“The main goal is to develop the University in order to modernize it”. Prof. Joe Friggieri introduced this idea at the Think2020 — the annual Studenti Demokristjani Maltin Conference held earlier on today, at SkyParks, Luqa. The Conference targeted issues concerning the way forward for a better University, with special attention to various aspects, including academic, research, funding, cultural and leisure facets of University life.
In his contribution, Prof. Friggieri referred to the Rector of University’s "2020 Vision or Optical Illusion’ document created back in 2010. He considered particularly projects such as the building of the ICT Faculty, which cost around 20 million euros, the construction of the IT Services building, with a price of about 8 million euros and other projects including the building of a new residence for students instead of the present Hal-Lija residence.
Stating that it is estimated that 5000 new students will be attending University by the year 2020, Prof. Friggieri emphasised the necessity to expand resources. He stressed that new buildings on campus are constructed not just to cater for the increasing amount of students, but also because of the new programs and courses introduced year after year.
In his speech, Prof. Friggieri also addressed the issue of funding. He held that there must be “qualitative progress” as “linear progress” alone is not enough, yet this requires an enormous injection of funds. Prof. Farrugia also stated that our country needs people who are not only specialists in their sector, but are also able to “think outside the box”. The University has tried to achieve this through the "Degree Plus’ programs offered to all students. He concluded that it is the University’s aim to achieve excellence in learning and that while the University experience gives the students numerous values, the students’ reciprocal contribution is valued.
Following Prof. Friggieri’s contribution, the students present were divided into five groups; each participating in five workshops aimed at voicing issues University students face together with finding solutions for such problems. These workshops each targeted different sectors of the University, namely "think Leisure’, conducted by Beppe Degiorgio, "think Education’, led by Gabriel Micallef, "think Environment’, held by Leo Muscat, "think Active’, conducted by Thomas Farrugia, and "think Opportunities’, led by Gianluca Sciberras.
The highly informative workshops addressed the steps that can be taken as a way forward to an improved University experience, including matters such as transport, academic stability, student health, foreign youth exchanges and active student participation.
