On Monday 15 January 2024, H.E. Abdelkarim Touharia, the Ambassador of Algeria, paid a visit to the University of Malta campus in Msida, where he was received by UM’s Pro-Rector for International Development & Quality Assurance, Prof. Frank Bezzina. Also present for the meeting were the Deputy Director of the International Office, Ms Victoria Gauci and Mr Jake Grech. 

H.E. Touharia, was joined by H.E. Philomena Meli, Ambassador of Malta to Algeria, Mr Ismail Hadef, Consul of Algeria in Rome, government advisor and entrepreneur, Mr Charif Benboulaid and art historian, Prof. Giuseppe Schembri Bonaci. 

During their meeting, the Ambassador and the Pro-Rector discussed the respective education systems of the two countries and the increased importance being given to English in Algeria which will increase opportunities for collaboration in tertiary education and the collective undertaking of research. 

Pro-Rector, Prof. Bezzina, remarked on the unfortunately low number of Algerian students currently studying at the University of Malta, the study programmes being offered and expressed the wish to seek new ways to explore different avenues of collaboration. 

Ambassador Touharia and Ambassador Meli offered their full support to increase cooperation between the UM and the different universities in Algeria.

In closing, the Pro-Rector thanked the Ambassador and said that the University of Malta is always at the disposal of the Algerian Embassy to assist and support the development of bilateral relations with Algeria.