Monday 19 February 2024

New Committee - Malta Sociological Association

During its Annual General Meeting held last Friday, the Malta Sociological Association (MSA) elected its committee for this year:


Chairperson: Bridget Borg
Vice-Chairperson: Mariella Debono
Secretary: Maria C. Borg
Treasurer: Julian Micallef
Public Relations Officer: Prof Michael Briguglio
International Officer: Ljiljana Cumura
Training Officer: Brian Chircop
Outreach Officer: Dr Dylan Cassar
Committee Member: Dr Valerie Visanich
Committee Member: Alan Fiott


The MSA is a non-profit making organisation. It is a non-commercial entity, which aims to develop and promote sociological knowledge. The Association promotes sociological research and contributes toward facilitating the cooperation of people working within the sociological field. It also aims at understanding and analysing social problems for the improvement of the quality of life.

More information about the Malta Sociological Association, including membership options, social media links, upcoming events, seminars and activities, may be obtained from www.maltasociologicalassociation.com

Monday 5 February 2024

Children's Policy Framework - 2024-30: MSA Feedback

The Malta Sociological Association welcomes the public consultation process on the Children's Policy Framework 2024-30  In this regard, MSA is proposing that the process mainstreams social impact assessments within it. 

The International Principles for Social Impact Assessment defines SIA as being “the processes of analysing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintended social consequences, both positive and negative, of planned interventions (policies, programs, plans, projects) and any social change processes invoked by those interventions”.

An SIA is an interdisciplinary process, and should employ various methods, both quantitative and qualitative. Social impact assessments should not be one-off exercises: To the contrary, they should be ongoing processes which engage with various stakeholders and which report back so as to ensure effective policy processes.

Wednesday 31 January 2024

Annual General Meeting 2024

 The Annual General Meeting of the Malta Sociological Association will be held on Friday 16th February 2024 at 18:30. The meeting is open to paid members of the MSA and those interested in joining the MSA (payments can be affected on the day). Members interested in joining the meeting should inform us by the Monday 12th February 2024 by replying to this email.  Members are encouraged to renew their membership. More details re renewal of membership can be accessed through this link http://www.maltasociologicalassociation.com/2019/10/join-malta-sociological-association.html. 

Members are also invited to come forward with any proposals regarding the amendment of statute of the organisation so that these may be inserted in the agenda of the meeting accordingly. Statute is being attached with this email.  Kindly send these by return email to maltasociologicalassociation@gmail.com

    

Self-nominations for specific positions on the Executive Committee may be sent to maltasociologicalassociation@gmail.com and need to be addressed to the Secretary. The subject of the email should be: Nominations MSA Committee. Nominations will be received until the 9th February 2024. Only paid members of the MSA may submit a nomination for the Executive Committee.   

    

The positions that need to be filled are the following:   

    

• Chairperson   

• Vice Chairperson   

• Secretary  

• Treasurer 

• Public Relations Officer    

• Events Officer   

• Outreach Officer   

• Training Officer   

• International Relations Officer   


  

The AGM will be held in Floriana. Venue will be announced closer to date.  Those attending are welcome to join for drinks after the meeting




Thursday 25 January 2024

Consultation process on the administration of Valletta as a UNESCO world heritage site - MSA Feedback

The Malta Sociological Association welcomes the public consultation process on the administration of Valletta as a UNESCO world heritage site. In this regard, MSA is proposing that such administration mainstreams social impact assessments in the respective policy processes. 


The International Principles for Social Impact Assessment defines SIA as being “the processes of analysing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintended social consequences, both positive and negative, of planned interventions (policies, programs, plans, projects) and any social change processes invoked by those interventions”.

An SIA is an interdisciplinary process, and should employ various methods, both quantitative and qualitative. Social impact assessments should not be one-off exercises: To the contrary, they should be ongoing processes which engage with various stakeholders and which report back so as to ensure effective policy processes.

Image: Wikipedia


Tuesday 23 January 2024

Drug victim reform process should be guided by evidence, not partisan interests - Malta Sociological Association

The Malta Sociological Association expressed its disappointment that the public consultation process on the drug victims reform is being sensationalized and subjected to partisan interests. It would be much more fruitful to have a mature, evidence based deliberative process on this public consultation, involving different stakeholders.


On its part, the Malta Sociological Association recommends that this policy reform employs a social impact assessment in an ongoing process. The International Principles for Social Impact Assessment defines SIA as being “the processes of analysing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintended social consequences, both positive and negative, of planned interventions (policies, programs, plans, projects) and any social change processes invoked by those interventions”.

An SIA is an interdisciplinary process, and should employ various methods, both quantitative and qualitative. Social impact assessments should not be one-off exercises: To the contrary, they should be ongoing processes which engage with various stakeholders and which report back so as to ensure effective policy processes.

Image: TVM News


Tuesday 19 December 2023

Renewal of Permit for Ta' Żwejra Landfill - MSA feedback to public consultation

The Malta Sociological Association notes the public consultation  for the Renewal of permit IP 0001/05/C for Ta’ Zwejra landfill by WasteServ Malta Ltd. In this regard, we are calling for the employment and mainstreaming of social impact assessments in this process. SIAs should not be one-off exercises. Instead, SIAs should be carried out through ongoing processes, conforming to professional guidelines, such as those of the International Association for Impact Assessment.


Image: Wasteserv from https://www.wsm.com.mt/en/ta-zwejra