International Chancery: 51, Santa Lucia Street, Valletta VLT 1182 - MALTA
Tel: +356 2122 0511, Fax: +356 2122 0621
e-mail: info@unicyril.org

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HISTORICAL - JURIDICAL PROFILE

GENESIS

The UNIVERSITAS SANCTI CYRILLI was founded in 1669 as "Imperial Academy of St Cyril" by the Grand Ducal House of Moscow, Rjurik Dynasty.  It owes its prestigious name to St. Cyril [827 - 869], Apostle of the Slavs, who is credited with the introduction of the Cyrillic Alphabet.
 

CHARACTERISTICS

The UNIVERSITAS is an International University which retains the following historical - juridical characteristics:

• it is dynastic as the founding Family  is a Sovereign Dynasty, formerly reigning over Moscow, which has never renounced to its prerogatives nor suffered the debellatio;

 
• it is patrimonial as it has an endowment of honorary and academic titles, forming part of the fons honorum;

 
• it is a moral Entity in view of its non-profit making character.

RECOGNITIONS

The UNIVERSITAS has been recognised:

• in 1669 by Decree of Sultan Mohammed IV Osman;

 
• in 1788 by H.S.H. Duke Ercole III of Modena;

 
• in 1890 by the Imperial Royal Austro - Hungarian Government;

 
• in 1944 by Royal Decree of the Royal Government of Yugoslavia, in exile in London, which recognised its juridical personality and decreed it a moral Entity.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

The UNIVERSITAS has traditionally been protected and administered by the Head of the Name and Arms of the Grand Ducal House of Moscow, Rjurik Dynasty.

On 12 October 1989 the GRAND DUKE,  in the absence of male heirs and wishing to ensure the dynastic succession, proclaimed PROF. ALFRED JOSEF BALDACCHINO, PRINCE OF GAGRY, His adopted Son and dynastic Successor, in virtue of an irrevocable Testamentary Act of Dynastic Adoption.

By the same Act the GRAND DUKE bestowed irrevocably on the PRINCE as dowry with immediate effect the UNIVERSITAS, with authority to carry out suitable modifications to, and adequate updating of, the existing Statutes and Regulations.

On 6 August 2000 the GRAND DUKE transferred to the PRINCE in absolute perpetuity the Sovereignty and the fons honorum of the UNIVERSITAS.

These two Decrees, together with other historical documents, have been enrolled by the GRAND DUKE and the PRINCE in the records of a Public Notary in Rome. A notarised copy is held in the Archives of the UNIVERSITAS in Malta.

Following these developments the new Statute was promulgated by Decree of the RECTOR MAGNIFICUS dated 2 January 2001.
 

AUTHORITY

With effect from 12 October 1989, PROF. ALFRED JOSEF BALDACCHINO, PRINCE OF GAGRY, occupies ad vitam the office of RECTOR MAGNIFICUS, the highest didactic-administrative post within the UNIVERSITAS, of which He is also the legal representative as President of the Council.

He is vested with all executive powers and provides for the nominations to all administrative, didactic and consultative offices.
 

SEAT

The UNIVERSITAS has established the International Seat in MALTA, at 254 Republic Street, VALLETTA, and may establish Branch Offices in other Countries.
 

AIMS

The UNIVERSITAS promotes the following aims:

• the organisation of graduate and post graduate study courses;

 
• the organisation of research, formation, specialisation and refresher programmes;

 
• the study of byzantine history, culture and art, in collaboration with other similar Institutions;

 
• the promotion of national and international cultural activities (seminars, conventions, conferences, literary prizes, exhibitions);

 
• the publication of cultural works in line with the character and aims of the UNIVERSITAS;

MEMBERS

The Members of the UNIVERSITAS are divided into three [3] categories:

DISTINGUISHED ACADEMIC; HONORARY ACADEMIC; ACADEMIC.
 

 MOTTO

 The Motto of the UNIVERSITAS is: PRO FIDE ET UTILITATE HOMINUM.
 

 EMBLEM

 The Emblem of the UNIVERSITAS consists of an effigy of Saint Cyril carrying a Cross in his right hand and the Tablet of the Cyrillic Alphabet in his left hand; below is the Motto of the UNIVERSITAS; the whole encircled by the denomination and the foundation year of the UNIVERSITAS:

 UNIVERSITAS SANCTI CYRILLI - MDCLXIX.
 

 BANNER

 The Banner of the UNIVERSITAS is of white silk, bearing a Cross in red and the Emblem of the UNIVERSITAS in the superior dexter canton.
 

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES

English and Italian are the official languages of the UNIVERSITAS.  Teaching is also carried out in the language of the Country where the UNIVERSITAS carries out its activities.
 

 COUNCIL

 The UNIVERSITAS is managed by the Council, presided by the RECTOR MAGNIFICUS and composed of:

• the Vice President;
• the Pro Rector ex officio
• the Secretary General;
• the Bursar;
• the Public Relations Officer;
• Six [6] Councillors.

 ACADEMIC SENATE

 The Academic Senate is presided by the RECTOR MAGNIFICUS and is composed of:

• the Pro Rector;
• the Registrar;
• the Bursar  ex officio;
• the Public Relations Officer  ex officio;
• the Deans of Schools.

 The Academic Senate examines the curricula, merits and abilities of Candidates proposed for:

• the conferment of DOCTORATES Honoris Causa;
• the nomination of HONORARY MEMBERS of the Academic Senate;
• other honorary academic appointments.

 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

 The Board of Trustees is composed of a minimum of seven (7) and a maximum of fifteen (15) Trustees, chosen from personalities of particular prestige in the socio - economic  and cultural fields.

 The RECTOR MAGNIFICUS nominates one of the Trustees as Chairman of the Board.

 The Board has the task of promoting the development and expansion of the financial resources necessary for the functioning of the UNIVERSITAS, in accordance with the policy formulated and ratified by the Council and the Academic Senate.
 

 SCHOOLS

 The Schools organise:

• University study courses leading to European and American Academic Titles (Diploma, Bachelor, Master, Laurea, Ph,D);

 
• research, formation, specialisation and refresher programmes designed to meet the growing needs of modern Society;

 

 The RECTOR MAGNIFICUS nominates a Dean for each School, chosen from leading Professors in their field.

 The Deans collaborate with the Pro Rector in formulating the Curriculum of Studies and teaching programmes, as well as for the eventual appointment of Lecturers.
 

 TEACHING FACULTY

 The Teaching Faculty is made up of Professors and Lecturers, entrusted with the tuition of the various disciplines.  They are engaged by the RECTOR MAGNIFICUS, with a letter of appointment, for an academic period  regulated by the Curriculum of Studies.
 

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES

During the last thirty years the UNIVERSITAS has concentrated on editing and publishing scientific and humanistic texts, collecting books on European literature and poems.

During the last twenty years the UNIVERSITAS, in collaboration with prestigious American Universities, was engaged in the education and professional formation of youths, with an academic course leading to three degrees:
 

• Bachelor of Art (B.A.) - Bachelor of Science (B.S.);

 
• Master of Arts (M.A.) - Master of Science (M.S.) - Master in Business Administration (M.B.A.);

awarded directly by the affiliated American Universities;
 
• Doctorate in Political Science or in Economics and Commerce, awarded directly by State Universities.

In recent years the UNIVERSITAS has focused on the labour market, at managerial level, developing new systems of stress management with a view to reducing industrial accidents and absenteeism and increasing worker productivity.