If you’re among the percentage of students who feel an overwhelming sense of anxiety when thinking about the upcoming year, don’t worry, you’re not alone. However, there are steps you can take to make this transition easier on you.

University’s Mental Health Services

First, acknowledge your feelings and allow yourself to feel whatever it is you’re feeling. If you’re anxious about heading back to school, there’s no shame in admitting that. It might be a good idea to make use of university’s free mental health services where you will be able to speak with a professional who can help you make sense of your feelings and of the situation.

University’s counselling services operate between Monday to Friday, between 08:00-20:00, ensuring that even students with a packed schedule are able to find a slot that works for them. The staff is made up of a diverse team, with every person specialising in a different area. So, whether you need guidance on what your next steps after university should be, need help dealing with anxiety, or more complex feelings and emotions, there is a qualified member of staff who can help you.

Remember, going to therapy isn’t something you should be ashamed of, it’s why the service is there in the first place, to help students get accustomed to university life and tackle issues that might pop up.

Prioritise Self-care

If you don’t feel like you’re ready for therapy, there are other ways to manage back-to-school nerves. There’s still a few weeks left of summer, so make sure to dedicate some time for yourself. Prioritise your mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing by doing things you enjoy. Life is already hectic, so taking a few hours or days to unwind and recharge can help you get back on track.

Talk It Out

You can even talk to your classmates and see how they’re feeling. Since you’re embarking on this journey together, chances are you’ll have similar worries. Besides, who can understand your concerns better than students in your own course?

This semester, let’s all remember to be kinder to each other and offer a helping hand to those who might be struggling. If you need additional help, reach out to university’s free mental health services on counselling@um.edu.mt

The post Paving Way Through Academics | Chapter 2 – Prioritising Mental Health appeared first on The Third Eye.

So, why does the university still supports unpaid placements?

Some courses at the University of Malta require their students to undertake an unpaid placement with organisations and companies on the island. Some of these placements are held in the summer, while others are taken during the scholastic year.

The first argument people tend to bring up is that placements are a great way how students can be exposed to a job in their field of interest. While that might be true and will definitely look good on their CV, exposure never paid the bills.

Students who undergo placements, whether they’re during the summer or during the scholastic year, have to make time in their week for this placement. This usually results in students having to reduce the hours of their paying job.

For example, the Department of Social Policy, which falls under the Faculty of Social Well-being, requires the students to sit for a 200-hour placement during their first semester of their third year. On the other hand, the Department of Criminology, which also falls under the Faculty of Social Well-being, offers its students a choice when it comes to placements. Students can choose to sign up for a unit that requires a 50-hour placement as part of their semester. Moreover, the Department of Media and Communications, which falls under the Faculty of Media and Knowledge Studies, requires students to undergo a 100-hour placement that students can choose to start during the summer months before their third year.

What does this mean? Should placements be removed altogether? No, but a re-evaluation of how the university goes about placements should occur.

While students do ultimately manage to juggle their studies, the placement, their job(s), and any other extra-curriculum activities, a required placement does add more to their plate.

As one can see, every department has its own requirements for placements, with some departments not even offering placements in the first place. Since there isn’t one clear-cut rule or set of requirements when it comes to placements, every department has to tailor student aid according to their requirements. Gathering feedback from past students is definitely a good way to start. By seeing what past students would have preferred to be done differently or what benefits they would have liked to receive, the necessary changes would be implemented to adjust the experience for current students.

Overall, unpaid placements can be a valuable way for students to gain experience and prepare for their future careers. However, universities need to be proactive in supporting their students and ensuring that placements are accessible and beneficial for all students, regardless of their financial situation or other commitments.

The post Let’s Talk About Unpaid Placements appeared first on The Third Eye.

Here’s what Kristina Felice Pace had to say: 

What motivated you to run for the position of KSU Social Policy & Education Commissioner, and what do you hope to achieve in this role? 

