Knowledge has a beginning but no end

As unemployment figures continue to go down, our country needs to continue investing in the current workforce to further upskill and strengthen their qualities, which in turns improves the country’s competitive edge.

Underemployment is the next challenge. Through various schemes, Government has continued to increase investment in helping those already in the workforce. There are endless opportunities, often EU-funded, for those who need to improve their qualifications and climb up the ladder.

Scholarships play an important role in all this. They support high excellence tertiary education while also ensuring the labour market across all sectors in our country are provided with the appropriate individuals so business can continue to be built.

Scholarships are the added value the country invests into so that it keeps having an edge. It is in the best interest of our society to offer opportunities to high-achieving individuals to continue to pursue their studies.

Postgraduate education is significant as an economic and social driving force. It is a vital component for many individuals in their professional development. There are many benefits for society at large. Scholarships schemes help individuals to pursue additional academic research; progress the quality and importance of the education system; lessen skill mismatches in the economy; support research in science and technology; and intensify the capacity and level of research, innovation and development.

There has been a significant increase in the Maltese population, aged 30 to 34 years, reported to have attained higher education. A figure of 20.7% in 2006 had risen to 26.9% by 2014. A further increase was noted by Eurostat, the European Statistical System, in September 2015, showing that Malta had by then reached 27.8%.

A target was set of 33% by 2020. Malta has gained the so long-desired momentum but needs to gain 5.2 more points during the remaining period. We are on the right track, but we must not stop here.

Over the past years we have seen a huge increase in funding in scholarships, including the introduction of initiatives such as the post-doctoral scholarships. This in turn will leave a substantial long-term effect, in such a way that these people will continue to provide added value to the local economy.

It is crucial that following such substantial investment throughout their lives, including possible scholarships, we make sure we allow the space for these people to grow, and they must do so here in Malta. We cannot lose talent elsewhere, especially since opportunities here in Malta are aplenty, and increasing.

In today’s world, knowledge has a beginning but no end. Education and learning should not stop once you leave the room on your last lecture. It has to be ongoing, because things are changing at a very fast rate. Change is good, and learning to embrace this change might be the difference between a great future for our country or not. The continuation of one’s education is not limited to those at University level or further, but in each one of us. It doesn’t even have to be scholarships; it could be any medium which you might prefer.

Some prefer learning apps and learning on their own, while other prefer a classroom setting. The list of possibilities is vast. It doesn’t matter if you’ve just finished schooling or you haven’t stepped into a classroom for 40 years – learning is part of growing. Offering as many of these opportunities to people is part of our commitment to continue helping people improve their lives.