The newly set-up Department of Gender Studies within the Faculty of Social Wellbeing, University of Malta, recently held a meeting with stakeholders in society who take the mainstreaming of gender issues very seriously. The associations attending included both government bodies and agencies and NGOs working in the area.

Dr Marceline Naudi, head of Gender Studies, said that it was the desire to make the Department’s research relevant to life outside campus that had encouraged her and her academic colleagues, Dr Brenda Murphy and Dr Jos Ann Cutajar to ask the opinion of stakeholders. Dr Naudi explained that the Department is going to offer a Master’s degree by research this coming October and plans to offer a taught Master’s degree starting in October 2015. “It is important,” said Dr Naudi, “that these students are guided to do research in subjects that really need the kind of deep understanding that a Master’s degree can offer to all those concerned.”  It was also noted that the Department is ready to accept applications from researchers wishing to read for a Ph.D.

All the representatives present engaged in a lively discussion about diverse aspects of gender issues, each from his or her own standpoint, and Dr Naudi declared that she and her colleagues were delighted both with the turnout and with the research suggestions put forward.  Some of the associations also offered placement opportunities for the future Master’s students which, Dr Naudi said, would be of invaluable help. She asked all present to keep the suggestions coming in and promised to keep in close touch with everyone involved in this field.