NSTF by NSTF

Starting your future today >

Education Journey Experience Philanthropy NSTF

INTRODUCTION At a time when Europe was still recovering from the devastation of World War II, the desire for peace among nations and people was great. The university student unions around Europe joined in leading the way. They yearned for intercultural relations and international understanding through broader educational opportunities. The Student Representative Council of the University of Malta set-up the Maltese Student Travel Department to promote these exchanges. The initiative flourished beyond expectations. A new set-up in the National Student Travel Service (Malta) (NSTS(M)) was needed. However its juridical personality remained vested within the Council and consequently within the University.

It too came to outstrip the University’s administrative capacity. The Council, through an Extraordinary General Meeting of all University students, resolved to grant separate legal economic existence to NSTS(M), retaining representation in governance and its philanthropic not-for-profit objectives. The National Student Travel Foundation (Malta) (NSTF) was therefore constituted by public deed in 1977. Its mission was simple – to foster international education and intercultural understanding among all young people and operate philanthropically. This significant development imbued fresh enterprise and dynamism in NSTS and enabled NSTF to pioneer non-formal education and philanthropic activities for public benefit. Proud of its achievements, NSTF remains an important stakeholder in the full development of the student’s potential and personality, determined to offer programmes relevant to the on-going challenges that youths face every day.

TIMELINE what started when 1977 National Student Travel Foundation 1978 NSTF-Student Travel Bursaries Preservation of National Heritage 1979 NSTF-Prize for Initiative 1984 Participation at London International Youth Science Forum 1985 NSTF-Muzikafest – celebrating the UN International Youth Year 1989 NSTF-Mini-European Assembly 1994 NSTF-Malta Student Science Forum 1997 National Organiser of European Union Contest for Young Scientists 2002 NSTF-Science Expo NSTF-School Contest for Young Scientists NSTF-Science Art Contest 2003 Participation in MILSET 2006 NSTF-Little Scientists Village 2013 NSTF-Science Photo Contest NSTF-Contest for Primary School Scientists Partner in Google Science Fair 2014 NSTF- Science Days in Gozo NSTF-Malta Student Psychology Forum NSTF-Alumni Network 2015 NSTF-Wordbreaker

Our educational mission We have a thirst to see students develop their potential. In crafting and implementing programmes, we strive to bring out the best of participating students. Offering them demanding programmes and experiences, we expose students to the practical elements of what they learn about IN SCHOOL. Instilling confidence, an inquisitive and critical attitude to their work, we see ourselves as developing students into mature allrounders. Our mission is simple, yet challenging. We transform todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s students into tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s industrious leaders.

Our promise to students OUR TRUE VOCATION AS A FOUNDATION IS SELF-DEVELOPMENT AND NONFORMAL EDUCATION WITHIN AN INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT. WE EMBARK ON A UNIQUE JOURNEY OF SELF-ATTAINMENT TOGETHER WITH EACH STUDENT WHO PARTICIPATES IN OUR PROGRAMMES. Through our carefully primed programmes, we infuse students with an outstanding skill-set which includes, but is not limited to: creativity, public speaking, team work, mutual respect, time management and leadership. We offer an experience of a lifetime. A journey to develop one’s personality. That’s our promise and guarantee.

Our international outlook At NSTF we always believe that the world is our classroom. We were born out of the belief that oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s education is much broader than studying and reading for degrees. It includes international exposure. Facilitating travel, donating travel bursaries, funding participation at comparable international education programmes and providing intercultural exchanges for Maltese students are all things we proudly call our work. Firmly established as a pioneer in this area, we are always actively looking for new opportunities for our students. To us, travelling responsibly is a means to educate oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s self.

Our work Over the years we have built a strong reputation. generations of students continue to participate and embark on the unique journey we meticulously prepare for them year after year. NSTF offers a wide variety of educational programmes and initiatives under SIX distinct headings: European affairs

Psychology

English Proficiency

Science

Heritage preservation

TRAVEL BURSARIES

NSTF acknowledges with gratitude all those, including student programme co-ordinators, who in some manner or other voluntarily contribute their expertise, time and work to enable NSTF to achieve success in the distinct non-formal educational AND PHILANTHROPIC fields that it presents. Discover our programmes. Discover NSTF.

