€30 million from the European Structural Funds has been allocated to Malta, Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds Ian Borg said today while unveiling the projects which will make use of this money.
Dr Borg called the €30 million investment significant. "The human resource is the most important resource in this country, more so when one considers the economy doing well. A large chunk of that is based on the services industry", he mentioned. Some projects, he said, aim at supporting youths who people have given up on, those not registering for unemployment and not in education.
He said that this investment will help those who want to move forward. The youths are the countries future, he said. Aside from helping those who want to continue in their studies.
He also said investment in projects to help those looking for work in general.
One project that will make use of the funds is the Endeavour Scholarship Scheme, aimed at supporting tertiary education.
The key objectives of the Endeavour scheme are to assist people pursue further levels of academic research, improve the quality and relevance of the education system, reduce skills mismatches particularly within priority economic sectors, support research in science and technology, etc. The main aim is to contribute towards the target set by Malta for 30-34 year-olds attaining further or higher education, which is currently set at 33% by 2020. Five calls are being envisaged, and two have already been made. €7.5 million has been allocated for the scheme.
Another scheme is aimed at MCAST, and the introduction of Vocational Masters Programmes. This project aims at the development and accreditation of eight Masters Programmes in vocational education, delivery of these programmes and a tracer study to investigate the outcome of the training provided. €3.3 million has been allocated.
€5.7 million has been allocated to the Reach High Scholars Programme, and its post-doctoral grants. The aim is to provide recently graduated doctoral students the opportunity to propose research projects with a higher education institution in Europe within various prioritised fields. Selected research projects will be provided with a grant to cover a sufficient stipend for the researchers throughout the duration of the project as well as other minor ancillary costs. Individual projects may not last more than four years and must have a budget which does not exceed €200,000. One call for such projects is envisaged and was already issued and awarded, with the scholars having started their placement with the host institution.
The e-commerce training programme which was announced, aims to design and deliver accredited training programme specialising in e-Commerce. €380,000 has been allocated to this project, which will result in the design and delivery of a learning course aimed at increasing the knowledge and competences of individuals in the area of electronic commerce and business.
A project aimed at offering training assistance to jobseekers needing to improve their skills to enter the workforce, as well as upgrade the skills of those who wish to re-enter the labour market, was also mentioned. Its activities would include a work exposure scheme, a traineeship scheme and a work placement scheme. €6.5 million was allocated.
The Youth Guarantee 2.0 will receive €6.2 million. The project focuses on both the current stock of NEETs as well as those at risk of becoming NEETs (Not in education, employment or training) or young unemployed, through a mix of interventions tailor-made for the specific cohorts.
The guarantee project includes an alternative learning programme targeted at addressing and supporting the needs of 15-16 year olds in their final year of compulsory education and who have not been motivated to learn, and alternative learning programme summer ICT courses, SEC revision classes, MCAST remedial classes and a NEET activation scheme which aims at encouraging the re-integration of young people of young people from the education system or the labour market.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2auRu8J
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