A Joint Malta-Libya Working Group has been appointed to follow up proposals for cooperation in the higher education sector.

The agreement was signed last Sunday in Tripoli, Libya, by the respective ministers responsible for higher education.

The group, which will be meeting at least twice a year, comprises, on the Malta side Frans Borg and Michelin Sciberras, the permanent secretary and the director of policy development and project implementation respectively in the Education Ministry, and on the Libyan side, Dr Abdelkaber Al-Fakhry and Dr Suleiman Khoja, the under secretary and the head of the Technical and International Cooperation Department respectively of the Higher Education for Libya Ministry.

The agreement was signed by Education, Youth and Employment Minister Louis Galea, and Dr Ibrahim al-Zarruq al-Sharif, the Secretary of the General People Committee for Higher Education of the Great Jamahiriya of Libya.

During the one-day stay, Minister Galea had talks Dr Ibrahim al-Zarruq al-Sharif, Secretary for Higher Education, Prof. Eng. Matoug Muhammad Matoug, Secretary for Manpower, Training and Employment, and Mustafa Ammar, Under Secretary for Youth and Sports.

The Maltese delegation included Ambassador Dr Joseph Cassar, Frans Borg, Mario Buttigieg, Director, EU Affairs and International Relations, Micheline Sciberras, Director, Policy Development and Programme Implementation, and Maria Calleja, First Secretary.

Ministers Galea and Secretary al Sharif agreed to launch the Joint Malta-Libya Working Group to explore, analyse and facilitate the implementation of a number of initiatives within the higher education sector.

Dr Galea explained that the working group had been mandated to focus on promoting mutual understanding between the peoples of Malta and Libya including broader knowledge of their language, culture and higher education institutions, as well as improving the quality of human resource development, stimulating cooperation in higher education institutions and improving the quality of euro-med student mobility, including recognition and portability of credits.

Minister Louis Galea expressed appreciation for the friendship and respect between both countries that has continuously established a process of dialogue.

"Education is the future. It shapes and determines the future of our people. It is clear to see that education is at the heart of both the Maltese and Libyan Government's priorities," said Minister Galea.

The Joint Malta-Libya Working Group will hold its first meeting in Malta in the coming weeks, where they will identify focused, concrete projects of cooperation in the exchange of expertise, in the promotion of partnership and the support of language teaching initiatives in Malta and Libya.

Minister Louis Galea also held meetings with Minister Matoug, Manpower, Training and Employment Minister. The Maltese and Libyan delegations have agreed to continue discussions in the area with a focus on training issues related to employment, as well as in the health care, tourism and fishing sector.

The Maltese delegation also met with Under Secretary Mr Mustafa Ammar, Ministry for Youth and Sports. Common issues where discussed and further talks will be held to explore cooperation on issues such as youth exchanges, training of youth workers, and youth services in specialised areas such as drug and alcohol abuse.

Mr Galea stated that both countries fully acknowledge the role of education and training in the development of human resources to enable all citizens to participate productively and creatively in today's global knowledge-based economy.

Malta and Libya also recognise that they have a long common interest in cooperation in the higher education sector, employment and youth, as part of the wider cooperation that already exists between both countries.

With all Libyan ministers Dr Galea also discussed matters related to the issue of irregular immigration. The Libyan ministers appreciated the impact of this phenomenon on Malta and explained the measures their government was adopting to deal with the situation which is also having a serious impact on Libya.