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| Photo courtesy of lucyrospigliosi.ch/malta/ |
"If I had to encapsulate today's Malta
in one phrase, it would be 'a very modern country
with a very educated population'. Yet this vibrant,
modern Malta has a tremendous history, which makes
the country itself an open museum. Wherever you
walk in Malta, you are walking through history."
--George Saliba, Former Maltese Ambassador to
the United States
A small, densely populated island nation situated
in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, Malta
is perhaps best known for its long and fascinating
history. Numerous invasions have at one time or
another placed the islands under the rule of Rome,
Byzantium, France, Spain, the Knights of the Order
of St. John, France again and finally, until 1964,
Great Britain. This history is still visible on
the islands today with their abundant temples,
dating back to the neolithic period; baroque churches;
and dozens of impressive archeological remains
of Phoenician, Roman and Arab origin. But Malta
is at the same time a dynamic and forward-looking
nation. Independent since 1964, the island has
transformed itself since the mid-1980s into a
freight transshipment point, a financial center
and a tourist destination. Malta became a member
of the European Union in May of 2004.
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| Photo courtesy of lucyrospigliosi.ch/malta/ |
Three inhabited islands form the Maltese archipelago:
Malta, Gozo and Camino. Malta is the largest island
in the group. The longest distance on the island,
from the southeast to the northwest is only 27
km; its widest point, east to west, is 14.5 km.
Malta has neither rivers nor mountains, but is
characterized by a series of low, flat-topped
hills with terraced fields on their slopes. Malta's
coastline is well indented with harbors, bays,
creeks, several sandy beaches and rocky coves.
The official languages of Malta are Maltese and
English, though Italian is also widely understood.
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| Photo courtesy of lucyrospigliosi.ch/malta/ |
With a population of only 350,000, Malta does
not have a large number of higher education institutions,
but it makes up for this in quality. The University
of Malta, the oldest university in the British
Commonwealth outside the United Kingdom (est.
1592) is Malta's only university. Today, the university
teaches in 11 faculties and boasts a number of
multidisciplinary institutes geared toward teaching
and research. In addition to the University, the
Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology
offers vocational and professional degrees in
fields such as business, engineering and the arts.
Both institutions welcome the expertise and perspective
of Fulbright scholars.
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| Photo courtesy of lucyrospigliosi.ch/malta/ |
Malta has participated in the Fulbright Scholar
Program for over 35 years. Through the years,
the program has sent scores of American scholars
to Malta and brought Maltese academics to the
United States.
Please feel free to use the contact
information to get in touch with CIES program
personnel.
U.S. Embassy in Valleta, Malta
http://usembassy.state.gov/malta
Official site of the U.S. Embassy in Malta, with
consular information, current news, and information
on public affairs, with in-depth reports on political
and economic issues.
Embassy of Malta, Washington, DC - 2017 Connecticut
Avenue NW, 20008 Telephone: (202) 462-3611
Consulate of Malta in Dallas, TX - 500 N. Akard
St., Suite 4170, 75201 Telephone: (214) 777-5210
Consulate of Malta in Detroit, MI - 6561 Middlebelt
Rd., Garden City, 48135 Telephone: (734) 525-9777
Consulate of Malta in Houston, TX - 654 N. Belt
E., Suite 400, 77060 Telephone: (713) 999-1812
Consulate of Malta in Independence, MO - 301
W. Lexington St., Room 201-201A, 64050 Telephone:
(816) 833-0033 Fax: (816) 833-2125
Consulate of Malta in New York, NY - 249, East
35th Street, 10016 Telephone: (212) 725-2345;
725-2349 Fax: (212) 779-7097
Consulate of Malta in Philadelphia, PA - 941
Bryn Mawr Av., Penn Valley, 19072 Telephone: (610)
664-7475
Consulate of Malta in Pompano Beach, FL - 150
S. Golf Blvd, Pompano Beach, FL 33064 Telephone:
(954) 942-2491 Fax: (954) 942-2491
Consulate of Malta in San Francisco, CA - 2562
San Bruno Av., 94134 P.O.BOX: 34-7001 Telephone:
(415) 468-4321
Consulate of Malta in St. Paul, MN - 332 Minnesota
St., Suite 3090, 55101 Telephone: (612) 224-1844
Fax: (612) 228-0776
Embassy World Website http://www.embassyworld.com/maps/Maps_Of_Malta.html
Links to a variety of interactive maps of Malta.
| General
Country Information |
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Malta Tourism
http://www.visitmalta.com/
Provides information on visiting and doing business
in Malta.
Lonely Planet
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/malta/
Traveler's information on Malta including sections
on events, activities, culture, and history.
Government of Malta
http://www.gov.mt/
Official government web portal, including information
on visa requirements.
U.S. Department of State
http://www.state.gov/p/eur/ci/mt/
Background information on Malta including political
conditions, foreign relations, relations with
the U.S., history, people, government, economy,
and business.
University of Malta
http://www.um.edu.mt/
Malta College of Arts, Science, and Technology
http://www.mcast.edu.mt/
Maltese Ministry of Education
http://www.education.gov.mt/
The Times of Malta
http://www.timesofmalta.com/
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