Professor Christopher Houston visited the Department of Anthropological Sciences at the University of Malta in June 2025.

His visit was facilitated through Erasmus+ ICM mobility scheme and was made as part of his three-year appointment as the Department's External Examiner.

Professor Houston noted that it was a great pleasure to come to Malta this year and to meet his anthropological colleagues face-to-face.

Examining duties include the marking of Honours dissertations, participation in Vivas, the moderating of exam scripts, and the writing of a general report for the Department.

The impact of the Erasmus+ mobility arrangement on collaboration between the Anthropology Departments of Macquarie University and the University of Malta has been very positive.

Professor Jean-Paul Baldacchino came to Macquarie two years ago as the first fruits of the agreement, where he met with students, gave two seminar papers, and a number of lectures. Professor Houston reported that the Erasmus+ Mobility has contributed to the capacity of Macquarie University to co-operate at international level in positive ways.

The most immediate example is new collaboration in grant applications between staff at the University of Malta and Macquarie University.

The mobility has allowed clarification of both grant subject and budget, preparing the way for an application to the John Templeton Trust on the topic of the conscience, freedom of religion, and conscientious objection.