Courtesy visit of the Ambassador of the United States of America

On 14 July 2026, Rector Prof. Frank Bezzina, had the pleasure to receive Her Excellency Somers Farkas, Ambassador of the United States to Malta. The Ambassador was  accompanied by Mr Ken Toko, Deputy Chief Mission and Ms Joanna Zingariello, Public Engagement Specialist at the US Embassy. 

Prof. Bezzina received Ambassador Farkas together with Pro-Rector for Internationalisation, Enterprise and Outreach, Prof. Leonie Baldacchino and Deputy Director of the International Office, Ms Victoria Gauci. 

During the meeting there was the opportunity to discuss the various aspects of collaboration between the University of Malta and the US, through the increasing number of US students joining UM courses, exchange opportunities for students through ISEP and other exchange agreements, Joint and Dual Degree programme with American universities and faculty engagement and mobility supported by the Fulbright Programme.

Once again, this year the UM will benefit from a visiting Fulbright Scholar for a full academic year hosted at the Department of Geosciences within the Faculty of Science, an outgoing Faculty member from the Department of International Relations as a Fulbright scholar at the American University School of International Service in Washington DC. A further four English Teaching Assistants will be placed at the UM and in schools around the island for the full academic/scholastic year.

UM also benefits from the Fulbright Senior Specialist Programme. 

Both sides expressed their continued commitment to support and expand collaborations between the two countries.  

During the visit, Prof. Bezzina expressed his heartfelt appreciation to Mr Ken Toko, for his extensive support and collegiality during his term in Malta, including the period during which Mr Toko served as Chargé d’Affaires between January to November 2025.

Gifts were exchanged to commemorate this first official visit.