The possibility of creating a virtual campus on internet between Victoria University in Melbourne and the University of Malta is being considered in detail, the vice-chancellor and president of Victoria University, Jarlath Ronayne said.

This idea is the brainchild of the Consul General in Australia, Clemente Zammit who two years ago developed a discussion paper on 'Developing a virtual campus for the teaching of Maltese language and culture' which would enable students from all over the world to access online courses.

This idea was recently taken a step further when a survey was carried out in an attempt to gauge the preliminary interest and support for the project.

Victoria University researcher and associate professor Helen Borland, offered to work with Dr Zammit, with support from the university's Europe-Australia Institute and its deputy director Ron Adams to develop and administer the survey.

The survey showed that there was a significant cohort of people of a Maltese background living outside Malta who had a definite interest in learning more about the Maltese language, culture and society.

There was particular interest in language, the history of Malta and traditional customs, arts and crafts, the survey showed.

Prof. Ronayne said that once both sides had agreed on the details and financing of the virtual campus it could be up and running within six to 12 months.

The eventual setting up of the virtual campus would form part of the existing exchange agreement between the two universities.

A signing ceremony to renew this agreement for another five years is being held today at the University of Malta.

The ceremony will involve renewing the original agreement between the University of Malta and the Western Institute, which in 1992 joined with Footscray Institute of Technology to form Victoria University.

Prof. Adams sees the virtual campus as an excellent way of serving the Maltese diaspora in countries as far-reaching as the US, Canada, the UK, as well as Australia.

"Clemente's concept has been taken up and there have been great advances on it," he said.

Both Prof. Adams and Prof. Ronayne this week met Education Minister Louis Galea and Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami to update them on developments and discuss ways of setting up the initiative.

Dr Fenech Adami was awarded a Doctor of Laws honoris causa from the University of Victoria in 1995, while Dr Zammit was awarded an honoris causa Doctor of the University in 2001.

"This virtual campus would be an excellent way for Maltese authorities to serve the interests of the Maltese living abroad," Prof. Adams said.

However, the renewal of the exchange is not just about the virtual campus, it could also pave the way for other opportunities.

One such opportunity was discussed in Lisbon last week by University of Malta rector Roger Ellul Micallef and Prof. Ronayne during the general assembly of the Compostella group, which has 80 European members.

Victoria University is the only non-European member, while Prof. Ellul Micallef is the deputy president of the Compostella group.

One element is how the two universities can exploit the University of Malta's participation in Framework Six which determines the issue of research in the EU.

"Countries like Australia can partake in this framework on cooperative projects and we will be exploring how best to exploit this to the advantage of both universities," Prof. Ronayne said.

"The university's partnership with the Maltese community in Melbourne brought important benefits to both," he said.

"The partnership has been distinguished both by its strength and by its diversity, with public lectures, seminars and symposia drawing on visiting Maltese scholars and public figures," he said.

Prof. Ronayne and Prof. Adams have made such a contribution to the Maltese community that they are the only two non-Maltese to have been awarded the Manoel de Vilhena Award.

During his visit to Malta, Prof. Ronayne also visited President Guido de Marco who presented him with his latest book, called 'First Fleet to Federation: Irish Supremacy in Colonial Australia'.

He is also meeting Labour leader Alfred Sant and Labour education spokesman Evarist Bartolo.

The delegation in Malta is made up of Prof. Ronayne and his wife Margaret, Prof. Adams, and Dr Zammit and his wife Mary.

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