by enrolling in a Master or a Doctoral degree programme. The local
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Government, graduate recruiters and other entities need to engage in further discussion to
seek and implement strategies that maintain and expand these opportunities that
complement life-long learning. Meanwhile, it is important that our aptitude, attitude and
acumen for further education be maintained throughout our working life.
In the 21st Century we are also expected to become more culturally and globally
competent and not merely focus our learning to acquire knowledge specific to a
discipline or area of study. My understanding of cultural competence refers to the
awareness of multiculturalism and to the ability to engage effectively with people of
diverse cultures. Developing cultural competence results in an ability to understand,
communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures. On the other
hand, global competence will be achieved once we manage to understand, analyse and
evaluate the meaning of any knowledge that we acquire in the context of an increasingly
globalized world. As graduates come out of the educational shelter they need to ensure
that they achieve cultural and global competence in order to become responsible global
citizens. In this respect communication, care, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking
and empathy are core values required of us professionals in order to function effectively
and to serve those around us in this era when individualism strives to prevail. Indeed,
such skills make one a great leader.
Over the centuries, we have seen examples of such great leaders. To mention a few, I
consider Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill, Fr Peter Serracino Inglott
and Professor John Rizzo Naudi to have been endowed with effective cultural and global
competences; we need to consider these great people as models and try to follow their
lead. A leader is expected to bring solutions. Great leaders are not necessarily more
talented than the majority of people. They simply know what they want and work with all
their might to make that happen. They do not allow events and circumstances to dictate
what will happen to them. They use vision to rise above adversity, setbacks, and failure.
Dear graduands, you have been trained to do this; during your days at our University you
have been given the tools to lead in the most effective way. It is now up to you to use
these tools, skills and competences to proceed to serve the underserved and to fulfil your
wishes. During his speech at the opening ceremony of this academic year Rector urged us
to pursue our dreams. The University’s pleasant physical environment and friendly staff
helped you to achieve one of your dreams. With increasing opportunities for mobility we
need to nurture our Maltese identity and distinctiveness which is often rooted in
exemplary hospitality and a strong awareness of the underserved populations. Whichever
work bench you may take there are always opportunities to be sensitive to the
marginalized community and to cater for this sector of the population.
We are living in exciting times full of opportunities and as emerging professionals you
can play a significant role in acting as agents of change. I join other educators,
governmental authorities and policy makers in urging you to establish the bridge to
society which would enable the transfer of scientific knowledge and technology for the
well-being and development of Maltese society and beyond. Your task is not only to
preserve your significant accomplishments of the past, but even more importantly, to be
wise in discerning, appreciating and nurturing knowledge, skills, professional ethics and
loyalty in order to guarantee sustainability. Our human potential and history have
contributed to overcome some of our limitations as a small nation. In spite of its relative
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smallness, I am sure that you agree with me that Malta is offering a high quality tertiary
education that enjoys a high reputation within and outside the European arena. This
reputation has developed gradually over the past 4 centuries or so since the establishment
of our Alma Mater. However, with the participation in European and international
mobility programmes for students and staff such as Erasmus, Erasmus Mundus,
Grundtvig and other sponsorship programmes, our University population has gained
more trust by fellow colleagues and students as very often we are considered as an
exemplary institution in terms of quality and standards of education. We seem to have
become victims of our own success with the overwhelming number of incoming Erasmus
applicants who want to fulfil part of their programme of studies at our University. We
have established this reputation as we believe in quality and having the learner being the
centre of attention receiving the latest standards in education. But of course, this comes at
a price.
We have been stretching resources to the extent that academic colleagues such as external
examiners are amazed at how we manage to maintain such high standards of education
and training. They find our students to be hard-working and good problem-solvers though
in some instances they suggest improvements in practical hands-on skills. We have been
addressing this issue in various ways. For example, within the Faculty of Health Sciences
we have University clinics and laboratories to complement the teaching where our
students observe our demonstrations and also have the opportunity for hands-on
experience with clients or patients under the supervision of qualified practitioners. I am
convinced that the students’ needs in terms of building employment skills and
professional competences would be even more addressed if the University were better
funded and more adequately resourced.
