The University of Malta is bidding for the privilege of being recognised as a 'European University' as part of a consortium that will be submitting a proposal in relation to the European Universities Initiative  - modelled on the successful ERASMUS EU mobility programme - that has been announced by the European Commission this year. In the first, 'pilot' stage, six consortia will be funded over 3 years, with an overall budget of 30 million euros. The first submission deadline is 28 February 2019.

UM joins the Universities of Split (Croatia), Western Brittany (France), Kiel (Germany), Gdansk (Poland) and Cadiz (Spain) in forming the European Universities of the Seas (SEA-EU) which will focus on the common maritime and marine disposition and orientation of our coastal universities. The University of Cadiz is the lead partner.

A declarative agreement was signed by representatives of all six partner universities at the offices of the Spanish Research Council office in Brussels on 19 December 19. Pro-Rector Professor Godfrey Baldacchino (first on left in photo) signed on behalf of UM. The consortium will meet again in Cadiz in January to ratify a partnership agreement.