Picture by Giola Cassar
The University of Malta is accepting applications till the end of August for a two-year evening Diploma in Maltese Literature starting in October 2018. Applications can be accessed through the University of Malta website at www.um.edu.mt/apply.
This is a part-time course in Maltese, with lectures on Monday and Wednesday from 17:30 to 20:30. Registration for the diploma opens once every two years. In the new course starting in October there is a new emphasis on research and course work and less emphasis on examinations.
The course is run by the Department of Maltese within the Faculty of Arts of the University of Malta. BNF Bank and Arts Council Malta are once again offering substantial financial support to those students who perform well in the course.
The units focus on the Romantic and Modernist periods of Maltese literature, but also on the writing of lyrics, the role of the reader in co-authoring a text, literary editing, creative writing, artificial intelligence, review writing, reading and presenting literature on radio and TV, and literature for children and young adults. The Diploma aims to engage critically and creatively with students, some of whom may already be broadcasters, event organisers, teachers, writers, or just passionate readers. It also addresses the dynamic critical and creative milieu of Malta in the 21st century.
The lecturers bring with them not only their different fields of academic specialization but also experience in the fields of creative writing, book production, publishing, public readings, participation in international literary events and projects, review writing, and promotion of literature in Malta and abroad.
The first group of students in this Diploma have been very positive about the course and their comments are included in a booklet produced for prospective students of the Diploma and available on the UM Department of Maltese website. They come from the areas of education, science, archaeology, law, manual work, translation, the civil service, and medicine.
A detailed description of the course and other information are available on the UM website, and on Facebook. Those interested can also write to malti.arts@um.edu.mt or phone on 2340 3387.
