The Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) held its third Council meeting at the University of Malta on Friday 26 January 2024, in order to explore collaboration opportunities in Economic, Social and Governance (ESG) principles, while showcasing the university's ongoing research initiatives to all social partners present.

The meeting was led by Deputy Chairperson Mr Mark Musu', with the participation of  the Minister for Education, Hon. Clifton Grima, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Dialogue, Hon. Andy Ellul, the Parliamentary Secretary for Research and Innovation Hon. Keith Azzopardi Tanti, UM Rector, Prof. Alfred J. Vella, as well as UM's Pro-Rector for Research and Knowledge Transfer, Prof. Ing. Simon G. Fabri.

Prof. Fabri provided an extensive overview of the University’s robust research endeavours. He highlighted over 200 new research projects and nearly a thousand publications undertaken during the academic year 2022-2023. His presentation can be accessed online. 

Prof. Andrew Azzopardi, Dean of the Faculty of Social Welfare, shed light on the faculty’s impactful research in social domains, emphasising the importance of disseminating findings to Government and Social Partners for public benefit. 

Dr Jonathan Spiteri, lecturer in the Faculty of Economics, Management, and Accountancy, explained the imperative for businesses to integrate ESG principles, promoting sustainability and future readiness to manage evolving risks. His presentation is available online.

Prof. Luciano Mule Stagno, Director of the Institute for Sustainable Energy, underscored the institute’s pivotal role in energy conservation research and technology development. His presentation can be accessed online. 

Prof. Simone Borg and Prof. Maria Attard from the Institute for Climate Change and Sustainable Development emphasised the crucial role of environmental discourse in shaping awareness and action for the betterment of society. Their presentation can be accessed online. 

Following the presentations, the social partners were given the opportunity to learn and observe more work that the University undertakes in the areas of research and innovation. On-site visits were held at the Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation (CEBI) and at the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering (DMME) laboratories, showcasing cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary collaboration.    

The visits included presentations on artificial intelligence and digital gaming, which provided insightful and practical knowledge on areas such as Big Data, Robotics and Fintech, highlighting the University’s multifaceted contributions to societal advancement, innovation and current industry needs.