MITC presentation of certificates

The Malta International Training Centre held a ceremony for the presentation of certificates at the Malta Financial Services Centre.

The ceremony was presided over by University Rector Roger Ellul Micallef, who is also chairman of the MITC.

MITC directors who attended included Professor Joe Bannister, chairman of the Malta Financial Services Centre, Mario C. Grech, chairman of the Middlesea Group, Dr Anton Felice, director-general of the Malta Insurance Association and Albert Mizzi.

Certificates were awarded to 39 participants who completed six training programmes, including the Financial Services Foundation Certificate, Liability Insurance Course, Insurance Auditors Course, Managing Transport and Cargo Operation Course, Applied Insurance Studies Diploma, and Specialist Insurance Modules.

These figures represent MITC's diversification in training programmes. In 2001, out of approximately 350 students trained at the centre, only 48 per cent were for insurance-related programmes. Just under 20 per cent attended finance, investment and financial services courses and another 20 per cent arbitration courses.

About 10 per cent were for sales and marketing courses; participants for English for Business and other training programmes accounted for the remaining two per cent. Overall, 12 per cent of participants came from overseas.

In his address, Professor Ellul Micallef said the MITC was a young institution at just 21 years of age, but which had come a long way. He said it was now more than an insurance institution.

"This graduation ceremony is evidence of the change that is taking place at the centre. In January 2001, MITC's shareholding was widened, encompassing the Malta Financial Services Centre, the Malta Arbitration Centre, the Malta Stock Exchange and the Malta Insurance Association with the founding shareholder - Middlesea Insurance plc.

I was offered the chairmanship of the new, diversified training centre which I gladly accepted being in line with my policy of strengthening links between the University and the world of work. As a result of this change MITC branched out in other areas of training in line with the change in its shareholding structure."

Professor Ellul Micallef also highlighted the centre's international aspect and how it existed to also exploit overseas training opportunities.

"While continuing with our endeavours to promote the 'hub' concept in Malta, it has now become a matter of necessity for us to market MITC as a 'visiting faculty' - able to deliver training where and when our client demands it," he explained.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with the Dubai Institute of Business Management for MITC to run courses in Dubai in October. MITC will also run a training programme at the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance in October.

On the home front, MITC, a non-profit-making organisation, has continued to support local insurance training. Second-year insurance students at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology were taught by MITC faculty.

Of the 16 students sitting for Chartered Insurance Institute exams, 14 passed, 30 per cent of whom with distinction.