University of Malta Rector, Professor Roger Ellul-Micallef, and Victoria University (Melbourne) Vice-Chancellor. Professor Jarlath Ronayne, today signed a renewed Agreement between the two universities.

The Agreement covers student and staff exchange, joint professional and research activities, and joint publications.

The original Agreement was signed in February 1989.  Since then, there has been significant and sustained interaction between the two universities.  There has been regular exchange of both undergraduate and postgraduate students, with the latest exchange student Matthew Hurst arriving in Malta just this week.  Exchange students in the past include Rose Marie Azzopardi, former student at the University Gozo Centre and now a lecturer in the Department of Economics.

There is also frequent exchange of academic staff between the two universities.  Professor Maurice Cauchi has visited Victoria University on many occasions.  As a Visiting Professor at Victoria University, he has organised a community forum on the language, education, employment and welfare needs of Maltese-background youth in Australia.  His latest book, Worlds Apart: Migration in Modern English Literature, was published by Victoria University and launched at the University of Malta Gozo Centre, last week.

Other University of Malta staff who have taught on exchange at Victoria University and engaged in collaborative research include Professor Joe Troisi, Professor Lydia Sciriha, and Dr Ronald Sultana.

Victoria University staff who have visited the University of Malta under the Exchange Agreement include Professor Ron Adams, Deputy Director of Victoria University's Europe-Australia Institute, and Associate Professor Helen Borland, Head of the Department of Communication, Language and Cultural Studies.  Both are well-known for their work on educational initiatives with the Maltese community in Melbourne.

Victoria University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jarlath Ronayne, is currently heading a University delegation in Malta comprising Mrs Ronayne, Professor Ron Adams and Dr Clement Zammit, Consul-General for Malta in Melbourne and member of the Advisory Committee of the Europe-Australia Institute.

In addition to today's signing, the delegation is meeting with political and educational leaders in Malta to discuss the development of an internet-based Virtual Campus for Maltese Studies by Victoria University and the University of Malta.

Communications Office
26.09.02