The rector of the American University of Malta (AUM) has stepped down less than six months after assuming the post.

Victoria Fontan, who joined AUM in July, announced her resignation on LinkedIn on Thursday. She said her mission to help bring Afghan students fleeing the Taliban to Malta had been fulfilled, marking the conclusion of her tenure.

"I am confident that Malta's higher education sector is well positioned to continue supporting these remarkable young women on their academic journey," she wrote. "I would like to thank my colleagues at AUM, the government, and the AUM Board of Trustees for their trust and confidence in my leadership."

However, a resignation letter seen by the Times of Malta paints a different picture. In it, Fontan says she stepped down due to organisational changes that hindered her ability to carry out her duties, citing issues with "governance and oversight arrangements."

She wrote that it was "no longer possible for me to fulfil the role with the level of accountability, clarity of authority, and institutional coherence that the position requires."

The American University of Malta was established following a 2015 agreement between the government under Joseph Muscat and Jordanian firm Sadeen. When AUM opened its doors in October 2017, it enrolled just 23 students-far below the projected 300.