This is a transcript of a talk given in July 2015 at the Chinese Cultural Centre in Valletta Introduction. In this short talk I will attempt to highlight the fascinating history of Chinese and Maltese architecture and astronomy and the important role archaeology plays in such a study. I cannot do justice to this vast and complex topic but hope I can at least identify some cultural links between the subjects and between the two countries. I hope this transcript of the presentation proves interesting and useful. The topic is referred to as Archaeostronomy (sorry about that mouth
Browsing All 153 Articles — Oldest First
REBALANCING THE ECONOMY
Richard Evans is the Chairman of the CIPHE’s Education and Training Group. In this issue of ETM, he looks at some of the problems affecting colleges. What are the issues? What impact has the government’s strategy to rebalance the economy and re-establish the manufacturing base of the country had on colleges? The current picture is very mixed. It’s mainly negative in spite of the apparent commitment to apprenticeships with statements about improving technical and vocational education and training in FE colleges and training providers, both of which significantly contribute to strategies for rebalancing the economy. However the current commentaries in
THE FUTURE OF FURTHER EDUCATION
Richard Evans is the Chairman of the CIPHE’s Education and Training Group. In this issue of ETM, he looks at some of the financial problems affecting colleges. We need action! Yet again parliament is discussing the future of the Further Education Sector. During this period of austerity the topic is very much alive as the government tack- les, or should that be attacks, public sector spending. FE has always been an easy target, little understood or given the recognition it deserves. Massive cuts are being introduced across college budgets e.g. 24%+ at Liverpool College and as a result staff are
GETTING THE BALANCE RIGHT
Richard Evans is the Chairman of the CIPHE’s Education and Training Group. In this issue of ETM, he looks at the Trailblazer concept and the Plumbing & Domestic Heating Technician Apprenticeship. Bigger doesn’t mean better! Apprenticeships still occupy a central part of the skills agenda, but will all this discussion bring about the high quality frameworks that are now urgently required? The main political drive seems to be to create large numbers of appren- ticeships, but with little reference or debate about the quality and fitness for purpose of the programmes. These two elements are surely the most important and
HERE WE GO AGAIN!
Richard Evans is the Chairman of the CIPHE’s Education and Training Group. In this issue of ETM he reminisces on his own experience of the days of grammar schools and the 11+. Stepping back in time Following the announcement of the reintroduction of grammar schools, I thought a personal recollection of my experience of the 11+ and the selection system that resulted in the 1940/50/60s will highlight the real concerns I have on this divisive proposal. One of the many notable hypotheses made by Karl Popper was that we learn from our mistakes. He brilliantly expressed it as ‘a negative
A MORE ENLIGHTENED APPROACH?
Richard Evans is the Chairman of the CIPHE’s Education and Training Group. In this issue of ETM, he looks at the challenges of introducing environmental issues into the skills agenda. New skills need to be developed Education and training must play a significant part in addressing the critical issues currently confronting this planet, including those associated with the environment. These include energy, food and water shortages and the consequences of global warming, pollution control, land reclamation and over population. Clearly in spite of a number of sceptics and some who are still in denial of these facts, many recognise the
TEACHING AND LEARNING
Richard Evans is the Chairman of the CIPHE’s Education and Training Group. In this issue of ETM, he focusses on teaching methods. Time for a rethink? Two of the recurring themes in the history of technical education and training were the continuing negative perception of scientific and technological subjects and the teaching of these and related subjects. These critical factors have contributed to the low participation in these subjects in education and training institutions and thwarted attempts to address, resolve and raise the low esteem of scientific and technological disciplines. In addition the continuing low level of skills and the
TEACHING AND LEARNING
Richard Evans is the Chairman of the CIPHE’s Education and Training Group. In this issue of ETM, he focusses on teaching methods. Time for a rethink? Two of the recurring themes in the history of technical education and training were the continuing negative perception of scientific and technological subjects and the teaching of these and related subjects. These critical factors have contributed to the low participation in these subjects in education and training institutions and thwarted attempts to address, resolve and raise the low esteem of scientific and technological disciplines. In addition the continuing low level of skills and the
THE IMPORTANCE OF CPD
Richard Evans is the Chairman of the CIPHE’s Education and Training Group. In this issue of ETM he muses on the importance of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is even more important now as the country begins to tackle its skills gaps and shortages, plus the continuing low levels of productivity in manufacturing and industrial activity. The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering has recently published a timely and excellent charter on CPD. The CIPHE have set an excellent example and lead the way for other professional bodies, employers and education and training organisations on this
Chinese Languages
Introduction The word’s languages are all thought to belong to five major language families namely Indo- European, Sino-Tibetan, Niger-Congo, Afro-Asiatic and Austonesian. Chinese in one form or another, is spoken by more people worldwide than any other language. It is the world’s oldest language still in use and its cultural history can be traced back over 3,500 years. It is a fascinating and at times a complex topic and I hope I can do justice to the subject in this short account. There are scores of Chinese dialects, and although many are related sound so different that a speaker of