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| Wednesday, June 28
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Government launches Scholarship Scheme |
The Malta Government Scholarship Scheme was officially launched on Tuesday with an initial sum of Lm 200,000 allocated towards the scheme for 2006. The scheme aims to create the same incentives for the UoM as those available for fee based universities in other countries to attract the best students.
The key objectives of this Scholarship scheme are:
- To encourage and promote more student participation in higher levels of academic research, both locally and internationally.
- To assist exceptional students to pursue further levels of academic research
- To contribute towards research in identified areas requiring expertise
- To increase the capacity and level of research and development activity at the University of Malta and in Malta generally
Education Minister Dr. Louis Galea said that in a knowledge-based economy, it is imperative to have a very strong base of Master’s and Doctorate programmes researching innovative and creative hypothesis that ultimately bring intellectual and economic growth and society.
Over the last decade there has been an overall expansion in the higher education sector with figures almost doubling from 10,648 in 1994 to 19,057 in 2004. The percentage of people aged 25 and over and who were participating in higher education had risen from 3.9% in 2004 to 5.3% in 2005. Persons aged 20-24 who had at least post-secondary education stood at 56% in 2005 up from 44.9% in 2002. Post-graduate education in Malta has also increased over the years, mainly through part-time provision whilst low numbers are registered in doctorate studies.
The Scheme complements other schemes such as the Chevening Scholarship offered by the British Council, the Commonwealth Scholarship, and the Youth Specialisation Studies Scheme which is a result of collaboration between the Government and APS bank.
The distribution of the funds allocated for this year’s scholarships is 25% (Lm60,000) allocated for Masters degrees, that is, approximately 15-20 students will be sponsored (between Lm3,000 to Lm5,000 for each award depending on University applied for). Whilst 75% (Lm140,000) is to be allocated for Doctoral programmes. Approximately 8 to 10 students will be sponsored (approximately Lm15,000 per award over an average three year duration).
Minister Galea said that Government will seek to encourage the growth of the scholarship fund through local and international, public and private, sources of co-finance.
The Ministry is to set up a Malta Scholarship Selection Board (MGSSB) to administer and operate the process of selection. Awards are tenable at any local or international university or higher education institution for a specific programme of study or research approved by the National Commission for Higher Education. Only those institutions recognised by the relevant authorities in the country of their origin shall be taken into consideration by the Selection Board.
Eligible candidates are invited to submit their application, including CV, transcripts, and the nature and objectives of the proposal for the relative scholarship. |
posted by ^%&^
@ 1:20 PM
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