German Order of Merit awarded to University Rector

The German Order of Merit has been bestowed on the Rector of the University of Malta, Professor Juanito Camilleri.

The ceremony was held at the residence of German Ambassador, Bernd Braun, who bestowed the honour on behalf of the German President. Ambassador Braun paid tribute to Prof Camilleri's work as Rector, saying he has been an innovative force of the University of Malta, and under his auspices academic relations with Germany have been promoted and deepened.

The Ambassador said the Rector had encouraged exchange and collaborative projects with German universities and had thereby brought the two countries together as partners in science, business studies, and research.

He had also encouraged the establishment of the Department of German, within the Faculty of Arts, which started to operate in 2008 and was now in full swing, with the first M.A. students graduating this year.

"Due to the energy and openness of Professor Camilleri as Rector of the University of Malta, the University has become a very modern and attractive institution that has welcomed a continuous stream of international students. The University has become an inspiring platform for international academic exchange, not only in the Mediterranean," the ambassador said.