‘when students participate in debate, they learn to study issues in depth and form perspectives.’ - Barack Obama

European affairs NSTF Mini-European Assembly NSTF Mini-European Assembly is one of our flagship programmes. Launched in 1989, it is an educational simulation exercise based on the European Parliamentary model. Teams of students from post secondary and tertiary level institutions represent countries, research, discuss and present their positions on topical European affairs. The NSTF Mini-European Assembly has nurtured the art of debate in the hundreds of students that participated. Even the European Economic and Social Committee recognised and awarded the Assembly for its distinguished contribution to a student’s development.

With frequent foreign dignitaries as guest speakers, NSTF Mini-European Assembly stands out on its own as a learning experience. The winning teams and the individuals that excel in their participation are every year sponsored on an educational trip to exchange opinions with the leaders of the European institutions.

“… an experience that nurtured our skills whilst bringing us closer to European issues …” - Kathleen Vella & Benjamin Charles Cassar

Science Science outreach is very close to heart at NSTF. What started off in 1984 as a delegation of promising sixth form

We love motivating young people to dig into science, to assimilate with it. By their own creativity and by getting their fingers dirty, more and more students of all ages contribute to the growing success of our endeavour. NSTF is affiliated to international bodies dedicated to promoting science outreach and hands-on programmes in a fun, enjoyable and non-formal educational manner.

science students to the London International Science Forum has today developed into a broad programme to complement the formal teaching of science. Our programmes are specially designed to increase the popularity of science, technology,

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;most people say that it is intellect that makes a great scientist. They are wrong: it is character.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; - Albert Einstein

We reward the winners of each programme category by sending them to share their experiences at our affiliates and network with counterpart promising scientists to enrich in them their passion for science.

engineering and mathematics (STEM) among all the spectrum of young generations. Science is all that is around us within the universe.

NSTF Science Expo IN MALTA

NSTF Science Days in Gozo

We want to share our studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; achievements publically.

NSTF SHOWCASES GOZITAN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS IN SCIENCE.

We want to instil pride in their toils for scientific excellence. We want to encourage communication and dialogue among all potential young science enthusiasts. We want to dissipate the study of science into the love of coming to grips with it. NSTF Science Expo is the showcase of the STEM models and experiments designed for the purpose with great enthusiasm and dedication by participating students throughout their scholastic year.

Participating student teams assume the role of science communicators as they meticulously explain their models and findings to their attentive listeners.

We provide opportunities of exhibiting STEM models and scientific experiments, of becoming science communicators, of travelling to affiliates and networking.

They transform NSTF Science Expo into a hive of bustling activity, enthusing teenage and younger student visitors to the marvels and wonders of science.

Right from its very first event, NSTF landed great success. Science Days in Gozo attracted far more than a thousand students, school children, teachers and the general public from the sister island. Each had a memorable experience. Each participant embarked on a journey of love for science.

An annual crowd puller, Expo attracts school children, students and the general public in their thousands.

NSTF Malta Student Science Forum NSTF boldly launched the Forum in 1994 to break the perception that science is not a subject for debate. It is now an established annual event of six hotly debated sessions. Students tackle a selected topic from its scientific and ethical perspectives, be it nano-technology, the black hole, quantum physics, superbugs and antibiotics, bioengineering, the internet or mathematics as the backbone of science. The teams of post-secondary and tertiary level science students find themselves carrying out extensive research and critical analysis, developing their self-confidence,

public speaking and proper enquiry skills, delivering presentations and assuring answers to demanding questions as well as defending their conclusions with untold conviction. The Forum is one of the more challenging and competitive science programmes. Its returns to participants are equally most rewarding as they build within the student an assuring confidence of the subject and of its effects on mankind.

