Professor Juanito Camilleri handed over Rectorship of the University of Malta to Professor Alfred Vella at a special ceremony held yesterday.

The newly introduced Handing Over Ceremony for the Installation of the New Rector which was presided by the Chancellor, Professor David Attard, started with a Procession of the Academic Body from Valletta Campus to the Church. On this occasion, Mr Anthony Mangion, former Librarian of the University of Malta, was Mace Bearer.

The University’s ceremonial mace was re-introduced during this ceremony and will be used in future for the official opening of the academic year and at the granting of doctoral and honoris causa degree ceremonies.

Like many of its long-established counterparts abroad, the University of Malta originally enjoyed the privilege of having its own mace, which is known to have been used on ceremonial occasions in the late 1700s. 

The mace stands for a university’s internal authority and autonomy, its prerogative to grant degrees, and its academic integrity as a seat of higher studies and custodian of an enduring tradition of learning. It also represents the authority of a university’s higher officials such as the Chancellor and the Rector, and the institution’s constitution as a confederation of faculties. Above all else, the ceremonial mace constitutes a symbolic and tangible link with a university’s past, signifying continuity in prestige and in the maintenance of high standards. As highly symbolic and prestigious artefacts, maces continue to feature prominently in university ceremonial.

The President of Council, Dr Michael Sciriha, read the Declaration of Council. This states that Professor Juanito Camilleri was completing his terms of office as Rector of the University of Malta on the 30 June 2016.  It also affirms that at a meeting of Council of the University, which was convened on the 18 March 2016, an election was held for the appointment of the new Rector. Professor Alfred J. Vella was elected to take up Office on 1 July 2016.

Subsequently, Rector Professor Juanito Camilleri unrobed and Professor Alfred J. Vella was robed as the new Rector.  The University Chancellor gave the scroll to the Rector Elect, who then read his affirmation.

President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca attended the ceremony, which was held at the church of the University of Malta.