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Prof. Ing. Bertram Mallia and Prof. Ing. Joseph Buhagiar, from the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering at the University of Malta, delivered lectures at the Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá D.C., Colombia, from 13 to 17 July 2026, as part of the Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility staff teaching programme.

During the visit to Colombia, a series of lectures was delivered to a range of audiences, including academic staff and undergraduate students. The topics covered included biomedical engineering, biodegradable magnesium alloys and polymers, surface engineering, corrosion, tribocorrosion, additive manufacturing, and engineering for sustainable healthcare.

During his lectures, Prof. Mallia showcased the newly funded project, “A Paradigm Shift in Orthopaedic Implants: Surface Engineering of Biodegradable Magnesium Alloys for Sustainable Healthcare,” supported by the Engineering Research and Innovation Cluster for Sustainable Development (ENRICH).

Prof. Buhagiar presented the technology and research findings from the ongoing project, “Orthopaedic Biodegradable Mg-Based Scaffolds: 3D-Printed and Surface-Engineered for Personalised Therapy” (OsteoMag-3D). The project is funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (2025YFE0110100) and Xjenza Malta through SINO-MALTA-2024–11 (Science and Technology Cooperation).

During the lectures, the University of Malta was promoted internationally, and an information session was delivered to potential undergraduate students at the Universidad de los Andes. Eligible students may apply for an Erasmus+ Key Action 171 - International Credit Mobility student grant to undertake a semester of study at the University of Malta in February 2027.

This visit further strengthened the bilateral relationship between the two universities and their respective countries.