Activism has always been a value instilled in me since I was a little girl. I believe that through healthy debates and working together to achieve results within the commission, students have the opportunity to act a catalyst for change. Having the ability to facilitate this has motivated me to run for the KSU Social Policy & Education role. 

Moreover, Felice Pace stated that she thrives on having a full timetable; from singing, piano, and her daily lectures. She believes that being able to juggle several extracurricular activities and meeting people from all walks of life has taught her to look at things from different perspectives, which she believes is essential when working with and addressing student concerns.

Felice Pace has also formed part of the Earth System Association (ESA) for two years, regarding it as an “extremely fruitful experience“. Her role within the organisation has taught her to “work and collaborate with other entities, effectively bridging the gap between the IES (Institute of Earth Systems) and its students, whilst giving me the platform to continue advocating for the environment.“

Felice Pace’s manifesto emphasised the importance of providing student organisations with a platform to discuss issues with the Commissioner as she believes the commission allows for “organisations to collaborate and engage in healthy debates.” These debates and discussions are essential as they give a voice to the students and enhance their university experience. Felice Pace promises to listen to every concern and issue brought up, hence emphasising the importance of organisations attending such meetings.

While students might not be as aware of the Commission as student organisations are, Felice Pace plans on addressing the gap between Commissioner and students by initiating “a social media campaign to not only publicise the commission and what it entails but to also showcase the work of the commission to the general student body.”

Her goal is for more students to voice their concerns and opinions to the Commissioner, hence allowing students to have a space where they feel heard and their issues can be addressed.

On behalf of The Third Eye and Insite, we wish both candidates the best of luck!

The post Kristina Felice Pace: Candidate for KSU Social Policy and Education Commissioner 2023/24 appeared first on The Third Eye.

Here’s what Kris Bajada had to say: 

What motivated you to run for the position of KSU Social Policy & Education Commissioner, and what do you hope to achieve in this role? 

I decided to run for the position of KSU Social Policy & Education Commissioner because I truly believe that I have great experience in the area of policy, being quite an active student for several years both on campus and off campus. While also having a great ability to bring organisations together on common resolutions surely makes me a strong candidate for the position at hand.  

Within the roles I have occupied I have always promoted collaboration between different student organisations for us to achieve a concrete goal and I will surely continue with this endeavour if I get elected as Commissioner. I plan on addressing a wide range of issues, to be a strong voice for all students and organisations and to strengthen the bond between KSU and the student organisations and student representatives. Henceforth, I want to foster a sense of community within the commission and through this unity, I strongly believe that the commission can be the engine that drives change not only at a university level but also at a national level.  

I strongly believe that together we can be the change! 

Furthermore, Bajada mentioned how his greatest achievement “were the talks Extinction Rebellion Malta had started with the Union of Professional Educators as well as with policy makers from both ends of the political spectrum where we emphasized the need to promote an environmental classroom for our future generations in which there is more emphasis on teaching children how to adopt a more sustainable way of living.” 

Another notable achievement of Bajada is Extinction Rebellion Malta’s Environmental Festival where individuals and organisations came together to raise awareness on the climate crisis. To organise such an event, Bajada mentioned that three important things were necessary. First, a great team. Second, contacting all the different organisations was essential to ensure community involvement. Third, to make the event about the community, the focus had to be on the community and not on the organising group. Extinction Rebellion intentionally left the name of their organisation off the event banner to show that the festival was not about them, but about the community.

“What does all this mean, you may be asking yourself, and how does this relate to the commission?“

Through this experience I have learnt not only the importance of teamwork but how to work with the various university student organisations for us to reach and achieve a shared goal.  

Bajada’s manifesto is a reflection of the issues and concerns shared and brought up by student organisations and representatives. If elected, Bajada will have a clear understanding of the issues which need to be tackled and addressed, while also breaking the barrier between the commission and organisations.

Bajada has been a member of several student organisations, such as UESA, Extinction Rebellion Malta , and his position as the post-graduate student representative for the Faculty of Science. Throughout his time as part of these organisations, he has learnt how to tackle any issues that may arise, work with different individuals, and how to adapt when things don’t go to plan.

