Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/318021
Events 42 maltatoday, Sunday, 25 May 2014 KSU and University's Research Trust unveil students' caution money initiative GTS celebrates tenth anniversary Citadel supports the Lourdes pilgrimage Ten University students from the faculties of Engineering, Sciences and ICT will be spearheading a new initiative and donating their laboratory caution money deposits in aid of further research within their faculties. The new scheme, which was launched during the annual student awards night known as the KSU Kokka Night, will see final-year students pledging their laboratory caution money (deposits) to their respective faculties. This scheme is facilitated by the Research, In- novation and Development Trust (RIDT) of the University of Malta. Malcolm Zammit, Niki Brin- cat, Josmar Azzopardi, James At- tard, Shaun Maniscalco, Jonathan Camilleri (Faculty of Engineering), Katrina Grech, Rachelle Zammit (Faculty of Science), Tamara Cali- gari and Shaun Cassar (Faculty of ICT) are the pioneers kick-starting the laboratory caution money ini- tiative. RIDT and KSU will, in the coming weeks, strive to encourage more final-year students from the faculties of Engineering, Sciences and ICT to donate their deposits for further research within their respective faculties. "We are seeing a new trend in re- search funding coming from our own University students," said Wil- fred Kenely, RIDT's Chief Execu- tive Officer. "The reaching out and strengthening of collaborative rela- tions with student organisations, in particular KSU, are beginning to yield initial results. This initiative is to be commended. "Graduates now have the opportu- nity to give something back to Uni- versity by donating caution money towards their faculties through the research fund. We look forward to more cooperative projects in the future." "Through this initiative, we are aiming that the student body con- tributes a substantial amount of funds for research projects every year," said incoming KSU Presi- dent Gayle Lynn Callus. "We are confident that each year, students from the Faculties of Engineer- ing, Sciences and ICT will find no objection to pledge their one-time payment towards the research fund and thus will be investing in the next generation of students and the future of their respective faculties." "Being one of the first students to donate the caution money towards research is meaningful for me and I hope our initial donation motivates other students to join in this ini- tiative," said engineering graduate Malcolm Zammit. "A small dona- tion from every student will help to ensure support for the highly motivated researchers engaged in research work in their respective Faculties for the benefit of Maltese society." The funds being donated through this initiative will be directed to- wards specific research projects within the respective faculties. In the coming weeks, RIDT and KSU will be issuing the official volun- tary scheme through which all final year students from these faculties will be given the opportunity to do- nate their caution money. Students who would like further informa- tion about this initiative or wish to pledge their caution money im- mediately, should contact RIDT or KSU on info@ridt.org.mt or info@ ksu.org.mt Global Translation Solutions Ltd (GTS), one of the leading profes- sional translation agencies in Malta, is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its incorporation. The company is the first language company in Malta to be awarded both the ISO 9001 and EN 15038 (the European quality standard for the translations industry) certifica- tions from Lloyd's Register (LRQA). The Company has an increasingly bigger language portfolio, which includes all European languages as well as Chinese (Mandarin), Arabic and Russian amongst others. GTS traces its origins back to 2001, when the practice was estab- lished to cater for the demand for translation of EU documentation into Maltese and was incorporated in 2004. GTS is today a fully-f ledged lan- guage services organisation provid- ing translation and interpretation and related services both in Malta and abroad. The Company has a core in-house staff of eight com- plemented by a network of part- ner firms worldwide and a fully qualified complement of around five hundred translators. It is also a member of a number of interna- tional language services networks. One of Citadel's corporate social responsibility focuses is to engage and work with less fortunate mem- bers of society and partner with external non-profit organisations to participate in activities to benefit the local community. Over the years, Citadel has sup- ported the Lourdes pilgrimage as part of this Social Responsibility program and this year was no dif- ferent. The Company sponsored the travelling and accommodation costs of one patient to accompany the Order of Malta's 56th Interna- tional Pilgrimage to Lourdes held in May. Citadel is proud to con- tribute towards the yearly Order of Malta initiative, whose enormous logistical efforts to organise these pilgrimages create a significant spiritual experience to patients vis- iting the shrine. The Company recognises the excellent work performed by the Knights, Dames and volunteers from the Order of Malta and urges the community to become more in- volved in these or other new activi- ties and support this foundation by volunteering, or by giving monitory donations. Visit www.orderofmalta- malta.org.mt for more information about the Order. Regulated by the MFSA, Citadel Insurance offers a range of insur- ance products, from car to travel, home, marine, business and life. For more information you may visit their website www.citadelplc.com or any of their branches in Malta and Gozo. Government to sustain growth in financial services industry with proactive strategy "The Government is committed to sustaining the critical success fac- tors which make Malta such an at- tractive location for financial serv- ices investments", said Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Business, Dr. Chris Cardona, in his opening speech at the FinanceMalta 7th Annual Conference on May 15th. Minister Cardona was one of the 42 speakers featured throughout the annual conference, which has become a staple event in Malta's financial calendar due to its heavy attendance from practitioners and exponents from the EU's flourishing investment community. During his speech, DCardona singled out the need for govern- ment to assist the private sector by providing more funding to SMEs, a point which was also thoroughly explained by Professor of Banking & Finance at Bangor University in Wales, Phil Molyneux, who intro- duced a panel session on the topic. Small and medium-sized enter- prises constitute 99% of Malta's firms and contribute to circa 89% of the country's GDP, making them a key component to bringing innova- tive products and services to Malta. A lively debate between Alfred Sant (PL), Ray Bugeja (PN) and Ar- nold Cassola (AD), saw the three MEP candidates sound it off on the role of the EU in pushing Malta in the right economic direction. Each of them acknowledged that since its 2004 accession, the country has made leaps of progress in the finan- cial services industry. "This year's conference has clearly confirmed the joint effort of the pub- lic and private sectors in strength- ening the Maltese brand as a finan- cial services centre in the Euromed region. By reaching out to leading thinkers and having them share their views, we have put ourselves in a better position to attract more investment to our jurisdiction", said FinanceMalta's Head of Business Development, Bruno L'ecuyer. Bearing the theme 'Growth through Change and Adaptability', the 7th Annual Conference also highlighted Malta's direction to- wards triggering more growth through the provision of more eq- uity support, the adoption of the Solvency II Directive, the embracing of technological advancements and the implementation of a risk-based approach to deter money launder- ing. A solid proof of growth in the fi- nancial services industry are the country's 26 credit institutions which hold €90 billion in assets and the 600+ funds with a net asset value of almost €9 billion cited by Parlia- mentary Secretary for Competitive- ness and Economic Growth, Jose' Herrera, during his closing keynote address. "The success of this event rides on the unyielding support of each of our sponsors, who have helped us put together our most successful Conference yet. The FinanceMalta team would like to thank everyone for attending", concluded event chair and FinanceMalta Chairman, Kenneth Farrugia. Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Business Chris Cardona, delivering his keynote address during the FinanceMalta 7th Annual Conference The group of students who pledged their caution money taking a group selfie with Mario Cachia and Wilfred Kenely (centre), RIDT's campaign officer and CEO respectively during the KSU Kokka Night