Malta University Holding Company Limited

Dec 2015—Jan 2016 Issue 24

Newsletter

Inside this issue:

Welcome to the twenty-fourth

issue of the MUHC newsletter.

The Brnd Wgn &

University Ring Road Races

01

CEO’s Corner 02

More details re The Brnd Wgn

& University Ring Road Races

04

Campus FM Radio Schedule 05

Upcoming MUC Courses

06

MUC New Year Drinks 07

Korean Students Lab &

Industrial Visits

07

Malta University Language

School students

08

Focus on Personnel—

Karl Grech

10

More details on Page 4

Group’s Performance

Christmas has come and gone and at the time of writing this piece, we are

well into the first quarter of 2016. In the meantime the Group’s financial

performance for last year has been audited and confirmed at the Annual

General Meeting and it is with renewed energy on the back of some very

positive results that we have started off the new financial year.

The Fun Run

We are bang in the middle of preparations for our biggest sports event of

the year – the Fun Run. This year it will be held on Sunday, 13th March.

We used to hold it every six months but due to changes in the format of

Discover University it has been turned into an annual appointment.

Actually, this year the event will officially be called the Brnd Wgn &

University Ring Road Races. This is mainly for two reasons:

the Title Sponsorship kindly given by Brnd Wgn, and

the inclusion of our event into the annual Athletics calendar of the

island.

This year’s event will feature a number of innovations making the half day

interesting all round leading up to the presentation of awards. I will not let

any cats out of the bag for now but I can assure you that it will be exciting

for everyone who makes an appearance on the day.

One new development I will divulge is that for the first time we, in

collaboration with our title sponsors, are working on launching a

fund raising campaign in aid of Hospice Malta on the new Zaar

Crowdfunding Platform. The campaign will run until the week after the

event itself so, in due time, please visit www.zaar.com.mt, follow the

instructions and make a donation for a very worthy cause.

CEO's Corner

Don’t forget that by actually participating in the running/walking events

themselves, you will also be helping Hospice because we donate half the

race proceeds to them.

Since the reintroduction of the event in 2013 I have always participated in

the 5km run, 2 km run and/or the relay team event. Actually, once I also

inadvertently took part in the children’s 800m run! I had to do this to

make sure that my kid, who was lagging behind, finished the lap. This

year, I have not decided as yet for which event/s to go for but I and my

family will definitely be there. I need to start moving though and do some

training.

This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever!

Smiling and Feeling Happy at Work

In the last newsletter I wrote about the importance of a proper handshake

at work. This time I stress the positives of smiling and genuinely feeling

happy at work. If one accompanies the other the better it is for you and

those in contact with you.

I find it imperative, especially in a managerial position, but not just, to

smile no matter what. Not a forced smile (might be taken for a sneer

otherwise) but genuine, friendly and ―to the eyes‖. Showing the teeth but

not too much. It will not happen automatically unless you genuinely feel

happy and fulfilled in your job, but, like anything, even with a smile,

practice makes perfect.

There is this wrong perception sometimes that working hard and enjoying

work is tantamount to being a sad workaholic. Nothing can be further than

the truth as far as I am concerned. I think developing a positive attitude is

actually contagious in a team. Mind you, enjoying your work is not the

same as having a good time either.

My mantra has always been to be positive and upbeat and if you happen to

be in some position of power exercise it with kindness and restraint. I find

it works wonders for you personally (inwardly), your reputation, your

team’s morale and ultimately your business prospects.

Cheers

Brnd Wgn & University Ring Road Races Sunday 13th March 2016

From 09:00 hrs at the University Athletics Track

Register now at this link. Full race information is available here.

Closing date: Wednesday 9th March

Fun for all ages, great prizes to be won

& an excellent team-building activity

5km Run/Walk – 2km Run/Walk – 5km Relay – 800m Children’s Fun Run

Half the proceeds will be donated to Hospice Malta.

Medal and goody bag for all participants

For further information, kindly send an email or

call us on (+356) 2340 8902 / 2331 3151/ 7924 9669.

Click here for

further information

on MUC courses.

