Ministry working with multinational ICT companies

Over the past three years the Ministry for Investment, Industry and Information Technology has fully sponsored the European Computer Driving License (ECDL) skills cards for over 4,000 secondary school students.

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 to conduct the seven tests. On successful completion of all the tests, the skills card is exchanged for an internationally recognised certificate.

Over 70 IT students were offered the opportunity of a temporary IT job experience with the private and public sectors. The 'Student Job-Placement Programme' provided the students with ICT-related jobs during the summer holidays, increasing their exposure to the working environment during their academic years.

Vertical strategic alliances between Government and multinational ICT companies like 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 around a thousand students.

Students following ICT-related programmes are among the most important stakeholders in Government's vision to turn Malta into an ICT centre of excellence.   This 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. 

The ministry has introduced Microsoft, Cisco and Oracle industry-accredited ICT certifications, which can increase individuals' employability tangibly, as well as enrich the local ICT knowledge capacity. The ministry is also currently working with other multinational ICT companies to continue to increase the range of industry-accredited ICT certifications offered by other international ICT giants.

And to encourage more individuals to take up ICT certifications, Government will shortly announce the scheme for the tapping into a set of fiscal incentives that will increase the accessibility and affordability of ICT and other certifications.