The new €1,840,000 extension of the Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences building was inaugurated today, by Education Minister Evarist Bartolo.

The Faculty was established in 2011 to offer programmes and carry out research that are relevant to a "knowledge society" and that reflect the importance of the knowledge-based economy.

The extension and refurbishment includes a fully-equipped cognitive science lab, a digital arts lab, new lecture halls, seminar rooms, meeting areas, new offices, staff rooms, the upgrading of the audio-visual library, large storage spaces and te installation of two lifts, as well as facilities for people with limited mobility.

The Faculty is made up of six departments - Media and Communications; Library Information and Archive Services; Digital Arts; Corporate Communication; Cognitive Science; Information Policy and Governance.

It was said that diverse research streams have attracted over €1.5 million of EU research funds.

Professor Juanito Camilleri said that there are plans to bring performing Arts back to the heart of campus, and spoke of plans for studios blow the quadrangle, saying that performing arts are the heart of the university. He mentioned a number of other projects, including the refurbishment of the theatre in the Valletta Campus.

Minister Bartolo said that he came to inaugurate his home, having been associated with this part of the University for the past 30 or so years.

He said that Malta's future is tied to the on goings at University. He thanked Juanito Camilleri for his work at the University, and said that his legacy will outlive his term. "The budget shows a commitment by government to invest in the University".