GUG Annual General Meeting 2024

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On May 12th 2024, the Gozo University Group (hereinafter GUG) held its Annual General Meeting (hereinafter ‘AGM’) at the Don Bosco Oratory in Victoria, Gozo. The well-attended AGM reaffirms the visible growth and impact of GUG’s initiatives throughout this academic year.

The meeting, chaired by Estelle Scicluna, opened with an address from GUG President Christine Sultana. In her speech, Sultana went over the past year’s successes, notably the key events including Fresher’s Week, Wicked Wednesdays, the GUG Ball, and the introduction of Rizzu Saturdays. Additionally, Sultana reflected on the successful return of GOZO WEEK at the University Quad, an event which featured a diverse array of cultural, educational, and socio-political activities that livened up the university’s quad. On May 10th, 2024, GOZO WEEK was also recognised as the ‘KOKKA ATTIVITA” at Kokka Night, an event hosted by KSU. President Sultana then expressed her gratitude to the executive team for their pivotal roles in these achievements.

Following the President’s report, Joseph Mario Grech, the Financial Officer of GUG, presented a financial report, reaffirming the positive outcomes of the year.

GUG has consistently demonstrated its commitment to the Gozitan student community, particularly through its advocacy for improved educational facilities and transportation services.

A notable advancement in GUG’s efforts is the introduction of WiseFlow on Campus sessions at the Gozo Campus. This development is now part of a larger initiative to facilitate University examinations, including those involving SPSS and other software, as well as practical exams for local health science students, to be held in Gozo. Although we are not yet in a position to guarantee that all exams will be held in Gozo, GUG is actively engaging in ongoing discussions with relevant authorities to achieve this objective.

Furthermore, after persistent pressure, GUG was pleased to announce the reintroduction of the X300 bus route on a daily basis with significant revisions to the timetable from Cirkewwa to Mater Dei Hospital. Additionally, the introduction of the 300 bus route was a direct response to GUG’s efforts, ensuring that MCAST students now have access to reliable and efficient transportation.

While these developments are promising steps forward, GUG remains committed in seeking further enhancements.

Moreover, this year GUG actively engaged with several key political figures. GUG had the privilege of meeting with the President of the European Parliament, the Prime Minister of Malta, the Minister for Gozo, and several Members of the European Parliament candidates. With these discussions GUG highlighted the challenges and opportunities facing Gozo.

The AGM also saw the introduction of three important amendments to GUG’s Statute.  The first proposal revises the voting process in executive elections, specifying that in the event of a tie, a second vote will be conducted exclusively by the present executive members, with the Chair participating only if there is still an even number after this recount. The second proposal introduces a new role, the Gozo Liaison Officer, responsible for maintaining connections with KSU to enhance the Gozitan students’ experience at the university, organizing bi-monthly meetings, and addressing student issues. The third proposal redefines the responsibilities of the Education Officer, emphasising the need for maintaining close contact with the University’s Registrar and Gozo Campus, ensuring timely preparation of examination logistics, and organising relevant talks and conferences.

Subsequently, Sultana handed her presidency over to GUG’s Administration Secretary, Nathalia Borg, who will follow in Sultana’s successful footsteps with a promising term ahead. No elections were held with regard to the appointment of the Advisory and Vigilance Board, to which Christine Sultana, Joseph Mario Grech, and Matthias Refalo were duly appointed. The new executive for the term of 2024/25 consists of Nathalia Borg as President, Presley Clark as Vice-President, Elena Curmi as Administration Secretary, Eric Grech as Information Secretary, Matthew Grech as International Officer, Chantelle Mercieca to remain as Public Relations Officer, Krista Spiteri to remain as Marketing Officer, Matthias Mercieca as Education Officer, Pearl Ebejer as Events Officer, Elenia Xiberras as Social Media Officer, Gabriel Saliba as Financial Officer, Neil Casha as Social Policy Officer and Maya Bonnici as MCAST Officer.

On behalf of the GUG we would like to thank all those who showed an interest in forming part of our organisation and we hope to further aid students in our following executive term.

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Il-Grupp Universitarju Għawdxin (minn hawn ‘il quddiem GUG) kellu l-laqgħa Ġenerali Annwali (minn hawn ‘il quddiem AGM) tiegħu fit- 12 ta’ Mejju 2024 fl-Oratorju Don Bosco, ir- Rabat, Għawdex. L-AGM li kienet attenduta sew tafferma t-tkabbir u l-impatt viżibbli tal-inizjattivi tal-GUG matul din is-sena akkademika.

Il-laqgħa, ippreseduta minn Estelle Scicluna, fetħet bl-indirizz tal-President tal-GUG Christine Sultana. Fid-diskors tagħha, Sultana rriflettiet fuq is-suċċessi tas-sena li għaddiet, notevolment l-avvenimenti ewlenin fosthom Fresher’s Week, Wicked Wednesdays, il-Ballu tal-GUG, u l-introduzzjoni ta’ Rizzu Saturdays. Barra minn hekk, Sultana rriflettiet dwar ir-ritorn b’suċċess ta’ GOZO WEEK fil- Università, avveniment li kien fih firxa diversa ta’ attivitajiet kulturali, edukattivi u soċjo-politiċi. Fl-10 ta’ Mejju, 2024, GOZO WEEK ġie rikonoxxut wkoll bħala l-‘KOKKA ATTIVITA” f’Kokka Night, avveniment imtella’ mill-KSU. Il-President Sultana mbagħad esprimiet il-gratitudni tagħha lill-eżekuttiv għar-rwoli ċentrali tagħhom f’dawn il-kisbiet.

