Over these last three years students from Victoria University, Melbourne have been participating in the Malta Study Tour organised by the Maltese Community Council of Victoria. I'm pleased to say that this year five of my students are participating in this educational programme. They arrived in Malta on November 22 and are there for three weeks.

The students have been allocated a mentor from the University of Malta. These mentors are helping them to develop a project relevant to the area of interest.

As a Maltese academic living abroad I feel that such a programme is beneficial in a number of ways. Many of these students are second-generation Maltese-Australian migrants. Through this programme they are given the opportunity to enhance their ethnic identity both at personal and academic levels.

As for those students that have no Maltese background, it is a great opportunity to learn about Malta and the Maltese (including our unique culture). Intercultural studies play a significant role in understanding the various dynamics of intercultural communication that is imperative in today's globalised village.

It would be great to see a similar project issued from the University of Malta through the exchange programme with Victoria University.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Maltese Community Council of Victoria, more specifically Edwina Mallia, for organising this tour and the University of Malta for participating in this programme.

Also special thanks to the mentors that are working with the students from Victoria University.