Academic links with France strengthened

The French embassy and the University of Malta are strengthening the academic co-operation that has been ongoing over the past years with the recent signing of a teacher exchange agreement, an increased number of bursaries and internships as well as the participation of French academics at the University.

The University of Malta recently reached an agreement for an exchange of teaching assistants with the University of Aix en Provence through which a local teaching assistant will be teaching Maltese at the French university's department of linguistics and translation while a French teacher will teach in Malta at the Faculty of Arts. Maltese is one of the languages offered in a Masters programme in translation for EU institutions that the French university has introduced with the help of the European Commission. The agreement follows the French university's participation in the French Week that the French embassy organised at the University last month.

Meanwhile, to consolidate its support to future teachers of the French language, the embassy is offering more language and pedagogical bursaries to enable students and teachers to follow intensive courses in reputable French training centres. The embassy curently provides the University the services a Masters trainee teacher of French and supplies pedagogical resources to the 'Petite Auberge', located on the University campus.

Several French academics are visiting Malta to give lectures at the University. Dr Béatrice Dumont, an international economist from the University of Rennes I, recently visited the University's Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies to lecture on France's foreign economic policy towards the Middle Eastern and North African countries.

Later this month, Dr Dorothée Shmidt, expert on Euro-Mediterranean affairs at the French Institute of International Relations, will deliver a lecture to students at the University's European Documentation and Research Centre and the Law faculty. She will also address a conference for the Malta European Studies Association on the 'Union for the Mediterranean'. This talk will take place at the Corinthia Palace hotel, Attard, on April 29 at 6 p.m. and is also open to the public.

The embassy is planning to finance a mission to enhance co-operation between Nancy University and the University of Malta's Faculty of ICT, within the framework of an Erasmus Mundus masters programme. It is also inviting a French expert in the area of security of computer systems to visit the same faculty.

A popular short scientific internships programme that enables Maltese students and lecturers carrying out research at masters or doctorate level to spend a few months working in French laboratories and research centres, has been renewed once again this year. The closing date for applications for Summer internships was last Friday, while that for Winter internships is May 16.

Complementing the above-mentioned initiatives, the embassy offers a wide range of opportunities to Maltese students and academics to promote exchanges and academic, cultural and scientific partnerships between France and Malta. These include the Eiffel excellence scholarships for Masters and Ph.Ds in science, economics, management, law and political science, and the City of Paris scholarships to foreign researchers.

The embassy also provides information on academic programmes offered by French universities and high schools, especially those run using English as the language of instruction.

For more information, visit the French embassy at 130, Melita Street, Valletta, call Tel 2123 3430, e-mail: france@global.net.mt, or visit www.ambafrance-mt.org.