Barra minn hekk, l-Uffiċjal Finanzjarju tal-GUG, Joseph Mario Grech, ippreżenta rapport konċiż li enfasizza r-riżultati pożittivi miksuba matul is-sena.

Il-GUG dejjem wera l-impenn tiegħu lejn il-komunità tal-istudenti Għawdxin, b’mod partikolari fil-promozzjoni għal titjib fil-faċilitajiet edukattivi u servizzi tat-trasport.

Avvanz notevoli fl-isforzi tal-GUG huwa l-introduzzjoni tas-sessjonijiet WiseFlow fil-Kampus f’Għawdex. Dan l-iżvilupp issa huwa parti minn inizjattiva akbar biex niffaċilitaw l-eżamijiet tal-Università, inklużi dawk li jinvolvu l-SPSS u softwares oħrajn, kif ukoll eżamijiet prattiċi fix-xjenzi tas-saħħa, biex isiru f’Għawdex. Għalkemm għadna mhux f’pożizzjoni li niggarantixxu li l-eżamijiet kollha ser isiru f’Għawdex, il-GUG qed jidħol f’diskussjonijiet kontinwi mal-awtoritajiet rilevanti biex jilħaq dan l-għan.

Barra minn hekk, wara ħafna persistenza, il-GUG bi pjaċir ħabbar ir-reintroduzzjoni tar-rotta tal-karozza tal-linja X300 b’reviżjonijiet sinifikanti tal-iskeda mit-terminal ta’ Cirkewwa sal-Isptar Mater Dei. Barra minn hekk, l-introduzzjoni tar-rotta tal-karozza tal-linja 300 kienet rispons dirett għall-isforzi tal-GUG, li jiżgura li l-istudenti tal-MCAST issa għandhom aċċess għal trasport affidabbli u effiċjenti.

Filwaqt li dawn l-iżviluppi qed jippromettu passi ‘l quddiem, il-GUG jibqa’ impenjat li jikseb aktar titjib.

Barra minn hekk, din is-sena GUG involva ruħu b’mod attiv ma’ diversi figuri politiċi ewlenin. Filfatt l-GUG kellu l-privileġġ jiltaqa’ mal-President tal-Parlament Ewropew, il-Prim Ministru ta’ Malta, il-Ministru għal Għawdex, u diversi kandidati tal-Membri tal-Parlament Ewropew. F’dawn id-diskussjonijiet, l-GUG enfasizza l-isfidi u l-opportunitajiet f’ Għawdex.

Tħabbru tliet emendi importanti fl-Istatut tal-GUG.  L-ewwel proposta tirrevedi l-proċess tal-votazzjoni fl-elezzjonijiet eżekuttivi, billi tispeċifika li f’każ ta’ parità, it-tieni vot isir esklussivament mill-membri eżekuttivi preżenti, biċ-Chair tipparteċipa biss jekk ikun għad hemm għadd indaqs wara dan ir-rikont. It-tieni proposta tintroduċi rwol ġdid, il-Gozo Liaison Officer, responsabbli biex iżomm konnessjoni mal-KSU billi jorganizza laqgħat kull xahrejn, u jindirizza kwistjonijiet tal-istudenti. It-tielet proposta tiddefinixxi mill-ġdid ir-responsabbiltajiet tal-Uffiċjal tal-Edukazzjoni, tenfasizza l-ħtieġa li jinżamm kuntatt mill-qrib mar-Reġistratur tal-Università u l-Kampus ta’ Għawdex, tiżgura l-preparazzjoni fil-ħin tal-loġistika tal-eżamijiet, u torganizza taħditiet u konferenzi rilevanti.

Sussegwentement, Sultana, għaddiet il-presidenza għal fuq l-idejn tas-Segretarju tal-Amministrattiv tal-GUG, Nathalia Borg, li bla dubju, ser tkompli fuq il-ħidma ta’ suċċess li ħalliet warajha l-ex president, speċjalment meta nikkunsidraw l-avvenimenti ta’ suċċess u l-impenn sod biex jippromwovi l-komunità studenteska Għawdxija. Ma’ kien hemm l-ebda elezzjoni rigward l-appuntament tal-Bord Konsultattiv u tal-Viġilanza, fejn inħatru Christine Sultana, Joseph Mario Grech, and Matthias Refalo. L-eżekuttiv il-ġdid jikkonsisti f’Nathalia Borg bħala l-President, Presley Clark bħala il-Viċi President, Elena Curmi bħala s-Segretarju tal-Amministrattiv, Eric Grech bħala Segretarju tal-Informazzjoni, Matthew Grech bħala l- Uffiċjal Internazzjonali, Chantelle Mercieca ser tibqa fl-irwol tagħha bħala l-Uffiċjal tar-Relazzjonijiet Pubbliċi, Krista Spiteri ser tibqa fl-irwol tagħha bħala l-Uffiċjal tal-Kummerċ, Matthias Mercieca bħala l-Uffiċjal Edukattiv, Pearl Ebejer bħala Uffiċjal tal-Avvenimenti, Elenia Xiberras bħala l-Uffiċjal tal-Midja Soċjali, Gabriel Saliba bħala l-Uffiċjal tal-Finanzi, Neil Casha bħala l-Ufffiċjal għall-Politika Soċjali u Maya Bonnici  bħala l- Uffiċjal tal-MCAST .

F’isem il-GUG nixtiequ nirringrazzjaw lil dawk li wrew l-interess sabiex jiffurmaw parti mill- organizzazjoni taghna u nisperaw illi ser inkomplu nkunu ta’ għajnuna lilkhom l-istudenti fit- terminu eżekuttiv li ġej.