“… if you are interested in science, NSTF takes you far through its different programmes. My experience has been unforgettable …” - Zach Cassar 18

NSTF Contest for Young Scientists

NSTF School Contest for Young Scientists

Innovation is the key factor.

Research and experimentation into scientific processes.

The project concept calls for scientific creativity. It must lead

Teams of secondary school students conduct enquiries, observations and tests into a known scientific issue to learn about the underlying process, constituent elements/ components and/or their effects.

to an innovative experiment model and to original FINDINGS of an applicable and practical nature. The Contest targets students between the ages of 15 and 20 years and is a prime feeder programme to the NSTF Science Expo. It also serves as a motivator to the younger student participants of the other contests. The objective of this Contest is to select the national winners for them to represent Malta in the EU Contest for Young Scientists

(EUCYS) organised annually by the European Commission to encourage research and innovation among students. The event attracts good media attention and success leads to handsome cash and other prizes including scientific/industrial patenting. The Ministry for Education appointed NSTF to be the National Organiser in 1997.

Each project must be scientifically documented and clearly explained by the team participants to the panel of judges and to the numerous other students, important personalities and general public on their visit to the NSTF Science Expo. In addition to enjoying themselves in the process students develop their skills in research, analysis, scientific methodology, time management, report presentation, team work, debate and public speaking among others.

NSTF Primary School Contest for Young Scientists

NSTF Little Scientists Village Put together groups of inquisitive children aged between 6 and

The fascination of scientific observation and discovery.

8 in front of interactive science displays and experiments and witness the buzzing activity that brings science to life in a fun

Primary school children of ages 8 to 10 years thrill themselves creating simple experiments, building their own models and unearthing discoveries.

invested in the creation of their exhibits. In doing so throughout the week they also set their inhibitions aside and boldly face a panel of judges.

Science is the perfect medium for this.

The Contest introduces these young children to the enjoyable aspects science brings with it so as to nurture in them their love for the subject for the years to come.

Participation in NSTF Science Expo generates more excitement and satisfaction as the children enthusiastically explain the hours

and practical way. NSTF turned its attention to the very young way back in 2006 and presented this innovative educational programme to primary school children for them to

participate in hands-on science activities and create their own little interactive experiments, just like their teenage peers at NSTF Science Expo.

NSTF Science Photo Contest

NSTF Science Art Contest

The art of catching an instantaneous scientific observation digitally.

Creative expression in artistic representation.

The Contest embraces budding photographers with an

The very young from the age of 5 to 8 years are known for their creativity and desire to express themselves in the medium best within their power â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from drawing to art.

observant eye for science themes to have their creativity publically recognised and acknowledged.. With an open theme of scientific phenomena, natural life or any setting in the field of astronomy, participants submit their photos accompanied by a descriptive and interpretive text.

Apart from having their photos exhibited and judged during NSTF Science Expo, the best photos are displayed in different European Expos with the possibility of publishing thanks to NSTFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s partnership in MILSET (Mouvement International pour le Loisir Scientifique et Technique).

These young children are introduced to select themes that project a scientific concept based around earth, planets, water, environment, nature, animals etc.

The Contest leaves the interpretation of the understanding of these themes completely up to the children in their personal artistic expression, whether it be a drawing, an artistic representation or a three-dimensional model. The 50 best expressions are prominently exhibited throughout the week of NSTF Science Expo and the winner from each school is presented a prize.

‘education is not preparation for life, education is life itself.’ - John Dewey

Psychology NSTF MALTA STUDENT PSYCHOLOGY FORUM

MSPF

The NSTF Malta Student Psychology Forum brings the subject to the debating table to strengthen the knowledge acquired in the formal learning process and empower participants in their communicative abilities of the discipline. Through this process the Forum is set to also dismantle the perception of difficulty associated with the study of this recently introduced subject at post-secondary level.

During each session, teams of two students aged between 16 and 22 years present their findings on the pre-assigned theme and reply to questions fielded by their peers in competition.

