The impact of IPS‑funded scholarships on beneficiaries, the public service, and Maltese society

Abstract

The public service offers financial sponsorships to public officers with the aim of helping them continue their formal education, in order to acquire higher qualifications and develop their human capital. These sponsorships, which vary from short training courses to PhD programmes, are administered by the Institute for the Public Services (IPS), which provides courses specifically for the public service through a collaborative venture with two higher education institutions: the University of Malta (UOM), and the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST). Additionally, IPS is also responsible for the administration of scholarships funded by national funds and the European Social Fund (ESF), which is obtained through the EU to support employment and social inclusion. The public service has grown substantially in recent years, and it is only through trained, qualified, and dedicated employees that it can offer an efficient and effective service to the general public. Now more than ever, public service employees need to engage in policy and research, embrace new technology systems, and adapt to growing and shifting demands. To strengthen such a workforce, employers needs to ensure that the skills of their employees are nurtured, and that they are in line with the respective objectives and needs.