Enlargement and the future of Europe

The EDRC Annual Conference was held last month, on the theme "Democracy and Bureaucracy: Enlargement and the Future of Europe". About 250 participants were addressed by prominent academics in Europe and other distinguished speakers on core issues related to the future shape of the European Union.

As an innovation this year it was decided to make the papers presented at the conference available on the EDRC Webpage (http://home.um.edu.mt/edrc/conferencepapers.html). Five are already accessible. The papers will be produced in book form and will be available from the EDRC within a few weeks. They provide an invaluable tool for understanding the core issues underlying the Europe-wide public debate on the kind of Europe in which European citizens wish to live in future.

M.Sc. in Electrical Power and Control Engineering

The University of Malta is offering an M.Sc. in Electrical Power and Control Engineering. The degree is open to graduates with an Honours degree in Electrical Engineering. Prospective students interested in this M.Sc. will be able to follow part of their degree at the University of Nottingham. This activity has been made possible through the Socrates programme.

The selected candidate will be required to follow some modules at Nottingham University from October to June 2003 and will then complete the rest of the modules and main thesis at the University of Malta.

Further information may be obtained from the Department of Electrical Power and Control at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Malta on telephone 2133-3995.

Interested parties must submit a curriculum vitae to the Department of Electrical Power and Control and also apply to participate in the Erasmus scheme by June 6. Erasmus applications are available from the Socrates Office, Room 104, Administration Building, University of Malta (tel: 3290-2204).

Kids on Campus

University Summer School has been running for the last five years with a new management team as from two years ago.

Kids on Campus Summer School has built a reputation for bringing out the creative streak in children and for teaching them new ways to tackle tasks. Based on the `Learning through Play` concept, Kids on Campus offers a fun-packed, eight-week programme full of age-appropriate activities.

These activities include arts and crafts, sports and game skills, IT and the Internet, drama and dance and Edward de Bono`s thinking skills and philosophy for children, all delivered by highly dedicated and suitably qualified staff.

Besides, all children over five years of age will also be able to attend weekly swimming lessons at the National Swimming Pool Complex, with lessons given by certified swimming instructors.

Fridays is Club day at Kids on Campus. Children may choose to participate in their favourite club including game skills, cooking, IT, Art, Dance, Drama... just to mention a few.

Kids on Campus will run daily from July 15 to September 6, with a break only on August 15 (public holiday) and16.

All the above-mentioned activities are held between 9 a.m. and noon, but Kids on Campus also thinks about working parents, offering extended hours (7.45 a.m.-1.45 p.m.). Parents and guardians may bring their children any time between 7.45 and 9 a.m. and pick them up between 12.30 and 1.45 p.m. Kids on Campus offers adequate supervision during the extended hours at no extra cost.

The closing date for registration is June 6, but due to the limited space available and the high demand, enrolment in Kids on Campus is on a first-come first-served basis.

University CD-ROM

The International Office has produced a CD about the University of Malta for the overseas market. The CD-ROM is an interactive multimedia tool incorporating information of use to prospective international students. This CD provides the necessary details with regards to requirements for entry to University courses, as well as course descriptions. It is designed to be consistent with the University of Malta Website and has direct Internet links to University Web pages.

The CD also incorporates two video clips showing the facilities at the University and interviews with international students and provides information on Malta and links to other sites of general interest about the Maltese Islands.

The CD is easy to use and navigate and provides a cost-effective means of reaching international students. Users of the CD may download an application form for course entry.

Mediterranean Maritime History Network

During the opening of the Mediterranean Maritime History Network`s inaugural conference, held in Malta recently, the Rector, Professor Roger Ellul Micallef, highlighted the importance given to teaching and research related to the sea and to the Mediterranean at our University.

Citing the sterling work done by the Mediterranean Institute, the IOI`s International Maritime Law Institute, the Faculty of Law and the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies among others, Professor Ellul Micallef welcomed the initiative to establish the network.

Aimed at bringing together those subscribing to a wide concept of maritime history, the network will seek to project the results of research well beyond the shores of the Inland Sea, using both publications and electronic means.

