history
Initiation
In 2000, Prof. Thomas Stolz (Department of Linguistics, Bremen University) and Prof. Ray Fabri (Institute of Linguistics and Language Technology, University of Malta) initiated contacts between the Linguistics Department at the Bremen University and the Institute of Linguistics & Language Technology and the Department of Maltese at the University of Malta. Since its inception, the idea behind the Malta Centre has been to develop and strengthen research in Maltese linguistics, both within the two institutions and internationally, in collaboration with individual scholars and practitioners, and also academic establishments. To this end, the first international conference on Maltese linguistics was held in Bremen in 2007 during which the Għaqda Internazzjonali tal-Lingwistika Maltija(GĦILM)/International Association of Maltese Linguistics was founded. The association has since been chaired by Prof. Thomas Stolz. GĦILM has numerous active members from various countries and institutions, including France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malta, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, and the USA. Meanwhile, eight conferences have been held in Bremen (x3), Valletta, Lyon, Turin, Bratislava and Kraków.
Foundation of Malta Centre, Bremen Branch
After the successful establishment of GĦILM, the next logical step was the foundation of the Malta Centre on 29 June 2012 based on a cooperation agreement approved and signed by the university rectors Prof. Wilfried Müller (Bremen) and Prof. Juanito Camilleri (Malta). After a five-year term, in 2017 this contract was extended for another five years until June 2022. Under the direction of Prof. Thomas Stolz, from 2012 to 2020, Benjamin Saade was employed as administrator at the Malta Centre, followed by Julia Nintemann from 2020 to 2022, and Maike Vorholt in June 2022.
In 2014, the President of Malta, Dr George Abela, visited the Malta Centre at the University of Bremen as part of a state visit to Germany and he underlined the importance attached to the Malta Centre from an official Maltese perspective. On separate occasions, the Malta Centre was also visited by the Ambassadors of Malta, the Rector of the University of Malta and a representative of the Junior College.
Foundation of Malta Centre, Malta Branch
In June 2022, a new agreement was established, renewing the Malta Centre and establishing the Malta Branch of the Malta Centre. The official launch of the Malta branch was held at the Valletta Campus (UM) on 9th February 2023. Prof. Thomas Stolz and Maike Vorholt, who are responsible for managing the Malta Centre at the University of Bremen, were invited to this event organised by Prof. Ray Fabri and Prof. Michael Spagnol (directors of the Malta Branch), together with Raffaello Bezzina and Michela Vella, the administrators of the Malta Branch.
Important Links
News updates
The launch of the Malta Centre, 29 June 2012
Left to right:
Gerd-Rüdiger Kück (chancellor of the University of Bremen), Prof. Dr. Yasemin Karakasoglu (vice-principal for interculturality, University of Bremen), Prof. Dr. Thomas Stolz (University of Bremen), S.E. Karl Xuereb (Ambassador of the Republic of Malta), Daniela Xuereb, Kirsten Stöcker, Honorary Consul General Dr. Thomas Stöcker, Andrea Xuereb
In front:
Prof. Dr. Juanito Camilleri (President University of Malta), Prof. Dr. Winfried Müller (President University of Bremen)
Malta Centre, Bremen Branch visited by Malta’s Ambassador to Germany, June 2022
Left to right: Maike Vorholt, Julia Nintemann, Professor Jutta Günther, H.E. Dr. Giovanni Xuereb, Professor Thomas Stolz, Professor Marcus Callies, Mark Anthony Abela, Dr. Thomas Stöcker.
Click here to read the article about the ambassador’s visit.
Malta Centre, Bremen Branch visited by Malta’s Ambassador to Germany, June 2022
Business Meeting between both branches at the Malta Centre, Bremen Branch, November 2022
Left to Right: Maike Vorholt, Michela Vella, Raffaello Bezzina
The Launch of the Malta Centre, Malta Branch, February 2023
Back: Raffaello Bezzina, Michela Vella, Maike Vorholt
Front: Prof. Ray Fabri, Prof. Michael Spagnol, Prof. Thomas Stolz