He believes that communication is key with any organisation,

By talking honestly, together as a team to each other be it in Extinction Rebellion Malta or in UESA we have always overcome any differences and difficulties we may have faced and come out stronger at the end. 

Moreover, Bajada has previously run for the position of KSU president as an independent candidate, however, this year he decided to run for Commissioner as he recognised that his strengths lie within getting different organisations together. Due to his years of student activism, he has come to know several organisations and individuals personally, which would make communication between Commissioner and members that much easier.

His experience being the Social Policy Officer of UESA, Chairperson of Extinction Rebellion Malta and the Post-graduate student representative for the Faculty of Science have helped him gain knowledge and skills in the area of policy.

Although these qualities would make me a strong presidential candidate, I strongly believe that these qualities are better suited for the Commissioner as the Commissioner needs to be an individual that not only is strong in the field of policy but is also someone who is well known by the student body.   

Finally, it is evident that Bajada places importance on environmental issues and sustainability, which is why he plans to propose the following plans to the Environmental and Sustainability ad-hoc committee: 

• Pushing to set up an environmental taskforce with the goal of developing environmental policies around the University, Gozo, MDH and Junior College campuses with the objective that these campuses as a collective achieve carbon neutrality. Yearly targets would be set up to further increase the likelihood that the goals and objectives set by the taskforce would be achieved.   
• Bringing on board several local eNGOs to collaborate with student organisations  
• Pushing to implement a community garden within the various campuses 
• Seriously tackle the public transport system so that university students will find it easier to use public means of transport 
• Work with the canteen so as to reduce any additional waste from being created 
• Push so that the environmental awareness will be factored in the RAR assessment 

On behalf of The Third Eye and Insite, we wish both candidates the best of luck!

The post Kris Bajada: Candidate for KSU Social Policy and Education Commissioner 2023/2024 appeared first on The Third Eye.

Four computer science students, Michael Debono, Luke Bjorn Scerri, Luke Collins, and Giorgio Grigolo are currently under investigation after reporting a security breach they found in the FreeHour app to founder and CEO of the app, Zach Ciappara.

In a statement released by Michael Debono, he stated that the team found “a major flaw in the FreeHour app” back in October 2022. The students were able to identify this flaw by scanning through the app’s software. This vulnerability meant that student information, such as email addresses, location data, and control of their Google calendars were all at risk should this have been discovered by malicious hackers.

Debono’s Facebook statement continued with the following

Drawing on our experience in international cybersecurity competitions and expert guidance, we responsibly informed Freehour about the issue.

Their email was sent to FreeHour on October 18, 2022, along with a request for a “bug bounty”; a reward since the team uncovered this flaw in FreeHour’s back-end system. The students also gave FreeHour three months to fix this flaw before the students would disclose this information to the public. 

While FreeHour fixed the issues within 24 hours, with Zach Ciappara stating that “no user data was compromised“, their email was not received how they intended it to. Scerri, Debono, and Grigolo were arrested a month after their email, with their computers and equipment having been seized by the police.

At the time of their arrest, Collins was in England studying for his PhD and he was interviewed when he returned back to Malta for Christmas.

The students were told that their equipment would be returned to them in a matter of weeks, however, they still remain without their computers and other equipment. Debono has spoken out how it has been difficult for him to continue with his education and other responsibilities with his equipment not being available to him.

The police questioned whether the group had been given permission from the team behind the Freehour app to test their systems. To which they explained that since they had identified themselves to the server and were granted access to what they had requested, they had been given authorisation. 

The four students are being investigated under Article 337 of the Criminal Code. This states that it is “illegal to access an application without being duly authorised by an entitled person”. This means that the students could potentially face up to 4 years in prison, along with the maximum fine of €23,293. 

Ciappara, founder and CEO of FreeHour, contacted the office of the Information and Data Protection Commissioner and the Cyber Crime Unit as soon as he received the email, seeking for advice.

