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Postal Address:
University of Malta
Msida MSD 06
MALTA
http://www.um.edu.mt/
Tel: (356) 333903-6
Fax: (356) 336450
DDI: (356) 3290 + extension no.
The University of Malta traces its origins to the founding of the Collegium Melitense in 1592. This college was run by the Jesuits and catered for non-Jesuit students. In 1578, Pope Gregory XIII empowered the Jesuits to confer the degrees of Magister Philosphiae and Doctor Divinitas. However, other subjects such as Grammar and the Humanities were also taught.
Following the abatement of the plague of 1675, Grand Master Nicol~ Cotoner appointed Fra Dr. Giuseppe Zammit as "lettore" in Anatomy and Surgery at the Sacra Infermeria on the 19th October 1676. Zammit went on to establish the first medical library on the island as well as a medicinal herbal garden in one of the ditches of Fort Saint Elmo.
After the expulsion of the Jesuit Order from Malta in 1768, Grand Master Pinto appropriated all the revenue accruing from its property on the island and established a "Pubblica Universit^ di Studi Generali". The decree constituting the University was signed by Pinto on the 22nd November 1769. Two years later, a Collegio Medici was set up as one of the faculties making up the University. It appears that the Medical Faculty was the only one staffed solely by local lecturers, a tradition which has been maintained through the centuries.
During the brief French interregnum of 1798, Napoleon abolished the University. Fortunately, shortly after the French were forced to leave, Sir Alexander Ball re-instituted the University. During the British period the University's statutes and regulations were brought into line with universities in the United Kingdom. The present coat of arms and the motto "Ut Fructificemus Deo" were proposed in 1923 by the rector, Professor Sir Themistocles Zammit. Following the Second World War, the Library and support structures were strengthened. In 1968 a new Medical School was build near St Luke's Hospital in Guardamangia and, at the same time, the new campus at Msida was inaugurated.
The University is the highest teaching institution of the State and is open to all those who have the requisite qualifications. There are some 7000 students including 400 foreign students, following full or part-time degree and diploma courses, many of them run on the modular or credit system. In 1997, some 1,700 students graduated in various disciplines. The degree courses at the University are designed to produce highly qualified professionals, with experience of research, who will play key roles in industry, commerce and public affairs in general.
Associated with the University is the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies while the campus is also home to the IMO International Maritime Law Institute and the International Ocean Institute Malta Operational Centre. The University of the Third Age was inaugurated in 1993 and membership has reached the 820 mark.
There are a number of fields which the University has identified as priority areas: relations with industry and the strengthening of the Engineering departments; the further development of information technology, computer science and artificial intelligence; the University"s contribution to the improvement of primary and secondary education and the forging of inter-university links to stimulate a burgeoning of international educational exchange.
The University of Malta is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the Utrecht Network, the Council for International Educational Exchange (CIEE), NAFSA, the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) as well as the Santander Network and the Compostela Group.
Malta, Gozo and Comino, the inhabited islands of the Maltese archipelago, lie at almost the exact geographical heart of the Mediterranean Sea. With Sicily some 60 miles to the North, Tripoli 220 miles to the South and Tunis 200 miles to the West, Malta is virtually at the crossroads between continents. The islands' strategic position has, in fact, made them subject to a succession of rulers, who in turn left their influence on the country and language as we know them today. Malta's pre-history dates back to 5000 B.C., whilst its documented past is traceable over a period of 2000 years.
In 1964 Malta obtained its political independence from Britain and in 1974 it became a Republic. Elections to the House of Representatives are held every five years. Malta is a member of the United Nations and its various organisations and ever since 1964 has taken an active role in United Nations affairs. In 1967 Malta launched the idea of seabed resources being the common heritage of mankind. Malta has been an associate member of the European Community for many years.
The national language is Maltese which is a complex derivative of Semitic and Romance languages using a primarily Latin alphabet but also including a number of additional letters which originate in the Arab language. English is also an official language. The climate is typically Mediterranean, having mild winters and hot summers. Malta has a population of 365,000 and is visited annually by over one million tourists. Air Malta and other international airlines link Malta with the major European and North African cities. There are daily connections to London (Heathrow and Gatwick Airports) and Rome as well as frequent direct flights to Milan, Brussels, Paris, Frankfurt, Athens, Tunis, Cairo, Tel Aviv and Dubai. A sophisticated telecommunications system and widespread access to telefax machines and cardphone-booths ensure easy international links.
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