University Gozo Centre marks 10th anniversary

The University Gozo Centre on Saturday paid a fitting tribute to the dedication and commitment of its students and lecturers during a ceremony marking its 10th anniversary.

Delivering the commemorative speech, UGC director Lino Briguglio said: "We have seen many things happen here. Students have got married during their studies, other have had babies, and still others found their soul-mates here.

"We passed through joyous experiences, especially when students graduated. We have seen students on the verge of desperation on learning that they failed a study unit and others in a state of jubilation after getting an 'A'.

"I presume this is normal for an institution of higher education - but for Gozo it is only normal because somebody had a vision and found it possible to turn it to reality," he said.

The centre was established in 1992 on the initiative of the then Gozo Minister Anton Tabone and University rector, Rev. Prof. Peter Serracino Inglott. Prof. Briguglio has been the UGC's director ever since its inception.

The events kicked off with Mass by Gozo Bishop Nikol Cauchi and an evening of popular classical music with the participation of soprano Anita Cauchi, conductor Mro Joe Fenech, pianist Livia Galea and the choir of the University of the Third Age.

A book outlining the major events during the past 10 years, with articles authored by university authorities, Gozo Ministry officials, lecturers and students has also been published to mark the event.

Prof. Briguglio outlined the difficulties when it came to persuading Maltese lecturers to travel to Gozo in the early days, and explained that the solution lay in organising lectures around the weekends to enable them to combine business with pleasure.

"The response of the lecturers was satisfactory, and the Gozo Centre took off, with the first BA course commencing in February, 1993.

"However, the star protagonists of the Gozo Centre story were the students. The first group of students that were accepted to join the BA course had made it possible for the Centre to come to life. It is true that they were the main beneficiaries of the service offered by the university, but it was thanks to them that an idea was transformed into an institution."

The centre moved to its current premises in Xewkija - a former mental hospital - in 1996, with the assistance of the Gozo Ministry. Before that, lectures were given at the post-secondary school in Victoria.

"We were, of course, aware of the predictable joke that the place was going to change from one mental institution into another - but this was a very small price to pay for acquiring such a beautiful building," Prof. Briguglio said.

He said the UGC was not an ordinary university institute.

"We organise a variety of courses on different disciplines, prepare time-tables, organise lecture rooms, approve payments of lecturers, act as the university office when it comes to applications for admissions, organise logistical support for courses, including travel and accommodation arrangements for lecturers, keep records of students' progress, administer tests and examinations, run the library and liaise with the ministry for Gozo.

"Over and above these, we have to look after the maintenance and upkeep of the building and its surrounding grounds. We also look after the welfare of the students and act as a guidance office.

"We also carry out research on Gozitan affairs, publish books on these, and cooperate with Gozitan organisations on matters of mutual interest. And, in addition to all this, we organise social activities, which I am glad to say, are considered as part of the cultural calendar of Gozo."

University of Malta rector Roger Ellul Micallef and Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono also addressed the audience.