A collaboration agreement between the Ministry for Inclusion and the University of Malta will, as from this October, pave the way for the introduction of a daytime, one-year Certificate course in Community Access for Persons with a Disability.
The course, financed by the Ministry for Inclusion, Voluntary Organisations and Consumer Rights, will be open to AÄ¡enzija Sapport employees and voluntary organisations personnel working in the disability sector.
During the signing of the agreement between the Ministry and the University of Malta, the Minister for Inclusion, Voluntary Organisations and Consumer Rights, Julia Farrugia Portelli, said the course strongly confirms the Government’s commitment to more investment in the disability sector.
The Minister emphasised the importance of top-quality services to persons with a disability, hence the need for better tools provided to those employees and volunteers whose dedication to their daily work is second to none. “This agreement delivers the clear message of our commitment to the issue of inclusion, and for persons with a disability in our country to lead a quality of life at all levels in society.â€
Minister Farrugia Portelli described the work in the disability sector as vast and full of challenges, all of which fall within the framework of the Malta National Strategy 2021-2030 on the Rights of Persons with a Disability – Freedom to Live. The main aim of the strategy is to provide a guiding plan for the future in the disability sector.
In his speech, University Rector Prof. Alfred J. Vella insisted “it is imperative for the University to invest in such initiatives as part of its determined duty to be of service to society as a whole. This agreement is yet another opportunity to reaffirm its conviction by exploiting its competence in instigating more research in sectors related to inclusion.â€
The Dean of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing, Prof. Andrew Azzopardi, said that with the assistance of the Department for Disability Studies, the Faculty is actively participating with the Ministry for Inclusion and the entities it represents, by offering courses specifically designed to address their particular needs. He added the aim of both the Faculty and the University is to react to such needs on a basis of evidenced research.
The Dean said “this is another link in our collaborative experience and there will be other joint initiatives with the Ministry. Inclusion functions because we help it to – the Faculty is committed to retaining its share of the work involved through scholarships, research, training and social commitment.â€
The signing of the agreement was carried out by the Permanent Secretary, Nancy Camilleri, the University Rector, Prof. Alfred J. Vella, the Dean of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing, Prof. Andrew Azzopardi, and the Deputy Dean at the Faculty, Dr Claire Lucille Azzopardi Lane. Also present for the signing ceremony was the Chief Executive of AÄ¡enzija Sapport, Oliver Scicluna.
More information on the course is available .
