The government will soon announce a scheme that will enable individuals to tap into fiscal incentives, thereby increasing the accessibility and affordability of ICT and other certifications, the Ministry for Investment, Industry and Information Technology has said.
In a statement, the ministry said it has fully sponsored the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) skills cards for over 4,000 secondary school students for the past three years.
The ECDL is recognised internationally as the leading computer technology skills certification in which students achieve basic computing and IT skills. The ECDL skills card is the token used to report the progress of the students in conducting the seven tests. When all the seven tests have been successfully completed the skills card is exchanged for an internationally recognised certificate.
The Ministry said the acquisition of practical Information and Communication Technology skills is a prerequisite for today's workforce. The country's economy is increasingly based on knowledge industries where technology is used as a tool in all the business processes of the companies.
The ministry believes that IT skills aim to unlock the students' future careers and likewise a series of initiatives were sought to help IT students enhance their learning experience while improving their skills. Over 70 IT students were offered the opportunity of a temporary IT job experience with the private and public sector. The Student Job-Placement Programme provided the students with ICT related jobs during last summer's recess, thus increasing their exposure to the working environment during their academic years.
Vertical Strategic Alliances between the government and multinational ICT companies such as Microsoft and Oracle are enabling Maltese students to avail themselves of diverse advantageous educational initiatives. Microsoft software products have been offered at token prices to students, while Oracle software has been distributed to circa 1,000 students, the ministry said.
"Students following ICT related programmes are among the most important stakeholders in the government's vision to turn Malta into an ICT center of excellence.
"Such vision will only materialise if the country is in a position to provide a constant flow of ICT specialists capable of meeting the demands of the industry operating from Malta.
"Hence, the ministry has introduced Microsoft, Cisco and Oracle industry-accredited ICT certifications which can tangibly increase individuals' employability, as well as enrich the local ICT knowledge capacity.
"The ministry is also currently working with other multinational ICT companies to continue increasing the range of industry-accredited ICT certifications offered by other international ICT giants."
The ministry said that improving the country's competitiveness through the availability of ICT human resources is one of the sure winners in today's highly-dynamic marketplace. "The nurturing of a good ICT skills base is a competitive element which can be achieved and maintained by Malta."