On Friday 20th January the Rector Professor Alfred J. Vella accompanied by Prof Frank Bezzina, Pro-Rector for Quality Assurance and International Development and Ms. Stefania Agius Fabri, Director International Office received HE Gloria Gangte, High Commissioner of India in Malta. The High Commissioner was accompanied by Mr. Aniruddha Das, Second Secretary (Political and Commercial) and Mrs. C. P. Lakshmi, Second Secretary (Culture).
This was Her Excellency’s first official visit to the University of Malta. The meeting served as an opportunity to update the High Commissioner about the University of Malta’s engagement with Indian Universities and discuss aspects on future collaboration with the High Commission. A series of events are being planned to take place at the University of Malta over the coming months.
The meeting was followed by an encounter with Indian students and staff who are presently pursuing studies or working at the University. In addressing the audience, the Rector focused on the importance of internationalization for the University of Malta, the ongoing collaborations and the evolving nature of our relationship with India since our first formal engagements in 2007.
The Rector expressed his wish that this first fruitful encounter will be one of many that will be taking place and which will open up different channels of communication for our mutual benefit.
He added that at the center of our relationship lie our students and staff – members of our ever-growing Indian community at the University of Malta. We hope that this will be a very active community that participates actively in the process of integration and understanding – key elements for which we continue to pursue our strategy for international engagement abroad and at home.
In her address the High Commissioner focused on the importance that the High Commission places on Universities worldwide and expressed gratitude for the welcome she received. She hailed the University as a beautiful garden of growth and encouraged the students and staff to keep in touch with what is happening in India and India’s role in global affairs.
Dr. Lalit Garg, Senior Lecturer within the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology provided a short address on behalf of the Indian community at UM.
