Malta Enterprise has published an Expression of Interest calling on education and training institutions to provide a list of qualifications that may be included in the Get Qualified scheme.

Building on the success of the previous myPotential scheme, which it will be replacing, the new Get Qualified scheme will be expanded to a wider variety of sectors. Get Qualified aims to provide a skilled workforce for sectors that are significant for the country’s economic development.

Through previous schemes, Malta Enterprise has approved almost €10 million in tax credits to about 1,800 students since 2006, mainly in the ICT, science and technology sectors.

The new Get Qualified scheme, which will similarly provide tax credits to students who take up any of the eligible qualifications, is therefore being expanded to other sectors, namely:

· Aviation Industry;

· Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries;

· Economics and Statistics;

· Financial Services (including banking and accountancy);

· Crafts and Creative Industries (including audiovisual, design and media);

· Information and Communication Technologies;

· Business Process Outsourcing, Call Centres and Shared Services (Qualifications in foreign languages other than English); and

· Industrial Electromechanical Engineering.

Education services and training providers can either be the representatives of universities or institutes providing recognised qualifications, else be the awarding body of such qualifications themselves.

An Expression of Interest should also be submitted for qualifications previously listed on the list of approved qualifications.

The qualifications submitted will be reviewed to ensure they fit within the scheme’s criteria, with the list of approved qualifications that will be eligible under the scheme being published in early next year.

The list of approved qualifications shall be updated periodically to include other qualifications according to the needs of the industry.

Under the Get Qualified scheme, upon completion of the course, students will be able to recover up to 80 per cent of their expenses on registration fees; fees paid to the university, institution or other recognised training or educational entity; as well as examination fees. The tax credits will, however, be capped depending on the level of qualification or certification being obtained.

Further information on the Expression of Interest for the submission of qualifications can be obtained from www.maltaenterprise.com/getqualified or by calling Malta Enterprise on +356 2542 0000.