On Friday 15th January 2016 afternoon, Malta University Consulting organised End of Year Drinks at the Malta University Residence Conference Room. Members of staff from the University from various Departments and stakeholders from industry and organisations that collaborated with the company throughout the year 2015 on Consultancy Projects, Laboratory Services and Training Courses were invited.

As MUC, we were involved in taking a group of Korean students from the University of Yeungnam to 2 lab tours and 3 industrial visits related to their area of studies to be able to understand some industrial practices in a non-formal learning environment and at the same time practise their listening and spoken technical English.

Professor Lee accompanied them for the first visit.

They have visited:

a) University of Malta – Chemistry Department labs

b) University of Malta – Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering labs

c) Sterling Chemicals Malta Ltd –

a pharmaceutical company;

d) Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Ltd; and

e) Microtek Medical Ltd

The Malta University Language School is optimistic and enthusiastic for this new year.

After a Christmas recess which first started with celebrations with all our teachers and

staff [see picture below], we commenced the academic year with a bang as we

welcomed over 75 students at our school.

We had a variety of courses for both our morning and evening classes. Our evening

courses have proved to be successful once again. Besides Maltese and Japanese

classes, this year we are proud to announce that we have introduced an evening IELTS

exam preparation course and an Arabic beginner ’ s course too. All these courses

are currently running and the positive feedback from both the teachers and students

we have received is very encouraging.

Our relations with South Korean universities have strengthened further. We are now

receiving students from 5 major universities, Konkuk University, Gachon University,

Yeungnam University College, Busan and Yeungnam University. These Universities

have entrusted us to provide General, Intensive and Specialised English. Furthermore

we have also provided Chemical English lessons. In collaboration with the Malta

University Consultancy and Training department, we have also organised Industrial

visits to our second group of Chemical Engineering students. We would like to thank

Dr. Alexia Pace Kiomall for her hard work and professionalism.

As a language school, we are very pleased with our performance for the month of

January, as it is always seen as a low season for language schools in Malta. On

average we have had six classrooms open throughout January and we are looking

forward to further increasing the school ’ s growth. As a matter of fact, the school will be

attending the annual FELTOM ELT conference to meet prospective agents and

understand the market for 2016.

Korean students from the

University of Yeungnam were

taken on lab tours and industrial

visits related to their area of

studies.

Moreover, we are establishing

s t r o n g e r t i e s w i t h t h e

International Office who are now

delivering talks at University to

our groups in order to showcase

the academic prowess of The

University of Malta. A special

thanks to Ms. Anna Callus and

Ms. Abigail Cortis for organising

these talks.

FOCUS ON PERSONNEL :

KARL GRECH

CROWDFUNDING PLATFORM MANAGER

Karl Grech is Manager for ZAAR Crowdfunding Platform, operated by P.E.I.

Ltd, Malta’s first crowdfunding platform aimed as an alternative access to

finance for start-ups, business projects & ideas.

The Malta University Holdings Company and the Malta Business Bureau have

set up ZAAR as the first offering: a donation/reward-based crowdfunding

platform, to promote entrepreneurship in Malta and support local start-ups.

ZAAR offers an alternative to raise finance for their projects and business ideas.

ZAAR is a corruption of the word ‘zghar’ in Maltese meaning ‘small’. For us it

has a dual meaning – starting from a small idea (the entrepreneurial side); and

the ‘supporters’ donate the equivalent of spare (small) change to back the idea

they believe in, this explains the concept of Crowdfunding. To learn more visit

www.zaar.com.mt or like us on facebook www.facebook.com/zaar.com.mt

Karl has had a varied career in the Hospitality & Tourism Industry, with local

and international organisations such as Hilton, Malta Tourism Authority,

Radisson SAS, and Island Caterers Ltd.

Voluntary experience forms a great part of Karl’s experience, through Junior

Chamber International (JCI) Malta, Karl had developed skills and competences

occupying the post of VIP Director of the Conference Organising Committee

for 2014 JCI European Conference in Malta attracting 1,300 delegates; 2010

National President; 2009 VP International & Deputy National President; 2008

VP Training as well as Junior Achievement Young Enterprise (Malta) volunteer

speaker for primary & secondary school programmes, amongst other

organisations.

Karl enjoys spending time with his wife, Rachel & 2 Daughters, Mathilda and

Tessa; travelling; reading, & attempts to keep fit by running.