Chapter 327 of the Laws of Malta, the Education Act, includes provisions for facilitating the development of the international dimension in education. These include the participation in international educational programmes of students and teachers exchanges and mobility, the maintenance of the quality and standard of courses to ensure international recognition, the benchmarking of performance of institutions to international standards and the establishment of partnerships between Maltese and foreign educational institutions to organise courses.
Article 55 (e) of the Education Act assigns the Council of Heads of School the responsibility to encourage and facilitate the development of exchanges and projects in partnership with schools in other countries.
Pupil and Student Mobility
The Directorate for Educational Services within the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation (MEYR) offers scholarship schemes to students which serve to complete part of their studies abroad. These scholarships cover diverse fields such as language learning, the arts and sports, and are particularly geared towards ensuring that students under 18 years old can continue their compulsory education. Recipients are required to pursue programmes, courses, or qualifications that are recognised by The Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA). Recipients must start their courses by December 31 of the relevant year to qualify for these scholarships.
Live the Language Scholarship Scheme
In 2022, MEYR launched the Live the Language Scholarship Scheme to allow young people aged 14 to 30 to immerse themselves in language courses, of at least 15 hours, in native countries. Participants can select any language offered in compulsory education, with each grant providing up to €850 to cover tuition fees, accommodation, and flights, reimbursed based on receipts. The scheme opens annually and is funded until resources are exhausted. Since its launch, 118 beneficiaries have travelled across Europe and South America, gaining invaluable cultural and language experiences.
This scheme supports exceptionally talented individuals in advancing their professional skills in various art forms such as theatre, music, dance, design, creative writing, film, and visual arts. Open to applicants aged 11 and above, the scheme typically benefits 18 to 22 individuals each year, depending on available funding.
Malta Sports Scholarships Scheme
The Sports Scholarship Scheme aims to advance sports at a professional level and nurture high-performance athletes to represent Malta in global competitions. Applicants must be nominated by a representative from a National Sports Organization or Club. The number of beneficiaries each year is approximately 20, depending on available funding. The scheme targets two main student categories:
a) Sports Specialisation Scheme: for athletes seeking professional qualifications, both locally or abroad, to enhance their skills and performance in their chosen sport or pursue careers in coaching and training.
b) Professional and Vocational Qualification Scheme: for students pursuing academic qualifications, both locally or abroad, in sports with recognised Higher Education Institutions.
Other Schemes
The Training and Development Support Scheme offered by Arts Council Malta is dedicated to nurturing creative potential and professional growth of artists. Launched in 2022, the scheme has two strands. Whilst strand 1 is applicable to those who are 18 years and over, strand 2 supports young Maltese or Malta-based artists aged 8 to 17. It provides funding for short-term training and opportunities to participate in international platforms such as festivals, competitions, and exhibitions, enhancing but not replacing their existing education.
In 2023, Strand 2 benefited 10 young artists, who were actively engaged in artistic or creative education. The proposed training should complement their current educational programme. The scheme aims to professionalise the cultural sector and foster entrepreneurial skills among young creatives by supporting various activities including training courses, workshops, masterclasses, internships, apprenticeships, auditions, and networking opportunities.
Erasmus+
The Directorate for Educational Services within MEYR facilitates school-to-school pupil exchanges, allowing students to experience foreign cultures and education systems. Colleges organise these initiatives, coordinating with foreign schools and encouraging teacher and pupil participation. Exchanges are reciprocal: pupils cover airfare and travel insurance, while host countries provide board, lodging, and excursions. Teachers and students plan exchanges through online communication and collaborative projects, fostering pre-exchange connections.
Under Key Action 1 of the Erasmus+ 2021 to 2027, funding is available for mobility for pupils and staff in school education, supporting short-term and accredited projects, including job shadowing, professional development courses, and pupil exchanges. These initiatives promote European values such as inclusion, diversity, and digital education. Schools can collaborate through consortia, host international participants, and use tools like eTwinning and SELFIE for joint projects and digital competency assessment. In 2021, 189 participants successfully carried out a mobility in another European country. In 2022 and 2023 the National agency awarded a total of 1122 mobilities for KA 1 school education mobility projects, in Malta.
Key Action 2 complements this by fostering partnerships among organisations and institutions and facilitating transnational school collaborations, including student exchanges. These partnerships promote the exchange of best practices across borders, often involving class exchanges and pupil mobility to enhance educational development within the European Education Area.
The Erasmus+ Sports programme supports grassroots sports, social inclusion, and cooperation through sporting activities. In Malta, it has fostered local community engagement, promoted physical activity, and supported inclusive initiatives that use sports as a tool for education, health, and social development, contributing to a more cohesive and active society.
Funding under Erasmus+ Sport is provided through two main types of projects:
- Collaborative Partnerships: These are large-scale projects involving multiple organizations from different countries, focusing on developing, sharing, and implementing innovative practices in sports at various levels.
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Small Collaborative Partnerships: These projects are more straightforward in scope, focusing on local-level initiatives that promote social inclusion, education, and health through sport, typically with fewer partners involved.
Teacher Mobility
School Education Staff can participate in school mobility projects under Key Action 1 of Erasmus+. Staff in the field of sport are also provided with the opportunity to improve their competencies and qualifications and acquire new skills through learning mobilities and spending a period abroad.
eTwinning
The European School Education Platform (ESEP) houses eTwinning, providing a secure online space for teachers and school staff to engage in collaborative activities, such as conducting projects with schools and classrooms across Europe. As part of the EU's Lifelong Learning Programme, eTwinning fosters cross-cultural communication and understanding by integrating digital technologies into education, in line with the EU’s Digital Education Action Plan.
Since its launch in 2005, eTwinning has grown in Malta, with over 3,000 educators currently registered and actively participating from early childhood to post-secondary levels. In 2023, Malta had the highest number of schools per capita awarded the eTwinning School Label. Educators benefit from ongoing professional development, focusing on integrating digital tools and innovative pedagogy in their classrooms.
Each year, eTwinning Malta organises a European seminar attended by educators from various countries, dedicated to exploring eTwinning as a pedagogical approach and its associated tools. The programme's success in Malta is supported by the National Support Organisation within the Directorate for Digital Literacy & Transversal Skills, MEYR and a network of eTwinning Ambassadors (educators). Maltese projects are frequently recognised for their excellence, earning both national and European awards. The programme receives a grant from the European Commission covering up to 80% of costs.