Lino Bianco, a full-time resident academic at the Faculty for the Built Environment of the University and the ambassador of Malta to Bulgaria and Romania has been honoured by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev for his significant involvement in the advancement of friendly relations and bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Malta and the Republic of Bulgaria. 

In the presence of the President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President Radev awarded him the prestigious Order of the Madara Horseman (1st Class).

The official notification of the award was published on 6 February in the State Gazette of the Republic of Bulgaria. This award is given to Bulgarian and foreign citizens who have made an especially substantial contribution to the strengthening and development of bilateral relations with the Republic of Bulgaria.

Ambassador Bianco is also a visiting professor at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Sofia. He was elected Professor of the International Academy of Architecture, Sofia, for his contribution to contemporary architecture and was conferred Professor of Architecture (Honoris Causa) by Georgian Technical University, Tbilisi, in recognition for his contributions to architectural practice and education. Since 1994 he also lectured in Georgia, Italy and in the Russian Federation.