On November 21, Prof. Alfred J. Vella, Pro-Rector of the University of Malta, Dr. Cherdsak Virapat, Executive Director of the International Ocean Institute paid a visit to SMU. Prof. Yu Shicheng, President of SMU, Prof. Jin Yongxing, Vice President of SMU gave the guests a warm welcome.
Prof. Yu Shicheng met Prof. Alfred J. Vella and Dr. Cherdsak Virapat, and exchanged views with them on a possible three-way cooperation program. During the meeting, Prof. Jin Yongxing, Vice President of SMU said that the upcoming three-way program must be a very encouraging one and he hoped the arrangements could be made as early as possible. The three sides had a detailed discussion of the Master's program on Marine Governance.
The University of Malta is publicly funded in 1592 and is open to all those who have the requisite qualifications. There are about 10,000 students, of which ten percents are foreign/exchange students from nearly 80 different countries. The University today has thirteen Faculties such as Engineering, Laws, Science and Theology.
The International Ocean Institute was founded in 1972 as an international nongovernmental and nonprofit institution, which is devoted to the research on the sustainable development of oceans. It operates through a large network of national institutions in more than 25 countries in the world, with its Headquarters hosted by the Government of Malta.