Cooperation talks between Malta, Lebanon universities

Areas of possible cooperation between the universities of Malta and Lebanon were discussed recently at a meeting in Malta by the rector of the Universite du Saint-Esprit, Lebanon, Karam Rizk.

Dr Rizk came to Malta at the invitation of the ambassador of Malta to Lebanon, Peter Toledo.

At a meeting attended by Anthony J. Frendo, head of the Department of Arabic and Near Eastern Studies, Martin R. Zammit from the same department and George Grima, Dean of the Faculty of Theology, reference was made to the linguistic, socio-historical and religious affinities linking the Maltese and Lebanese peoples.

Cooperation in Arabic and Semitic studies and Biblical archaeology were identified as areas of immediate interest. The two sides also discussed the possibility of organising summer student exchanges during which Maltese students would attend, among others, Arabic language courses in Lebanon, and Lebanese students would come to Malta to take courses in near eastern and semitic studies, as well as in English.

Moreover, they agreed to explore the possibility of identifying joint-research projects within the UNIMED framework, in which the Lebanese university is already actively participating.

Both universities hope to reach a cooperation agreement which would cover various aspects of collaboration between the two Mediterranean academic institutions.