/library/oar/handle/123456789/93773 Mon, 03 Nov 2025 12:21:35 GMT 2025-11-03T12:21:35Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/110892 Title: Gender-based impact of COVID-19 on graduates working in the public service Abstract: This study examines the practical realities of how and whether working from home (WFH) policies during the Covid crisis equally affected male and female employees in the Maltese Public Service. The research was carried out using a mixed methods approach to data collection and analysis. Online questionnaires were designed to collect primary data from graduate public officers with children. In-depth interviews were held with senior Ministry officers to collect their experiential commentary on the Covid policies that were mandated for the public service. Secondary research data was collected through in-depth analysis of existing literature. This study revealed that for all households with two working parents, finding the time required to effectively manage both paid work and family demands was a constant challenge. Demand for care work intensified this challenge - particularly when schools were closed. Time demands were especially distressing for mothers who aspired to maintain their careers in the public service. Still, in the face of these new pressures, a material percentage of male partners stepped up to assure a more equitable distribution of the WFH burdens, thereby narrowing the gap in parental childcare duties that naturally exists in dual earner households. In spite of the stresses, however, the majority of respondents favoured a continuance of the WFH policy because of the flexibility that it bestowed upon both male and female employees. Description: B.A. (Hons) Pub.Admin.(Melit.) Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/110892 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/110891 Title: Evaluating Malta 2020-2021 : prosecution and Court decisions following the implementation of the Gender Based violence and Domestic Violence Unit Abstract: Purpose - The Maltese authorities pledged to heighten national legislation and revamp current GBV & DV services. Thus, the GBV & DV Unit within the Malta Police Force was set up to provide a specialised service and deal with GBV & DV offences. This study aims to evaluate this Unit's strengths and weaknesses and to evaluate changing trends in criminal court decisions after the implementation of the Unit between 2020 and 2021. Design/methodology/approach – The research aim was fulfilled by an evaluation research design utilising a qualitative method and triangulating two research instruments to cultivate reliability and reduce any consequence of biases (Bowen, 2009) and ethical considerations were addressed. Findings – Reflexive Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2019) generated five themes that correlated with sub-themes in a SWOT Analysis. This indicated that the GBV & DV Unit was still struggling to achieve satisfactory convictions and no trends were being altered in how court cases were decided. Research Limitation – The Magistrate process of conviction was not mentioned and data of the decided ones such as P.E, acquittals, withdrawals, and preskriti were not discussed in-depth. Practical Limitation – The researcher assumed that an interview with a Magistrate would be approved and that data provided by the MPF would be more straightforward. Originality/value - The study was an original one as it provides insights into the GBV & DV Unit from its inception in Oct 2020 to Oct 2021. Policies and practices were put forward to sustain the GBV & DV Unit and the Court to improve their context to enable a more effective service to safeguard the victims and convict the perpetrators. Description: B.A. (Hons) Pub.Admin.(Melit.) Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/110891 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/110890 Title: Sustainability on Campus : a University of Malta student’s perspective Abstract: This study attempts to gauge University of Malta (UM) students’ perspectives regarding sustainability measures on campus. A multimethod approach employs semi-structured interviews with nineteen student organisations’ representatives and a questionnaire responded by one-hundred and eight students. Students wish to be more involved in sustainability policy creation and governance on campus, therefore, UM could seek better stakeholder involvement and enshrine this in a Code of Good Governance. Numerous sustainability measures are being implemented, however, awareness about them, the Committee for Sustainability (C-SUM), and the Strategic Plan 2020-2025 could be ameliorated by better social media utilisation. Overwhelmingly, students believe UM must provide them the necessary skill set to live more sustainably, perhaps sustainability themes could be interwoven within all learning. Data collection was hampered by COVID-19 precautionary measures while inherent limitations of qualitative and quantitative data gathering, and the author’s interpretation of findings constrain the study. Additionally, there may exist valid reasons why recommendations are not already implemented or perhaps cannot be considered. This research should provide the opportunity to clarify students’ perspectives regarding sustainability on campus, possibly aiding future evidence based policy in this area. Furthermore, it might inspire additional research into local HEIs’ sustainability, currently a nascent niche. Participants and readers might be instigated to reflect, then strive for corporations and society to operate more sustainably. Description: B.A. (Hons) Pub.Admin.(Melit.) Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/110890 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/110889 Title: Digitisation and access of public contracts : a case study related to the Notarial Archives of Malta Abstract: Archives, live historical documents accumulated over years showing the lifetime of a person or an organization which need to be taken care of and preserved well as there is the chance of them being lost forever. Advancements in technology have come a long way and a way to protect valuable and fragile copies is Digitisation. With Digitisation a digital copy of the original object can be created, thus preventing the loss of the said object due to deterioration or destruction. Over the years, the Public Service of Malta has implemented diverse strategies with regards to digitisation. This study focused on digitisation as a means of creating digital copies in Archival environment and also the process of digitisation at the Office of the Notary to Government. Based on results obtained, this process is seen as the way forward in creating digital copies of original books, collections etc. it was concluded that it is not a harmful process but what could harm originals is the lack of good and well planned process and lack of training in handling such books. Results suggest that overall the digitisation process in its whole at the Office of the Notary to Government works well although issues persist. The system of acquiring contracts from the same office has been praised. The study shows that since the introduction of the online system, users still visit the NTG but not frequently as they used to resulting in fewer visits. Notwithstanding the results derived, suggestions were made for the process at the NTG to be of more success in fulfilling its overall purpose that to offer the best service to customers. Description: B.A. (Hons) Pub.Admin.(Melit.) Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/110889 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z