In a statement published by FreeHour, Ciappara stated that FreeHour had no intension of going after the students and that they were trying to stick to their legal obligation. Ciappara also claimed that he was not kept updated with the students’ investigation and that he was made aware of new information today.

Students’ Reaction and Backlash

Several students have taken to social media to voice their opinion on the current situation, with most of them showing solidarity and support with the four mentioned students.

Students have stated how FreeHour should have thanked the students for noticing this vulnerability in the system.

Words cannot even describe how proud I am of my friends who were able to reveal a potential data leak flaw in the system of one of Malta’s most popular mobile apps.

FreeHour Malta – shame on you. A group of students found a flaw in your system and you had them arrested, strip searched, and their devices taken away.

Katrina Cassar, Facebook statement

You had 4 people arrested for pointing out a security flaw in your system, instead of claiming responsibility for your incompetence you push the blame onto someone else. It’s disgraceful and extremely irresponsible.

Instagram comment

As this is an on-going investigation, The Third Eye aims to report accurate and timely information to our readers. We will continue to monitor and report as new information comes to light.

The post Students Outraged after Computer Science Students under Investigation after Uncovering Vulnerability Flaw in FreeHour’s Back-end System appeared first on The Third Eye.

The star player of the match was 18-year-old Tyrese Hayman, who scored four tries across four matches. In addition to Hayman’s impressive performance, Damian Mifsud and Virain Hariramani scored three and two tries respectively. UM Wolves captain Gabriel Seychell, along with club veterans Kurt Aquilina and Marco Gauci, also scored a try each.

Although the team suffered two identical 26-10 defeats to Kavallieri RFC, their wins against Overseas were a significant milestone in the club’s short history. The results also provided a solid foundation for the remaining four weekends of the MRFU 7s Series until the end of the season.

It’s worth noting that the UM Wolves RFC is a student-based rugby club that represents Malta in domestic competition. Furthermore, it’s the only sporting organization in the University of Malta to have a women’s team in official competition. This achievement marks the senior men’s second season in Malta’s only domestic rugby union league.

The club shared that the win was “an important moment in our club’s history which vindicates all the work that has been put in by everyone in the past five and a half years“. The club promised that they’re only getting started!

Interested in joining the Pack?

If you’re interested in joining the UM Wolves RFC and are older than 15 years of age, now is the perfect time! The club is looking for new members to join their men’s team, women’s team, and youth academy. Whether you’re a complete beginner of have experience playing rugby, you can fill in this form to receive further information.

The Third Eye congratulates the team on their historic win and wishes them luck in upcoming matches!

The post UM Wolves Claim Two Victories, Registering in their First Competitive Wins appeared first on The Third Eye.

With several claims being made about this software and how robots will inevitably take over the world, we decided to sit down with Chat GPT and see for ourselves what this software is capable of.

We started off strong, with the first question targeting the worry lecturers have with regards to this software.

Q: Many lecturers at the University of Malta are worried that students will use Chat GPT to write their assignments. To what extent can Chat GPT write credible and factual university-level assignments? 

A: As an AI language model, Chat GPT is capable of generating text that can be credible and factual. However, it’s important to note that Chat GPT is not a substitute for the critical thinking, analysis, and research skills that are required for university-level assignments. 

While Chat GPT can help students generate ideas and suggest possible phrasings, it cannot replace the independent thinking, research, and writing skills that are essential for academic success. In addition, it’s important for universities to educate their students on the responsible use of technology and to develop policies and guidelines to prevent academic dishonesty. 

While that answer will not be enough to put lecturer’s mind at ease, it shows that Chat GPT is not as capable of writing university-level assignments as much as it is thought.

Furthermore, in a world that is constantly being digitalised, with technological inventions happening regularly, we are at a point were we need to co-exist with technology. Which brings us to our next question: Should university lecturers embrace AI tools?

A: Yes, university lecturers can benefit from embracing AI tools in various ways. For example: 

• Automating administrative tasks: AI tools can help automate routine administrative tasks, such as grading and providing feedback on assignments, freeing up more time for lecturers to focus on teaching and research. 

