Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1517916
3 Unity SUNDAY 24 MARCH 2024 TIME flies! I remember as if it was yes- terday when the Dean, Prof. Andrew Azzopardi, pitched me his idea for the Faculty for Social Wellbeing to publish its own annual newspaper. A "news- paper which put forward the Faculty's sense of responsibility and concern for social problems and injustices" we pro- nounced in unison! And here we are, launching Unity's third edition! Definitely, not an un- anticipated outcome. My call for con- tributions always resulted in tens of positive replies from each stakeholder within the Faculty: resident academics, administration staff, and MPhil/PhD students. Reflecting on the submitted and pub- lished articles in this edition, one can never overemphasise the wide reper- toire of interests that characterises the Faculty for Social Wellbeing. The Facul- ty promotes research on contemporary issues of family life, with particular em- phasis on the promotion of resilience in family members, whilst also striving to educate and equip future counsellors with the necessary skills and capacities to become excellent and virtuous pro- fessionals in a variety of social and cul- tural settings. It is established in the national and in- ternational arenas as an arena of crim- inological research focusing its efforts in fields as diverse as policing, correc- tions, and spatio-temporal crime statis- tics. Gender and sexualities are also at the forefront of the Faculty's interests, as are youth, community studies, ageing and dementia studies which contrib- utes much to our understanding of the human life course. Psychology research and training of students in the scientific understanding of human behaviour and relationships, and mental health are paramount. Last but certainly not least the Facul- ty's social policy and social work educa- tion offers vibrant, exciting, demanding and relevant courses for both younger and mature students. As always, I wish to take the oppor- tunity to thank everyone involved in making this third edition of Unity a success, especially the Dean, the con- tributors and production team at Malt- aToday, and most specifically, Charlene Fabri who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. STUDENTS enrolled at the University of Malta (UM), both local and international, take great pride in being part of this prestigious institution. Consist- ently ranked in the top 2.85% among over 31,000 global high- er education institutions by the Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities, UM demonstrates a strong commitment to qual- ity. This commitment is evi- dent through its robust Internal Quality Assurance mechanisms, which foster a culture of excel- lence through ongoing profes- sional dialogue with both inter- nal and external stakeholders. UM is cognisant that quality is key to fulfil its important role in the social, economic, environ- mental and political develop- ment of our island. Consequent- ly, the University considers internal and external quality as- surance as complementary and mutually reinforcing. UM is dedicated to sustaining its glob- al reputation for excellence by embracing quality assurance as a means to celebrate achieve- ments and promote ongoing en- hancement. Chairing UM's Quality Assur- ance Committee and collabo- rating with colleagues across campus, our experiences un- derscore an unwavering ded- ication to providing the high- est quality tertiary education experience. Milestones such as the implementation of the Student Feedback and Assess- ment policies reflect our deter- mination to continuously en- rich the educational journey of our students. Regular Periodic Programme Reviews at UM are highly effective in ensuring ac- ademic relevance and quality, providing a structured mecha- nism for evaluating curriculum, learning, teaching, assessment and learning outcomes. These reviews promote stakeholder engagement, facilitate continu- ous improvement, fostering ad- aptability to emerging trends in higher education and industry. The effectiveness of this process hinges on the commitment and collaboration of various stake- holders, including academics, administration, students, and external stakeholders. Simultaneously, Boards of Study are diligently engaged in Annual Programme Reviews, necessitating a similar level of determination and collaboration from stakeholders. The Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) remains steadfast in providing continuous support through- out this process, recognising its impact on both continuous im- provement and decision-mak- ing within the academic land- scape. The commitment of all involved parties, particularly of Deans, Directors, Heads of De- partment, Programme Co-or- dinators, academics and ad- ministrative staff, undoubtedly contribute significantly to pro- gramme quality and the overall educational experience. However, this journey is dy- namic and requires us to adapt, evolve, and embrace new chal- lenges. In this context, the inval- uable contribution of the Kun- sill Studenti Universitarji (KSU) and the numerous student so- cieties is beyond measure. The constructive input and feedback from the student community enhance collaboration between the university administration and students. Student repre- sentatives' active involvement facilitates effective communica- tion channels, playing a pivotal role in implementing quality as- surance initiatives. Looking ahead, we must ad- dress challenges such as ad- vancing the use of Business Intelligence, enhancing digital processes, and preserving our standing in global university rankings. These endeavours demand the same tenacity that enabled us to succeed this far. As a professional communi- ty, we need to approach these challenges as opportunities for growth and excellence, reinforc- ing our commitment to provid- ing a meaningful tertiary educa- tion. Emphasising quality at UM is paramount, guaranteeing the provision of education that ad- heres to rigorous standards, holds international recogni- tion and equips students with essential skills for their future pursuits. This commitment to excellence not only fosters a renowned and long-standing global reputation for the uni- versity but also acts as a magnet for top-tier faculty, exceptional students, and valuable industry partnerships, thereby fortifying the institution's long-term suc- cess. As we contemplate the accom- plishments of the past years, our focus shifts to the future, recog- nising that UM's journey toward quality culture is an ongoing process marked by learning, ac- countability, and enhancement. The University's collective abil- ity to find solutions, attain ob- jectives, and deliver outstand- ing educational experiences for its international community is rooted in collaborative efforts. Through our collective endeav- ours, we will steer the course of continuous improvement, hon- ouring the University of Malta's commitment to excellence and preparing students to lead our future society. Welcome to Unity's THIRD edition! Nurturing excellence Prof. Marvin Formosa Department of Gerontology and Dementia Studies Editorial email socialwellbeing@um.edu.mt Prof. Frank Bezzina Pro-Rector for International Development & Quality Assurance Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the Faculty for Social Wellbeing Unity gazette do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Faculty.