PRESS RELEASE BY THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TOURISM Foreign Ministry to increase scholarships for students from developing countries and war-torn regions

•Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg meets with international students at the University of Malta and MEDAC 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Ian Borg announced that the government will continue increasing scholarships to postgraduate students from developing countries and from regions afflicted by war, reaffirming Malta’s commitment to education as the key to sustainable development and peace.

This week, Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg visited the University of Malta and the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies (MEDAC) in Msida to meet with the international students currently benefitting from scholarships that the Ministry is sponsoring for the academic year 2024/25. The €265,000 investment in these 16 postgraduate scholarships forms part of Malta’s Official Development Assistance (ODA), the country’s commitment to provide humanitarian and development assistance to communities in developing countries and in regions impacted by wars and natural disasters.

University of Malta Rector Professor Alfred J.Vella, Pro-Rector Professor Frank Bezzina, MEDAC Chairperson President Emeritus Dr George Vella and MEDAC Director Professor Stephen Calleya  welcomed Dr Borg at the University of Malta, for meetings with scholarship students from Ghana, Ethiopia, Libya, Palestine, Rwanda, Egypt, Djibouti, and Tunisia. This year’s cohort are pursuing studies in Diplomacy, Humanitarian Action, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Energy, Conflict Resolution and other subjects at the University of Malta.

The scholarship students shared their academic experiences and aspirations in an open dialogue session. They highlighted the impact of the scholarship programme on their personal and professional growth. At MEDAC, students also engaged with the deputy prime minister on topics such as EU-Africa relations, green investment, and multilateral diplomacy.

The deputy prime minister noted that this academic year marked the greatest number of scholarships ever granted by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism as part of Malta’s ODA. This commitment will increase in coming years, as even more scholarships have been approved for the 2025/26 academic year. The ministry also sponsors PhD and Master’s scholarships at the University’s Island and Small States Institute, for students from small island developing states (SIDS), which Malta actively supports through several international initiatives. 

“Education is the key to achieving sustainable development. Through these scholarships, we are positively contributing to the development of your respective countries, as your formation here will bear fruit in your future endeavours in your communities,” Ian Borg told the students.

University Rector Professor Alfred J.Vella said that, “The University of Malta is grateful for the investment and the collaborative effort focused towards continuing and strengthening the scholarship initiative. This ensures continuity and the availability of opportunities to students from diverse backgrounds and interests. Through this initiative we also support the building and consolidation of a strong UM alumni community in specific areas in the identified countries.” 

“We are honoured that the ministry has confirmed its commitment to award financial support for the coming academic year. The focus will remain on supporting capacity building efforts in developing countries and areas of conflict. Scholarship awardees join a community of students and staff from diverse backgrounds, exchanging ideas and transferring knowledge and skills to each other,” Professor Vella added. 

MEDAC Director Professor Stephen Calleya noted that the Deputy Prime Minister’s visit to the Academy was an inspirational moment, providing MEDAC students the opportunity to learn first-hand about the intricacies of contemporary international relations.