Creating Partnerships for the Knowledge Society

Brief Background

The Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit’s activities are generally intended to boost local development, particularly through participation in European programmes.  Its five main thrusts of action build on the experience the foundation has gained so far in the following areas: 

 1.            ICT-assisted Education

To respond to the effects of globalisation and the rise of the knowledge society, particularly in view of changes taking place in the labour-leisure relationship and demography, demands for higher competitiveness and specialisation, and factors such as the “massification” of Higher Education institutions and greater mobility, the Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit is producing professional educational resources which exploit the potential of new technologies.  Addressing the need for lifelong learning opportunities targeting the workforce and taking account of the need for the individualisation of learning paths, accessibility and inclusion, FTZ strives to accelerate the adoption of ICT-assisted learning and to develop flexible learning environments. 

 2.            Research and Innovation

The Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit’s vision is designed upon the premise that knowledge is the “essential enabler” around which the new economy revolves.  Besides supporting the development of learning organisations, the foundation also promotes a favourable environment for research and innovation.  For this reason, the Ministry of Education mandated FTZ to set up and operate the national Research Mobility Centre, which seeks to highlight the attractiveness of research careers and to enhance the mobility of researchers. 

FTZ has been particularly active in the ICT sector, where it has a number of ongoing projects funded mainly through the European Research Framework Programme.  Its research activities are not, however, limited to specific domains.  The extensive experience of its members and its collaborative nature involving both academia and industry enable it to contribute to transnational research activities in several scientific domains, including socio-economic thematic areas. 

 3.            Culture and the Arts

Although Malta has a considerably high concentration of cultural heritage sites and an economy which relies heavily on the tourism industry – with cultural tourism increasingly playing a significant role in the island’s tourism strategy – the contribution of culture to the country’s GDP is the lowest in the EU.  This fact motivates the Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit in its efforts to generate local development through culture-based activities.  Having already established itself as one of the most successful Maltese participants in the Interreg programmes, FTZ is now assisting Local Councils to join new European projects covering a range of thematic areas from tourism and ICT to culture and the arts. 

4.            Environment

Given Malta’s size and population density, creating the right sustainable development presents a highly challenging situation for the country.  In line with a mandate received from the Ministry for Competitiveness and Communications (Parliamentary Secretariat for Small Business), the Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit secured European funding to set up the first Energy Management Agency for Malta (MIEMA).  Established in June 2007, the Agency is now collaborating with FTZ on a number of environmental initiatives. 

 5.            Social and European issues

The Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit, an accredited host organization under the European Voluntary Service scheme, has participated in several projects on themes like migration, supported by the European Commission’s DG Enlargement, DG Communication (Plan D for Democracy, Dialogue and Debate) and DG Education and Culture (Youth in Action and Active European Citizenship programmes).  Together with the EC Representation in Malta and Bank of Valletta, FTZ is also offering courses on European funding programmes for municipalities, voluntary organisations and other entities interested in joining European projects. 

Mandates, Centres and Networks

The Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit was mandated by the Education and Competitiveness Ministries to set up national centres/agencies for e-learning, research mobility and energy management.

AKC         Through its Avicenna Knowledge Centre, FTZ produces and shares eLearning modules with partners from more than forty countries.  It is a founding member of the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC) and the Avicenna Virtual Campus (AVC), led by the Commonwealth of Learning and UNESCO respectively. 

RMC         FTZ runs the Malta Research Mobility Centre, part of the European EURAXESS Services network, supporting researchers and hosting the national portal for research mobility (www.eracareers.org.mt). 

MIEMA    Following several months of support and incubation by FTZ, the Malta Intelligent Energy Management Agency (MIEMA) was established as an autonomous organization in June 2007.

FTZ is also active in the Malta network of the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures (ALF), and the EuroMed-in-Culture network.  It is an accredited hosting organisation within the European Voluntary Service (EVS) scheme. 

Projects

 The projects in which FTZ has participated, as partner, coordinator or subcontractor, are the following: