The grade of Knight of the National Order of Merit of the Republic of Colombia was conferred on Joseph Buhagiar on 4 June.

The official ceremony was held at the Valletta Campus of the University of Malta where the Colombian Ambassador Juan Rafael Mesa Zuleta conferred the Order of Merit on behalf of the Colombian President. 

The ceremony was attended by Juan Guillermo Castro, director of Europe of the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, University of Malta staff and Colombians living in Malta.

Dr Ing. Buhagiar, hailing from Ħal Qormi, is a senior lecturer at the University of Malta's Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering and is the Honorary Consul of Colombia in Malta.

The decoration was bestowed since Dr Ing. Buhagiar's academic profile was fundamental for the permanent support that he gives to Colombian students in Malta and for the links that he has forged between universities in both countries. The Colombian government recognised Dr Buhagiar's professional merits and exalted his virtues, because through his permanent dedication and work he has promoted and secured the interest of Colombia and its nationals in Malta.  

The National Order of Merit of the Republic of Colombia was instituted in 1981, with the purpose of honouring and praising Colombians as well as foreigners for their outstanding services to Colombia, or those who have performed special deeds, or those who have dedicated their lives in the defence of national values, especially in the fields of pedagogy, culture, sports and social work.