The Student Placement Programme organised by the Malta Information Technology Agency, now in its fifth consecutive year, has seen an increase in interest year on year. This year it has received a record of over 530 applications from students that are seeking to apply their knowledge into practical experience through a summer placement.

However, only around a fifth of these applications will be accepted as just over 120 placements have been secured with private and public entities.

At the launch of the programme a few weeks ago, both IT Minister Austin Gatt and MITA chairman Claudio Grech had stressed the importance of the participation of industry as this programme was an investment an in the country's young ICT skills.

"During the past months, a lot of effort was made to encourage participation by industry players. However, only 123 placements with private and public entities were secured," a MITA spokesman revealed to i-Tech. "Both the Ministry and MITA believe in the sound potential of our students and the benefits which such a programme is able to provide to both students and employers. We expected a larger response from private industry and are a bit disappointed with the limited numbers. As it stands, MITA will only be able to find placements to 21 per cent of all registered students,"

This year there was a major increase of applications from MCAST students which totalled 62 per cent of all applications. Almost 150 applications were submitted by University of Malta students who are currently reading for ICT-related degrees. Students studying at private training providers have also registered their interest by applying to the SPP.

"On a positive note, this year MITA received applications from various sectors. This indicates that the message that the SPP is not only valuable for the ICT sector is starting to be recognised. Besides from the ICT sector, we received applications from communications and web design organisations, training providers, transport operators, academic institutions, consultation firms, local councils and government entities," the spokesman added.

MITA's human capital department, together with the marketing and communications unit are already looking at how the agency can secure more placements so that next year more students will be placed and afforded the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a work environment whilst ensuring a pool of highly qualified ICT students for prospective employers.