Twenty two years ago and during one of the international solar photovoltaic conferences, Prof. In摹. Charles Yousif from the Institute for Sustainable Energy of the University of Malta, had come across Prof. Julia Bilbao Santos from the Department of Applied Physics, University of Valladolid, Spain.
The topic of conversation was on their papers and common academic interests. This first encounter was sealed by a Teaching Staff Mobility Agreement under the then Socrates-Erasmus Agreement. On his first visit to the University of Valladolid, Prof. In摹 .Yousif had also met Prof. Juan Antonio Lopez Sastre and the agreement was extended to include the School of Industrial Engineering. Following his retirement, more collaborations were developed with Prof. Francisco Javier Rey Martinez, who won Second Place in the , organised by FEDARENE, the European Network of Energy Agencies and Regions, as well as with Prof. Ana Tejero Gonzalez from the same school.
On another note, Prof. In摹. Charles Yousif had obtained his PhD degree on energy performance of buildings from the University of Valladolid in 2015, under the supervision of Prof. Francisco Javier Rey Martinez and the support of the University of Malta.
During recent years, collaboration has intensified with several PhD students from Valladolid University choosing to spend their mandatory PhD training periods in Malta. Prof. In摹. Yousif had also supervised a Maltese architect, who had graduated from Valladolid University in 2022 with a PhD degree. In 2024, an was successfully delivered by both universities in collaboration with other European universities and other members of staff from the University of Malta, including Prof. In摹. Robert N. Farrugia and Dr Therese Bajada. This year 2025, two scientific papers have been submitted and are undergoing peer review.
The topic of conversation was on their papers and common academic interests. This first encounter was sealed by a Teaching Staff Mobility Agreement under the then Socrates-Erasmus Agreement. On his first visit to the University of Valladolid, Prof. In摹 .Yousif had also met Prof. Juan Antonio Lopez Sastre and the agreement was extended to include the School of Industrial Engineering. Following his retirement, more collaborations were developed with Prof. Francisco Javier Rey Martinez, who won Second Place in the , organised by FEDARENE, the European Network of Energy Agencies and Regions, as well as with Prof. Ana Tejero Gonzalez from the same school.
To date, 43 students have successfully completed their final year projects at the Institute for Sustainable Energy. Moreover, forty-five (45) scientific publications have also been published, most of which are in peer reviewed journals. In 2012, a programme of studies on ultra-violet radiation was also carried out for six months, whereby Ph.D. students from the Department of Applied Physics of the University of Valladolid have come to monitor ultra-violet radiation at the Institute鈥檚 centre in Marsaxlokk. The combination of solar radiation data gathered at the Institute and the erythermal data have been utilised to evaluate the effect of the Sahara desert on the ultra-violet radiation levels in the central Mediterranean.
On another note, Prof. In摹. Charles Yousif had obtained his PhD degree on energy performance of buildings from the University of Valladolid in 2015, under the supervision of Prof. Francisco Javier Rey Martinez and the support of the University of Malta.
During recent years, collaboration has intensified with several PhD students from Valladolid University choosing to spend their mandatory PhD training periods in Malta. Prof. In摹. Yousif had also supervised a Maltese architect, who had graduated from Valladolid University in 2022 with a PhD degree. In 2024, an was successfully delivered by both universities in collaboration with other European universities and other members of staff from the University of Malta, including Prof. In摹. Robert N. Farrugia and Dr Therese Bajada. This year 2025, two scientific papers have been submitted and are undergoing peer review.
