Between Monday 15 and Sunday 21 April 2019, the University of Malta’s Edward de Bono Institute collaborated with various entities to celebrate World Creativity and Innovation Week (WCIW). This initiative has been celebrated annually for the last eighteen years in an ever-growing number of countries, with the aim of inspiring new thinking and fostering a culture for creativity and innovation. In 2018, the United Nations resolved to include World Creativity and Innovation Day, April 21, as a 'Day of Observance' to encourage people to use creativity in problem-solving for all issues related to achieving the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals.
Locally, the main theme for this year was ‘sustainability’. This was approached through a variety of activities that addressed sustainability from different perspectives and helped to raise awareness about the need for creativity and innovation across different strata of society. Events varied in form and content with the aim of attracting different audiences.
The programme kicked off with three interactive game-based workshops delivered by visiting lecturer Dr Joanna Radomska from the Strategic Management Department at Wroclaw University of Economics, Poland. One workshop was about aspects of decision making in organisations and the other two were about leading strategic change. These sessions were open to students of the University of Malta and for the general public.
Another event was co-ordinated and supervised by academics and led by B.Sc. in Home Economics students for fellow students on other courses. This event focused on sustainable practices from a food preparation and fashion perspective. Close collaboration with Dr Lorraine Portelli and Ms Lucienne Barbara from the Department of Health, Physical Education and Consumer Studies within the Faculty of Education led to a successful event where hands-on activities took place in an effort to raise students’ awareness of consumption practices and implications.
Next on the programme was a presentation on 'The Psychology of Being Creative' by Edward de Bono Institute lecturer and WCIW Malta coordinator Dr Margaret Mangion at the ‘Undertones: Mental Health and Arts Seminar’ organised by Dr Alexei Sammut and Dr Josianne Scerri from the University of Malta’s Department of Mental Health.
A final activity involved a mini hackathon aimed at exploring different approaches for sustainable practices in traffic management and food waste. This event was organised in collaboration with the University of Malta’s Institute for Climate Change and Sustainable Development (ICCSD) with the support of the Mediterranean Conference Centre. Dr Therese Bajada and Ms Margaret Camilleri Fenech from the ICCSD set the scene while current students and alumni from the Edward de Bono Institute facilitated the idea generation session.
These events enabled further outreach by the Edward de Bono Institute. The Institute currently offers an evening Diploma in Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (part-time), a Master in Creativity and Innovation (full-time and part-time) and a Ph.D. Programme (full-time and part-time). For more information about activities organised by the Institute and about the courses on offer please visit the , email, or follow our .
