Prime Minister Dr.Lawrence Gonzi paid a visit to the University of Malta to announce the fourth call for applications for the Strategic Educational Pathways Scholarships (STEPS) scheme, Wednesday morning.

STEPS scholarships are targeted at students who wish to study for a Masters or a Doctoral Degree. An investment of €3,000,000 will be allocated to this scheme, which will provide more than 180 students with financial aid.

Rector Professor Juanito Camilleri pointed out that 20% of those who benefit from the STEPS scheme decide to pursue their post-graduate studies in Malta, thus keeping a local pool of professional people. This not only upholds the view that the University of Malta is of high standards, he said, but it also is an important step towards the implementation of Vision 2015.

Director for Lifelong Learning Mario Azzopardi conceded that a total of 269 scholarships were given in the first three calls. He proclaimed that the percentage of female participants in relation to that of male participants in the scheme was more or less equal. He also remarked that this strategic investment will eventually yield a great input in the Maltese workforce and hence the economy.

Dolores Cristina, Minister of Education, Employment and Family, announced that an unprecedented amount of 430 scholarships will be awarded in 2010, through the STEPS and MGSS schemes. She noted that this is a clear manifestation of how budgetary funds are allocated.

The Prime Minister was shown around two of the laboratories at the Biomedical Sciences Building by Professor Richard Muscat, the pro-rector of the Biochemistry Department at University. He also visited some labs which are still in construction.

He was also apprised of the experience of four students who have previously benefitted from the STEPS scheme; Justine Scheme, who researches sustainable environmental resources management, Alessio Magro, who researches on computational astrophysics, Danika Attard, researching on mammography and breast cancer, and Fr.Antoine Buġeja, researching child protection and welfare.

“We’re putting money where our mouth is,” Dr.Gonzi said about such investments in the education system.