... a programme that exposed us to personal and academic development … a highly recommendable experience.” - Nathlin Johnson & Sara Ezabe 26

English proficiency NSTF WORDBREAKER CONTEST

Scholarships and educational prizes

THE ORIGINS OF NSTF LIE IN FOSTERING INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING

NSTF continues to encourage and assist promising students in

THROUGH TRAVEL AND COMMUNICATIONS. THE USE OF ENGLISH BECOMES

their educational and life development through various other

CENTRAL TO ALL NSTF PROGRAMMES.

initiatives. NSTF Student Travel Bursaries

NSTF Prize for Initiative

NSTF annually calls for applications to disburse Student Travel Bursaries to students wanting to pursue their specialised studies overseas and is proud to assist close to 1,000 Maltese students throughout the years.

Launched in 1979, the NSTF Prize for Initiative awards a student in each secondary school who distinguishes himself for his outstanding initiative that rises above all others and merits special mention.

MOREOVER THE PREDECESSOR OF NSTF IS THE UNDISPUTED PIONEER OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING TO NON-NATIVE SPEAKERS. IT SOLELY NURTURED MALTA INTO A SUCCESSFUL ENGLISH LEARNING DESTINATION TO REACH CLOSE TO 1.5 MILLION LEARNERS IN MALTA TO ITS CREDIT. NSTF wordbreaker is a natural extension of this unparalleled patrimony to the younger age group of local secondary school students. It exposes them competitively, innovatively and interactively to the finer points of the language and tests their ability to grasp English holistically. 28

Once again student coordinators proficient in English guide participants to master quick thinking and communicating under pressure in what turns out to be guaranteed fun to learning.

Rebecca Cremona Film director Awarded NSTF Travel Bursary

PRESERVATION OF NATIONAL HERITAGE NSTF is proud of its Maltese roots, history and patrimony and to consistently contribute towards THEIR PRESERVATION. The Foundation was a pioneer of corporate social responsibility in Malta right from its inception in 1977 with its philanthropic non-profit public purpose character. It took the lead by regularly sponsoring numerous important restorations projects.

It also combined its non-formal education mission by integrating educational initiatives with such projects offering lectures, workshops and scholarships in various aspects of restoration.

‘a nation’s character is the sum of its splendid deeds; they constitute one common patrimony, the nation’s inheritance. They awe foreign powers; they arouse and animate our own people.’ - Henry Clay

Stained glass installation Santa Maria Addolorata Chapel

Perez d’Aleccio’s Baptism of Christ

The Addolorata cemetery and chapel are considered to be

Matteo Perez d’Aleccio (1547-1616) left an incredible heritage in

an architectural masterpiece designed by Maltese architect

Malta PARTICULARLY at the Grand Master’s Palace, Valletta.

Emanuel Galizia. The original neo-Gothic chapel was adorned with inspiring stained glass which was lost by action during World War II. NSTF identified this architectural gem for its first philanthropic deed to the Maltese people and back in 1978 launched a successful international competition for the installation of stained glass in the window above the main altar. The competition attracted submissions from diverse atelier from all around Europe. The preferred entry was that of the Parisian master vitrier Emmanuel Chauche.

This masterpiece is an interpretation of ‘The Resurrection.’ The red blood of Christ pours down onto the black unpurified souls as they stretch their hands up towards the Cross and meet the purified veiled in white. All is set against Malta’s indigenous golden-yellow ethereal hues with underlying structured shades of browns in representation of Earth.

However in 1576 he was commissioned to paint the titular piece at the newly constructed Conventual Church of St John the Baptist which eventually made way for Mazzuoli’s fine sculpture that still graces the main altar today. NSTF undertook the preservation of this first altar piece in 1997 and commissioned the Maltese restorer Twanny Spagnol to execute the works. The titular painting now holds pride of place Detail of The Baptism of Christ by Matteo Perez D’Aleccio at St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta, © St. John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation, Malta

in the Co-Cathedral’s gallery of 16th -18th century paintings. The Co-Cathedral’s request to preserve The Baptism of Christ followed an earlier request to restore the magnificent silver and gilt bronze monstrance by Ciro Ferri (1634-1689). This led NSTF to invite metal conservation experts from the Istituto Centrale di Restauro di Roma who ultimately reported on a comprehensive restoration of the CoCathedral’s prestigious artefacts. NSTF is proud, through its prudent response to restore the monstrance, to have sown the seeds for the preservation of Malta’s finest monument.

