The Ministry for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications yesterday launched the Student Job Placement Programme 2008 aimed at encouraging students in information and communication technology (ICT) to gain experience during their summer break.

Minister Austin Gatt launched the programme shortly before awarding the 130 students, who participated in last summer's scheme, with a certificate.

He explained that the programme encouraged the private sector to offer placements for students in summer. All students attending a full-time ICT course at Mcast, the University of Malta and other private ICT training centres are eligible to join the programme.

The work phase period will span July and September over a minimum of eight weeks on the basis of a 40-hour week. The company will pay students €4.81 (Lm2.06) an hour and may agree with the student to work for more weeks. Apart from serving as work experience for ICT students, the programme also helped employers get an idea of what Malta's schools were offering in terms of ICT. The employers could then give their feedback to make changes in the curriculum to ensure that schools were preparing students to meet today's demands in the evolving field of IT, Dr Gatt said.

Such programmes, he added, ensured that, apart from generating "the numbers" of students in ICT schools - like the University of Malta and the Malta College of Arts Science and Technology - they also served to breed students that were competent in the sphere.

The outcome of last year's programme highlighted the success of government projects in which the private sector was involved. In fact, he said, the government had adopted a policy by which private companies awarded tenders were to commit themselves to offer summer placements.

Employers interested in offering temporary ICT-related job placements to ICT students between July and September can call on 2125 5495 or e-mail fiona.pace@gov.mt, www.thesmartisland.gov.mt.