• Personalising learning: AI tools can help lecturers personalise the learning experience for their students, such as by tailoring content and resources to individual learning styles and needs. 

• Improving research: AI tools can be used to improve research, such as by automating data analysis and text mining, or by helping to identify patterns and trends in large datasets. 

• Enhancing teaching: AI tools can help lecturers enhance their teaching, such as by generating content, suggesting discussion topics, and providing insights into student performance and learning outcomes. 

• Staying up-to-date: AI tools can help lecturers stay up-to-date with the latest research and teaching trends, such as by providing recommendations for new materials and resources. 

Such an answer shows that Chat GPT is not simply an AI tool that is going to do students’ work for them, but can also be of help to lecturers. Many might have been too focused on the negative aspect of Chat GPT, without realising that having this software at hand can help in the day-to-day tasks lecturers perform.

Lastly, we asked the question every one has been dying to know: There have been several claims that AI and robots will one day take over earth. To what degree is that statement true?

A: The idea that AI and robots will one day take over Earth is a popular science fiction trope, but it is not a likely scenario in the real world. While it is true that AI and robots are becoming increasingly capable and ubiquitous, there are several reasons why it is unlikely that they will take over Earth: 

• Limited capabilities: AI and robots are designed to perform specific tasks and are limited in their abilities outside of those tasks. They are not capable of independent thought or action beyond their programmed functions. 

• Lack of motivation: AI and robots do not have the desire or motivation to take over the world. They are programmed to perform tasks for specific purposes and do not have inherent goals or objectives beyond those tasks. 

While it is important to consider the potential risks and benefits of AI and robotics, the idea that they will take over Earth is not a realistic scenario. Rather, we should focus on developing and using AI and robots in ways that are safe, responsible, and beneficial to society. 

Our interview with Chat GPT can offer insight into what this software is capable of and to what extend. While it is a new invention and people are still sceptical about this tool, we have reached a point where inventions similar to Chat GPT, and possibly even better (or worse, depending on your point of view), will be created.

What new invention will pop up soon? I guess we’ll have to wait and see!

The post Inside the Mind of Chat GPT: An Exclusive Interview with the AI Software Lecturers are Fearing appeared first on The Third Eye.

LHON disease affects individuals in their 20s, and are at risk of losing their vision before the age of 40. Some individuals affected by this disease can first lose vision in one eye, and then the next, while others lose central vision, which will ultimately lead to blindness.

Matthias’ condition has progressed to the point where he cannot read nor write as this disease is affecting his central vision, making his studies that much more difficult.

Recently, Matthias was accepted to take part in a clinical trial in China, with the drug administration costing €850,000, which will be covered by the Chinese authorities. This has been achieved due to agreement signed between the National Alliance for the Support for Rare Diseases and the Chinese authorities with help of the Chinese Embassy in Malta.

Despite the medication for this trial being covered by the Chinese authorities, Matthias and his family are not covered when it comes to travel costs and accommodations.

How Can You Help?

Matthias and his family have started a fundraising campaign where you can place donations to help them cover the cost of travelling to China, purchasing the needed equipment, and any other medication and treatments needed.

The current amount raised is over €23,000, however the goal is to raise €250,000.

Furthermore, UESA is hosting a fundraising gala in order to raise more funds for this cause. The event will be held on February 25th at Giardini Lambrosa, Rabat, starting at 19:00. This event is open for everyone, including students and their parents, academics, and staff.

All of the proceeds from this event go directly to Matthias and his family.

The post “Let’s Unite for Matthias’ Eyesight” | A Fundraising Campaign appeared first on The Third Eye.

What’s So Great About Café Cuba?

Cuba means magical music and dance, cigar smoking, women and Che Guevara, rum and revolution. The very mention of this Caribbean island conjures up images of 1950s Cadillacs, colonial architecture, Ernest Hemingway sipping his daiquiri in a quiet corner of La Floridita and beautiful bodies swaying sensually to the sound of mambo and salsa. Cuba means easy living. Life moves slow there and people still have time to sing and play and dance in the streets.

