UNIMED to open Malta branch

The General Assembly of the associations of Mediterranean Universities (UNIMED) met in Algiers on December 13-14. The meeting was attended by rectors and representatives from Mediterranean universities and higher educational institutions.

The director of the Mediterranean Institute, Dr Simon Mercieca, was Rector's delegate for the University of Malta.

The General Assembly was opened by the President of Algeria, Abdelaziz Bouteflika who in his address stressed the need for European centres of knowledge to open their doors to the North African region.

The President insisted that the diffusion of knowledge is the best guarantee for a fruitful dialogue between the two shores of the Mediterranean.

During the meeting, a number of important decisions were taken, including the acceptance of new members in UNIMED and the creation of two centres of excellence - one in Jordan for water resources and another in Algiers for risk management.

The General Assembly also accepted the proposal put forward by Dr Mercieca, on behalf of Dr Joe Mifsud, head of the European Unit at the University of Malta, for UNIMED to set up a local branch in Malta.

Dr Mercieca said that with the opening of this branch in Malta, UNIMED could better carry out the Algerian President's wish for the construction of a bridge between the North and South of the Mediterranean.

The general director of UNIMED, Professor Franco Rizzi, seconded Malta's proposal, which was unanimously accepted. Members also had words of praise for the work undertaken by the University of Malta in the past, in particular for the work done by Professor Ellul Micallef within UNIMED.

They also highlighted the fact that the University of Malta was one of the first institutions to join this association, which had originated from the indefatigable work of Professor Franco Rizzi and the support given to him by the University of Rome "La Sapienza".