Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1459407
3 Unity SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2022 A lot of water has gone under the bridge since the setting up of the Faculty for So- cial Wellbeing at the University of Malta back in 2012. Various challenges notwithstanding, disparate departments, centres and in- stitutes overcame the odds to morph into a Faculty that brings the lens upon human existence in both a holistic and non-pathologizing way through intersec- tional arenas, such as gender and sexual- ities, criminology, psychology, social pol- icy and social work, counselling, youth and community, gerontology and demen- tia, family and children, and disability. The Faculty was planned from the very beginning to prevent and mitigate against human vulnerability by strengthening academic rhetoric, but most and more importantly, acting as a catalyst for in- novative psycho-social and health care policies. The fact that most resident academics take an active role in the shaping, con- struction and implementation of welfare services, both nationally and internation- ally, is testament to the Faculty's coming of age. There has perhaps never been a greater need for the Faculty's work, research and care ethic. We are only one-third of the way in 2022 but one would be forgiven for think- ing that we are still in the year 2021 or even 2020. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the Maltese shores our lives turned upside down, almost suspended in a vacuous space, whereby long-held and steadfast boundaries between work, fam- ily and leisure melted in thin air. The Faculty never stopped working but COVID-19 became an extraordinary rare period for reflection, an atypical moment where one is able to recognise an ongoing key shift in the course of human history. It served to highlight the persistent, cu- mulative and disgraceful wellbeing dis- parities among different social groupings as women, persons with disabilities, and older persons, who found themselves at a greater risk of their quality of life being negatively impacted by the pandemic. Nevertheless, one has to look ahead and concentrate how society needs to change to accommodate an increasingly chang- ing social fabric. Unity, as a newspaper publication, pro- vides a snapshot of key social problems that Malta is currently facing and wrest- ing with following the various turning points and transitions experienced dur- ing the past decade. Although some of the stories reported herein make harrowing reads, the Faculty is united in striving tirelessly to work with stakeholders build a more equitable soci- ety, to ensure that all citizens have equal access to live a life of dignity and purpose irrespective of income, gender, sexuality, abilities, ethnicity and age. Since this cannot be achieved in silos, the Faculty's multi-disciplinary context is surely in pole-position to brings us closer to such a reality. Prof. Maureen Cole Social Policy & Social Work AUGUST 2012 was not like any other August. Normally, August is a time for winding down, for some relax- ation, for catching up on life. It was not to be. Because the Fac- ulty for Social Wellbeing had just been set up and I had been appointed the first Dean on the 1st August. Despite the apprehension about what might lie ahead, the excitement of the setting-up of the new faculty, the 14th Faculty of the University of Malta, pro- pelled me during that sweltering August. There was much to be done so we needed to get to work to ensure that all was in place by October and the start of the new academic year. We needed to hit the ground running… and we did! The setting up of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing had come about through the initiative of the then-Rector, Professor Juan- ito Camilleri, who in the spring of 2012 approached various ex- isting departments, institutes and centres with a 'social wellbe- ing' focus, to explore the possi- bility of bringing these academic entities together. This initiative was received well and after meetings with all the relevant stakeholders, the Rector's proposal for the setting up of the Faculty was approved by the University Senate and Council, the governing bodies of the university. The ethos of the Faculty for So- cial Wellbeing was reflected in its name. The faculty's gaze had to be outward looking. However it was now up to the heads and members of the departments of Counselling, Criminology, Fam- ily Studies, Psychology, Social Policy and Social Work, Youth and Community Studies, and the Disability Studies Unit (which formed the faculty at the time) to breathe life into that ethos. I interpreted my role as that of facilitator of this process. We spoke the same language as aca- demics from related substantive areas. However, we still needed to learn to sing from the same songbook. We were well supported in this process by the administrative staff of the faculty, as we slowly established the internal struc- tures which made it possible for the faculty to fulfil its functions. Not having a faculty building proved challenging, however we learnt to rely on the strengths of our common aims. We were a strong community of interest and that kept us going. The first weeks were dedicated to finalising the administrative and academic work required for the courses offered by the faculty. These rather fast-paced preparations helped us to coa- lesce as a faculty. We also had to select the col- our of the hood which students would wear during their gradu- ation in the Autumn – in effect, the faculty colours. These early decisions proved important as they helped to cement our de- veloping identity as a faculty. And we came together as heads of the different departments and deliberated about what colour best reflected the values of this our new faculty. Green it was to be: the symbol of hope. Our mission: an equitable society COVID highlighted the disgraceful wellbeing disparities among women, persons with disabilities, and older persons who were at greater risk of their quality of life being negatively impacted Beginnings A symbol of hope Prof. Marvin Formosa Gerontology and Dementia Studies Editorial The ethos of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing was reflected in its name. The faculty's gaze had to be outward looking The latest developments in Ukraine have generated great concern, es- pecially for resident academics and students at the University of Malta with personal ties to the region. The Faculty for Social Wellbeing condemns the violence in Ukraine, offers its solidarity with all those who are suffering as a result of the incursion, whilst standing for peace. Please know that there are many resources for students and community members alike who require support. The Faculty for Social Wellbe- ing is a caring community and we are here for each other through challenging situations. email socialwellbeing@um.edu.mt