One of the four strategic objectives of the Further and Higher Education Strategy 2020
(NCHE, 2009) is to establish Malta as a centre of excellence in education and research. In
particular, it is indicated that local research should focus on a broad range of areas that
reflect strategic national priority. Indeed, we have set a good pace to achieve this
objective since the launch of this strategy. As for academics we are obliged to engage in
more postgraduate research work. Given the time and other constraints it is amazing how
a significant number of academics in Malta have taken leadership and partnership of
projects and have been acknowledged by international colleagues and research entities
for the high quality research they are producing. For example, recently we heard about
the first Maltese journal indexed in a US medical database reputed for its scientific
quality. A more recent recognition was presented by the President of the Republic of
Ireland to a member of staff of this University for her leadership of a project in the
Seventh EU Framework Programme for Research. The increasing involvement of
University staff in research particularly in the EU Framework Programme for Research is
to be commended. Research networking opportunities such as through the COST
programme are increasingly being taken up by staff of the University. However, we are
struggling to maintain and enhance our research profile.
The scarcity of research assistants, research funds and research laboratory space needs to
be better addressed. Since academics are increasingly urged to engage in research
activities their lecturing and administration load cannot remain escalating. Developing
science to meet current and future needs does not only require potential and stamina but
is also dependent on support. If necessary we need to reframe perceptions of research
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within a local culture where scientific knowledge may not necessarily be considered as
being crucial for the well-being and development of society. Malta’s National Strategic
Plan for Research & Innovation: 2011-2020 (MCST, 2011) highlights various
recommendations to address this urgent need and to consider research, development and
innovation as a national priority. We must continue to aspire to contribute to scientific
knowledge and its transfer.
In order to establish this we need to plan and implement the dissemination and
exploitation of our research by establishing better links with industry and end users.
Opportunities in this respect are now being created, such as the Commercialisation
Programme which was recently launched by the Malta Council for Science and
Technology (MCST) in order to help researchers commercialise their novel research
products. This programme offers funding in the form of grants to assist researchers and
enterprises to access expert advice and services in order to develop better opportunities
for commercialization. However, we need to set more mechanisms to acknowledge the
research being currently conducted locally and to promote a structured dialogue among
researchers and stakeholders in the socio-economic development sphere. It is time that
we stop shelving our research data and findings but use these to address better the needs
of our community. This will further encourage students and researchers to undertake
studies in the areas of national priority that reflect on Malta’s economic, cultural and
social development. Meanwhile, let us keep our global focus and engage in international
dialogue to retain flexibility to identify and respond to opportunities in upcoming areas of
science and technology. Developing science to meet current and future needs requires the
consolidation of our efforts in pursuit of achieving research excellence.
Our University aims to achieve excellence and accountability in research, lecturing and
administration. We rely on external funds to survive and to maintain and enhance our
high standards of education and research. It is high time that external sources invest in
our potential as the University is the backbone for tomorrow’s success. Governmental
bodies and stakeholders need to consolidate resources that exist within the University that
are relevant to the areas of national priority so as to plan and implement more evidencebased and effective strategies as well as monitor and evaluate ongoing national
programmes more objectively.
Considering that we cherish 2 official languages and that very often the Maltese are
proficient in a third or more languages, I feel it is not only a privilege but also essential
that I switch to say a few words in my vernacular. Malta has been on the frontline in
terms of bilingual education policy which is today promoted by the EU. Being the highest
educational institution, our University needs to preserve our multilingual spirit and as
products of this institution I urge this year’s graduands to discern, appreciate and nurture
this spirit wherever you go.
F’isem sħabi membri tal-korp akkademiku nixtieq nifraħ lill-gradwanti kollha li għadkom
kif lestejtu l-mixja ta’ xogħol iebes, sagrifiċċji u stamina, li wasslitkom biex tilħqu dak li
xtaqtu wara numru ta’ snin u sigħat twal ta’ studju. L-għeżież tagħkom ħaqqhom premju
kumplimentari għas-sapport li tawkom li għinkom tirċievu dak li ilkom tistinkaw għalih.
