Government to assist University for Masters in Petroleum Studies

The government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the university of Malta to assist the university in offering students opportunities in the oil and gas sectors.

“As from today, anyone who wishes to study this particular sector is being offered this unique opportunity,” Transport minister Joe Mizzi said.

Mizzi said that that one of the first things he did in his capacity as a minister was to begin discussions with the continental shelf department at the university of Malta to begin a study programme in the sector.

“The aim is to have more people trained specifically in the sector,” Mizzi said, adding that the programme would focus on geological and geophysical studies as well as petroleum engineering and legislation to allow them to advance their careers in the sector.

Mizzi added that the government was making money through foreign companies investing in oil exploration contracts in Malta.

“Some of the funds generated are being used specifically for education in oil exploration and for the purchase of exploration equipment,” Mizzi said, adding that the government was giving €25,000 to the University for the first year, and another €25,000 for the second year.

 He added that the funds would be used to bring specialized teachers from other universities and to buy books, laboratory equipment and specialized software for the University, as well as for the organization of geological visits.

Education minister Evarist Bartolo said that the agreement was important for the country and added that the University rector Juanito Camilleri had been eager to work with the government in nationally strategic sectors.

 Camilleri said that the agreement was instrumental to give students direct experience in what they were studying, and that the University was therefore working in synergy with the needs of the country.