Commemorating Mattia Preti’s birth Mattia Preti (1613-1699) remains a celebrated baroque artist synonymous with Malta and specifically with his masterpiece: St John’s Co-Cathedral. NSTF is honoured to be associated with the preservation of two of his more significant altar pieces: the titular paintings St Catherine of Alexandria, venerated at the Church of Saint Catherine of Italy in Valletta and commissioned to Sante Guido e Giuseppe Mantella restauro e conservazione di opere d’arte, and St James the Less, revered in the chapel of the Langue of Castille et Portugal at St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta, and executed by Giuseppe Mantella restauro opere d’arte.

NSTF, in association with the conservationists, complemented the restoration of the painting of St Catherine of Alexandria by a first ever education programme of six public lectures on Preti and baroque art by eminent Maltese and purposely flown in Italian authorities and by workshops that introduced secondary and primary level students to baroque art and the pigments used by Preti.

Moreover NSTF records the very first time when a restoration process was held ‘a cantiere aperto’ for the public to freely follow the works, and for sixth form students interested in restoration to attend regular sessions of instruction and participation. The students recorded restoration proceedings, observations and photographs for a competitive assignment. The three most promising students proceeded on full scholarship of one month to Rome to follow restoration works by the same conservationists.

They were regaled to participate during the restoration of important works such as the main altar of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Melchiorre Cafa’s Santa Caterina venerated at the Church of Santa Caterina a Magnanapoli and on archaeological artefacts at the Necropolis. NSTF’s restoration hailed the 400th anniversary of the birth of Mattia Preti as well as set in a unique educational opportunity and definitely memorable experience for the scholarship holders and the public who participated.

Detail of St James the Less by Mattia Preti at St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta - Malta. © St. John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation, Malta

And the Journey goes on… From participant to adviser to coordinator and on to graduation. Onto work – onto one’s profession or career. Your MEA experience is yours for ever. Your acquired soft skills remain with you for life. You unconsciously call upon them in all you do to be successful. NSTF now calls upon you to share with it your accomplishments and your newly or long established position in your working life. The NSTF Alumni Network embraces all past participants for you to continue your journey together with likeminded enriched friends. Already 50 young Alumni were handsomely sponsored in May 2014 to travel to the European Youth Event (EYE) in Strasbourg 36

The NSTF Alumni Network. JOIN US.

to contribute their opinion on the Future of Europe, joined by some 5,000 other EU youths. We plan more social and educational events as well as opportunities to give back to current participants and to NSTF that which it generously passed on to you. The NSTF Alumni Network is MEA’s 25th anniversary celebration project in honour of all 1,000 past participants and the more to come. It’s fun. It’s your experience. It’s ambitious. It’s your journey. 37

Our future At NSTF we pride ourselves in our magnificent patrimony that makes us a unique people. We commit ourselves to the continued preservation of this patrimony in praise of our Maltese identity. We are also conscious of the rapid changes that will shape life for the current young generation and for the need to complement the formal education process for them to succeed. We have a relentless drive to evolve our nonformal interactive education programmes and introduce new ones so that our participants are duly equipped to embark on, and lead, successful careers.

We will develop the full potential of our participating students and invest in our upcoming human resource. We are determined and ambitious. We have proven ourselves but are aware of our limitations.

We will achieve more, and you will achieve more with us when you join us in building a sound tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future, today.

220, St Paul Street Valletta VLT 1217 Tel: (+356) 2558 8241 Email: info@nstfmalta.eu Facebook: NSTF