University of Malta Rector, Professor Alfred J. Vella received HE Fabrizio Romano, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy, for a courtesy visit this week.
The discussion focused on the extensive collaborations that exist between the University of Malta and Universities, Research Institutes and Centres situated across the Italian peninsula, the mobility and exchange of students and academic staff, the research funding and promising developments in new sectors.
Special attention was given to efforts that need to be made to address the decline in the number of students pursuing Italian language and the crucial role languages play in promoting mobility, economic investment and cultural engagement.
Italian students currently account for 15% of the University’s complement of degree and visiting students with a larger concentration of students pursuing studies at post-graduate and doctoral level.
Italian nationals also constitute the largest portion of the international resident academic staff employed at the University of Malta.
Around 70 UM students per year opt for an Erasmus+ exchange in Italy, choosing to spend a period of studies or a research placement in one of the Italian partner Universities with whom the University of Malta holds an exchange agreement.