This agreement seeks to establish common ground between the two organisations, particularly as the Centre for Sustainable Heritage will be launching a Master of Science course in The Built Environment: Sustainable Heritage in September. The course will deal with the factors and forces that drive change in the sustainable conservation, management and use of cultural heritage and its integration in society.

Through this agreement, Heritage Malta will benefit from an annual study visit organised by the Centre for Sustainable Heritage to Malta for the purpose of enhancing knowledge, and providing scientific and technological support for conservation planning by Heritage Malta.

Students reading the Masters course will visit Malta for a two week period each year to carry out detailed studies on buildings, sites or collections chosen collaboratively by Heritage Malta and the Centre for Sustainable Heritage.

Speaking during the signing of the agreement, Heritage Malta Chairman Dr Mario Tabone said that such an agreement is vital for the Maltese agency in gaining access to UCL’s renowned expertise for the conservation of its numerous sites, buildings and collections.

On her part, Professor May Cassar from UCL said that this collaboration would benefit the Centre of Sustainable Heritage by enhancing academic knowledge which it was pleased to share with Heritage Malta.

The agreement which is valid for three years, was signed on behalf of UCL by Professor Michael Worton, vice-provost of UCL in the presence of Antoinette Caruana, chief executive of Heritage Malta and Professor May Cassar, director of the Centre for Sustainable Heritage at UCL.