Bħala omm, jiena konxja li l-ġenituri u l-imsieħba tagħkom sofrew magħkom matul ilvjaġġ li wassalkom għal dan is-suċċess. Għaldaqstant, prosit ġenituri u msieħba! Qed
inħoss l-eċċitament u s-solliev li lkoll qed tħossu f’din l-awla. M’hemm l-ebda
sodisfazzjon ikbar milli tkun xhieda tas-suċċess u tat-twettiq ta’ ħolm tal-għeżież tiegħek.
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Għeżież gradwanti, nispera li din mhix l-aħħar tarġa tat-triq tal-edukazzjoni tagħkom,
iżda l-bidu ta’ proċess ta’ tagħlim tul ħajjitkom. Għandkom tibqgħu għaddejjin
irrispettivament minn jekk intomx irġiel jew nisa. Il-Kummissjoni Ewropea qed tinvesti
ħafna biex tippromwovi approċċ sensittiv għall-kwistjonijiet relatati mas-sessi, fuq il-post
tax-xogħol, fl-edukazzjoni u fir-riċerka.
Probabbilment, numru minnkom tixtiequ tikkonċentraw biex issiru finanzjarjament
indipendenti u forsi tibdew taħsbu biex tibnu familja u għaldaqstant, tridu taqtgħu millistudju. Nisperaw li dan ikun break qasir, u bla dubju, bl-opportunitajiet li hawn illum,
bit-teknoloġija tal-informazzjoni u l-komunikazzjoni (ICT) innovattiva biex tħeġġeġ
it-tagħlim, xi ostakli tal-passat għal edukazzjoni kontinwa ġew megħluba. L-edukazzjoni
kontinwa u l-iżvilupp professjonali huma kruċjali u jistgħu jinkisbu.
Fis-Seklu 21, aħna mistennija li nsiru iktar kompetenti kulturalment u globalment u ma
niffukawx biss fuq tagħlim biex nakkwistaw għarfien f’dixxiplina speċifika jew qasam
ta’ studju. F’dan ir-rispett, il-komunikazzjoni, il-kura, il-kollaborazzjoni, il-kreattività u lħsieb kreattiv huma valuri sodi bżonnjużi biex insalvaw u biex inservu lil dawk ta’
madwarna f’din l-era fejn l-individwaliżmu jistinka biex jirrenja. Qed ngħixu fi żminijiet
eċċitanti mimlija b’opportunitajiet u bħala professjonisti emerġenti tistgħu jkollkom rwol
sinifikanti fejn tkunu aġenti ta’ bidla. Jiena ningħaqad ma’ edukaturi oħra, malawtoritajiet tal-Gvern u mal-policy makers biex inħeġġiġkom tistabbilixxu pont lejn issoċjetà li jippermetti t-trasferiment ta’ għarfien xjentifiku u teknoloġija għall-benesseri u
l-iżvilupp tas-soċjetà Maltija u lil hinn minnha.
Wieħed mill-objettivi strateġiċi tal-Further and Higher Education Strategy 2020 (NCHE,
2009) huwa li Malta tkun stabbilita bħala ċentru ta’ eċċellenza fl-edukazzjoni u r-riċerka.
Huwa partikolarment indikat li r-riċerka lokali għandha tiffoka fuq diversi oqsma li
jirriflettu prijorità strateġika lokali. Bla dubju, stabbilixxejna pass tajjeb biex nilħqu dan
l-objettiv kemm ilha li tnediet din l-istrateġija. Aħna niddependu minn fondi esterni biex
inżommu livelli għolja ta’ edukazzjoni u riċerka. Dan huwa l-ħin opportun li sorsi esterni
jinvestu fil-potenzjal tagħna għax l-Università hija s-sinsla tas-suċċess ta’ għada.
Nirringrazzjakom.
Thank you.
References
Malta Council for Science and Technology (2011). Malta’s National
Research & Innovation: 2011-2020. Bighi: Malta.
Strategic Plan for
National Commission for Higher Education (2009). Further and Higher Education
Strategy 2020. Valletta: Malta.
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