Café Cuba

A Comfy Hangout Spot 

Thanks to Café Cuba’s comfortable seating that make it look like the set of “Friends” and a cosy setting, it’s the perfect spot where you can grab a delicious bite to eat, relax, or hang out with your friends! 

A High-quality Service 

Café Cuba’s staff are there to make your dining experience the best it can possibly be. While they guarantee mouth-watering food, they also make sure to not keep you waiting for your order. Since their most common customers are students with a busy and hectic schedule, they want you to have your meal as soon as possible so you can stop your stomach from growling in class and get on with your day!

A Great Place To Study

Café Cuba might not be the first place to come to mind when looking for a place to study, but it should be! Thanks to its various laptop points scattered around the restaurant, several seating options perfect for those who want to study alone or complete a group project, and a student-oriented ambiance, it has become the ideal spot for students to dine and study!

A Happy Time 

What makes you happy? For Café Cuba it’s having daily happy hours available for its customers to enjoy. Stop by between 16:00-19:00 and sip on refreshing cocktails to unwind after a hard day’s work. With a diverse cocktail menu to choose from, you’ll definitely find a cocktail that will hit the spot!

Hassle-free Parking 

We all know what a hassle parking can be, which is why Café Cuba wanted to give you one less thing to worry about. Dining at Café Cuba will give you two hours of free parking at Campus Hub!  

An Eventful Restaurant

Looking for a place to host your birthday party, work lunch, or student event? Café Cuba is available to book for both small and big events!

Speaking of events, the restaurant has two major events coming up in collaboration with The Third Eye that you surely don’t want to miss!

Join us on February 25 for a night of good music and where you’ll learn some amazing dance moves during our Salsa Night and on March 17 for an evening of poetry and prose at our Open Mic Night!

Keep an eye out on Café Cuba‘s and The Third Eye‘s socials for more updates and information on these upcoming events.

Head over to Café Cuba today for an experience like no other!

The post Café Cuba: Where Good Times and Good Food Meet appeared first on The Third Eye.

The Faculty of Dental Surgery at the University of Malta was one of the faculties impacted by the pandemic, with the faculty having to give up their office that was replaced by a ward and ancillary services, and a swabbing centre.

The students and staff agreed to this change as they understood the gravity of the situation. Ever since February 2021, around 90 students and staff have volunteered to administer the Covid vaccines, with the Dean of the Faculty, Prof Nikolai Attard, having organised this voluntary initiative and encouraged students to help whenever they could.

This effort was in collaboration with the Ministry for Health and the UM Mobile Dental Unit, with participants having worked throughout their academic year, summer holidays, and public holidays.

It is evident that students and staff had a lot to juggle, with their daily dental practice, lectures, exams, and helping out with the administration of vaccines.

So, why are they being denied their space back?

The change of their office into a ward was only supposed to be a temporary solution, however, the Malta Association of Dental Students have argued that students have now been left with “a space that is inadequate to suffice their needs”.

The Malta Association of Dental Surgery further stated that any

division of space within the present, and any new health related facility, should include the Faculty of Dental Surgery.

Faculty of Dental Surgery, via Facebook statement

Since students spend all of their years during their course working and studying in MDH’s teaching facilities, which include lab sessions, teaching clinical sessions, and ward rounds, the faculty deserves a permanent space that can house the students and meet their academic needs.

Since the pandemic, the faculty was moved 5 times around campus, which has caused logistical issues and has created unnecessary hassle.

The Faculty urges that

Any discussion on the allocation of space should place the Faculty of Dental Surgery high on the agenda of the University and government in view of its current situation, especially when one considers that other faculties already have plenty of space available within the hospital and on the Msida Campus.

Faculty of Dental Surgery, via Facebook statement

The post Faculty Of Dental Surgery Left Without Adequate Space To Study appeared first on The Third Eye.