Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/307854
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 7 MAY 2014 18 Events HSBC Malta Foundation supports IT Lab for disadvantaged youth A new IT laboratory has been opened in Santa Venera within the Foundation for Education Services (FES) 'Youth.inc' programme's re- cently acquired premises. The labo- ratory, to be equipped with support from HSBC Malta Foundation, will offer quality learning and develop- ment opportunities for children most in need of additional educa- tional support. During the opening ceremony, the Minister for Education and Employ- ment Evarist Bartolo said, "This new laboratory recognises the central importance of acquiring IT skills as a core aspect of education today. It is a reflection of the job market, which demands that our youth are also proficient in IT, and willing and able to adapt to new technologies as they develop. "As such, inclusive access to IT technologies has become a matter of equality in society. The Government commends FES for the considera- tion and significant effort required in making this quality IT Lab a real- ity for the benefit of our youth." "Through its generous support, HSBC Malta Foundation has helped us upgrade the premises and build a high quality IT Laboratory. This will provide much needed modern facilities for youths that have found difficulty in pursuing their studies for various reasons, including so- cial exclusion, cognitive delay, and learning difficulties," said Founda- tion for Education Services CEO Roderick Agius. The Foundation for Education Services reaches out to individuals and families most in need to provide opportunities for inclusion through a person-centred, holistic approach. As one of its most recently launched initiatives, Youth.inc provides a full time recognised and accredited educational programme for young people through formal, informal, and non formal learning. "Diversity and inclusion are core components at HSBC. We aim to promote and embed diversity and inclusion into our culture, values and practices both within HSBC as well as in the communities in which we operate," said HSBC Malta Foundation Chairperson Catherine Gonzi. "In line with this commitment, HSBC Malta Foundation is support- ing the Foundation for Education Services and its highly commend- able Youth.inc programme to help young people to reach their poten- tial." Concert of Italian Humanist music by Synapsis Trio EY – Educating accountants THE Italian Cultural Institute in Malta is holding a concert, 'Italian "Humanist" Music Today', for so- prano, clarinet and pianoforte by the Synapsis Trio on Friday, 9 May 2014 at 8 p.m. at the Casino Maltese, Val- letta. The programme of contemporary Italian chamber music will include a number of pieces that are being pre- miered, which is very pleasant to the ear. Some of the composers of these works will also be at hand to talk to the audience about their works. One of them, Giampaolo Testoni (www.gi- ampaolotestoni.com), is one of Italy's leading contemporary composers. Works by Federico Biscione, Alber- to Cara, Marco Gatto, Paolo Coggiola, Giampaolo Testoni and, Alessandro Cusatelli will be performed by the Synapsis Trio from Cosenza, Italy that is made up of Giorgia Teodoro (voice), Mariagaia Di Tommaso (clarinet) and Andrea Bosa (piano). Giorgia Teodoro (1989) graduated with honours at the Conservatory of Cosenza in Vocal Music with Mari- apia Piscitelli. Currently she is also studying Chamber Music with the Italian conductor Giuseppe Finzi. The winner of several musical competi- tions, she is particularly interested in the German Lieder repertoire of the XIX and XX centuries and in contem- porary music (with several premiers). Mariagaia Di Tommaso (1991) grad- uated with honours at the Conserva- tory of Cosenza. She is the winner of several competitions and currently plays in orchestras, ensembles and various chamber groups. Particularly interested in contemporary music, she is the first clarinet of Synapsis Trio. Andrea Bosa (1988), pianist and teacher, graduated in Cosenza's Con- servatory and followed seminars with Carlo Bruno, Franco Medori, Michele Campanella, Cristiano Burato, Boris Petrushanskij, Edith Murano, Michele Marvulli, Bernhard Pötsch, Riccardo Cecchetti, Sergio Perti- caroli, Agnieszka Przemyk-Bryła and Andrzej Pikul. In 2011, she performed Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto with the Orchestra of the Conserva- tory in Cosenza. She is also the pianist of Synapsis Trio. Entrance is free and dress is smart casual. Technology seminar focuses on ICT security MAJOR ICT security threats, next generation firewalls, the lat- est anti-x technologies, and tech- nological developments in secure authentication will be covered during a seminar organised by ICT Solutions in collaboration with leading ICT security technology suppliers. Various speakers will deliver presentations, including speakers from security leaders Fortinet, F- Secure and SafeNet. The seminar will be held on Wednesday, 14 May from 8:30 till 13:00 at the Xara Lodge, Limits of Rabat. ICT Solutions Manager Engi- neering Services Daniel Camilleri said: "ICT security has become a complex and critical subject for businesses. Until a few years back, it was considered by many as an avoidable expense. "Today, everyone understands the serious risks of not protecting the business – they are simply too big to ignore. Furthermore, prop- er ICT investment is required to comply with corporate governance best practices." Free of charge for IT profession- als, the seminar will be followed by a light lunch for further network- ing opportunities. Attendees may register online at www.ictsolutions.com.mt INTERNATIONAL Accounting Standards are constantly evolving. When new standards come into force, it is important to put matters in the relevant business context and provide insight into complex practical issues. People working in the industry would need to under- take extensive training courses to keep them up-to-date. They would also need the appropriate exposure to fully understand the impact of the changed. Herein lies a chal- lenge. The teaching staff at schools educating the next generation of accountants are not always abreast of these changes and their practical implications. EY, one of the 'big 4' global ac- counting firms, is taking a pro- active approach to address this issue. It has provided the Ac- counting Faculty at Junior College which currently has 377 students studying the subject with a three- volume set of books written by the International Financial Reporting Group of EY. The 2014 edition of International GAAP(r) sets IFRS in a practical context with numerous worked examples and hundreds of illustrations from the published financial reports of major listed companies from around the world. EY Country Managing Partner, Ro- nald Attard, said that, "It is vital that tomorrow's professionals in the field understand how complex practical issues should be resolved in the real world of global financial reporting. "These books will assist teach- ing staff and students in their aca- demic, practical and research work. As a fast growing 'big 4' firm in the field, we are constantly on the look- out for bright and talented people to join our team of over 200 people. We feel that supporting such initia- tives will be of a huge benefit to the industry in the long term." EY Country Managing Partner, Ronald Attard (right) Education Minister Evarist Bartolo (top): "This new laboratory recognises the central importance of acquiring IT skills"