The Honorary Consular Corps Prize has been awarded to Sean Agius, student of the Mediterranean Academy for Diplomatic Studies (Medac) for his outstanding work and for obtaining the highest grade in the Thesis component of the MA in Diplomatic Studies course.
The dean of the Honorary Consular Corps, Godwin E. Bencini, presented the award to Agius congratulating him for achieving this milestone and augured that he will have "a long and successful career in the Foreign Service". He believes that the annual prize should be viewed as the contribution of the Honorary Consular Corps towards the development of professional diplomats. Professor Stephen C. Calleya, director of Medac, was also applauded by Bencini for the high level of students that Medac turns out consistently every year.
The Honorary Consular Corps is an association that encompasses all Honorary Consuls General, Honorary Consuls and Honorary Vice Consuls accredited to Malta. Since its establishment, the association has been present in activities of both a social and humanitarian nature. 2017 was the third consecutive year in which the Honorary Consular Corps awarded the Honorary Consular Corps Prize to the student obtaining the highest grade and mark in the Thesis component of the MA in Diplomatic Studies.
The Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies (Medac) is an institution of higher learning within the University of Malta with a unique focus on the Mediterranean region. The Masters Degree in Diplomatic studies is a one-year academic programme which comprises International Law, International Relations, International History, International Economics and Diplomacy. It is a course open to and attended by a number of students from all corners of the world - North Africa, Middle East, Africa, Europe and beyond. This provides an international setting from which each student can learn different situations from one another, taking examples from their individual home countries. The relationships which they develop in the classroom will flourish into lifelong friendships and professional networks. Medac aims to provide students with an all-round experience which includes study visits to Switzerland and Germany, guest lecturers and the opportunity to engage with distinguished speakers.
Present for the Honorary Consular Corps Prize award presentation were Professor Dr Stephen C. Calleya, director of Medac; Sean Agius, the successful student; Godwin E. Bencini and Dr Joseph Buhagiar, dean and honorary secretary respectively of the Honorary Consular Corps.