Government has issued the fourth call for applications for scholarships under the Strategic Educational Pathways Scholarships (STEPS) scheme, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said.
This call marks an investment of €3,000,000 and will support around 180 students in their Masters and Doctorate degrees.
Dr Gonzi announced the fresh call for scholarships during a briefing of the research of two students who are being supported by government scholarships at the Biomedical Sciences Building at the University of Malta this morning.
Gianluca Farrugia, an M.Phil. / Ph.D. student gave an overview of his research in colorectal cancer and the effect of aspirin and other drugs on colon cancer cells. Joseph Borg is researching a doctorate in molecular genetics and how certain genes affect blood disorders.
Mario Azzopardi, Director for Lifelong Learning, explained that 269 scholarships have been awarded through the first three calls of the STEPS scheme, which is co-financed by the European Union ESF Fund, with the most research support being awarded in the fields of education, ICT and health. An equal number of men and women have received support through the scheme.
Education Minister Dolores Cristina said that a record total of 430 scholarships will be awarded through Government scholarship schemes in 2010. These include scholarships funded by the MGSS and STEPS schemes.
This reflected the government's commitment to invest for the country to have highly capable graduates who would be able to meet future challenges.
The minister said the scheme was attracting people who were over 30 to continue studying. It was also attracting people who were in employment. A pharmaceutical company had encouraged two employees to apply for a scholarship and carry out research for it to plan to expand its economic activity.
Speaking during the press conference, University Rector Juanito Camilleri expressed his satisfaction that 20 per cent of scholarships awarded are being researched at the University of Malta. This is crucial, he said, for the implementation of Vision 2015 and proves the quantum leap forward being made by the University.
The Prime Minister was also briefed on the research of four students who have been granted support through the previous calls of the STEPS scheme: Danika Attard (researching mammography and breast cancer), Justine Scheme (researching sustainable environmental resources management), Alessio Magro (researching a doctorate in computational astrophysics) and Fr Antoine Farrugia (studying child protection and welfare).
Also present were parliamentary assistants Franco Debono and Stephen Spiteri.