A view from Southern Europe

Abstract

Born in the Mediterranean island of Malta with a population of around 400,000 inhabitants and a land mass of 316 km2 (122 sq mi), I was immersed in a postcolonial situation. I sharpened some of my knowledge of this field when holding a part time job as correspondent for an Arab financed newspaper. I eventually moved into teaching, taking up a teacher preparation programme on a full-time basis at our only university, the University of Malta which traces its origin to a Jesuit degree granting college set up in 1592. Having studied both as a full-time university student (University of Malta) and as an external student (with the University of London) I had, from the first days as an undergraduate, been fascinated by alternative routes to learning. I felt that opportunities for learning, especially at the university level, should be made available to all, including those holding full-time jobs [excerpt].