The conference brought together nearly 40 distinguished scholars from France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Spain, Tunisia, and the United Kingdom, and Professor Dominic Fenech, head of the Department of History, and Professor Henry Frendo, from the University of Malta.

Chaplaincy news - Malta and the EU

As a contribution to the debate about Malta`s negotiations with the European Union, the Jesuit Faith and Justice Centre has identified seven ethical principles drawn from Catholic social teaching that are relevant to the discussion.

These principles were debated at a seminar entitled "Tomorrow`s Europe, Today`s Debate: Ethical Perspectives" held yesterday at Mount St Joseph Retreat House, Targa Gap, Mosta.

The speakers were Fr Antoine Kerhuel, a French Jesuit expert on the EU and editor of Projet, and Dr Simon Busuttil, head of the Malta-EU Information Centre.

Further information may be obtained from the Centre (tel: 2125-1538/2167-7841, fax: 2180-1387, e-mail: cfj@waldonet.net.mt.)

The Gozo Observer

The April issue of The Gozo Observer (No. 7) is now available on the Web at: www.gozo.com/ugc. It contains articles relating to the future of Gozo quarries, Migration Studies and changes in population in Gozo, Margerita De Brincat, activities at the Gozo Centre, book reviews and a profile of painter George Scicluna.

Hard copies of the journal may also be obtained from the Gozo Centre (tel. 2156-4559; e-mail: ugc@um.edu.mt.) The executive editor would like to encourage students or staff writing a thesis relating to Gozo to send a summary of it for publication in the journal. All communication can be directed to: maurice.cauchi@um.edu.mt.

Participation in Algiers conference

Dr Carmel Cassar, senior lecturer in History at the Junior College, recently participated in the ninth session of the Conference Permanente de L`Audiovisuel Mediterranéen held in Algiers.

Dr Cassar, who was the guest of the Algerian Ministry of Culture and Communications, Mohamed Abbou, addressed the opening session of the conference on May 8 on "The Mediterranean: A Network of Communications".

He was also one of the main speakers in the Intercultural Workshop that followed on May 9 and 10, which was presided over by Professor Salvatore Bono of the University of Perugia.

Ph.Ds and post-doctoral fellowships

The Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC) has launched a call for expressions of interest in Ph.D.s and post-doctoral fellowships.

The fellowships aim to reinforce the Commission`s scientific capacity in all of its areas of involvement in the Framework programmes for research and technological development and to encourage young scientists to enhance their experience in an international, multicultural and multidisciplinary environment.

Further information may be obtained at: http://www.jrc.cec.eu.int or contact Berta Duane, Joint Research Centre, tel: 0039-0332-789-743, e-mail: jrc-recruitment-info@cec.eu.int.

Franco-Maltese evening at De La Salle

To celebrate the end of the second phase of the Comenius project, De La Salle Senior School presented a lively and amusing evening of entertainment on May 10 in the college hall. This event showed the good relations between the 24 French and 25 Maltese students involved in the language project.

After two weeks of excursions and project work, the 49 students found it difficult to say goodbye. Their last evening together was a fitting tribute to the co-operation and friendship fostered during the exchanges.

First on the programme was a delightful fashion show depicting Malta through the ages performed by the Maltese students. Two cavemen were the first on the catwalk and they were followed by other couples who modelled different costumes worn in Malta during various moments in history. Needless to say, the Norman models as well as Napoleon Bonaparte and his consort received thunderous applause from the French students, especially since the college boys had no qualms about parading as the fairer sex. The fashion show was brought to a close by "Freddie Portelli" singing cheerful, hand-clapping songs.

Soon it was the turn of the French students. Their first presentation entitled `Normandy through the Alphabet` gave interesting information about their homeland. A touching gesture at the end had eight students holding up their alphabet letters to read THANK YOU.

Next, a moving poem by Jacques Prevert was read, first in French and then in English. The college that the French students attend is named after this 20th century poet. And finally, the French girls took to the stage to perform a dance they choreographed themselves.

The 150 guests then enjoyed refreshments in the college grounds. Autographs were exchanged and not a few tears were shed as the young people who had shared so much together had to say au revoir.