University of Malta Celebrates 20 Years of Continuous Participation in CERN’s Summer Student Programme

Three University of Malta students had the opportunity to spend the summer of 2026 gaining invaluable work experience at CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, as part of its prestigious Summer Student Programme.

Their participation marks a particularly significant milestone: 2026 is the 20th consecutive year in which University of Malta students have taken part in the programme. Over 60 students have participated in the programme to date.

Sean Fenech, Bernard Pullicino and Daniel Galea experienced first-hand the opportunities and challenges of working in an international scientific environment, collaborating with researchers and experts from across the world and contributing to cutting-edge scientific projects. Their experiences offer a glimpse into the possibilities that international research partnerships can create for students and emerging scientists.

The University's relationship with CERN, however, extends well beyond its students' participation in the summer programme. It has been 20 years since Prof. Ing. Nicholas Sammut became the first Maltese national to defend a Ph.D. at the University of Malta in collaboration with CERN.

This experience paved the way for the establishment of a national Malta-CERN cooperation agreement in 2008, further high-level partnerships with the University of Malta and consistent participation in the CERN summer student programme. These initiatives played an important role in strengthening Malta's relationship with CERN and are paving the way towards Malta’s accession as a CERN associate member.

Over the years, the collaboration has grown considerably, with additional University of Malta academics contributing to CERN's activities in various capacities and with several students defending their masters and Ph.D.s on CERN related research. The collaboration’s impact is reflected in its scientific output, the number of researchers and students who have benefited from the partnership, as well as in the University's contribution to CERN's research infrastructure.

The continued and consistent participation of University of Malta students in CERN's Summer Student Programme represents an important part of this longstanding relationship. The fact that the three University of Malta students participating this year are marking the programme's 20th consecutive year of UM involvement, is a testament to the opportunities created through sustained international collaboration.

As Sean, Bernard and Daniel share their experiences at CERN, their stories reflect not only an exciting personal and academic opportunity, but also the value of a partnership that has developed over more than two decades and continues to create opportunities for the next generation of Maltese scientists.