The Malta Development Bank (MDB) is pleased to announce that the Further Studies Made Affordable Plus (FSMA +) scheme has been topped up by the Ministry for Finance, to ensure continued access to concessional student loans.
Launched with the objective of easing access to subsidised finance for students undertaking post-secondary and tertiary studies, the FSMA schemes have already played a key role in enabling individuals to pursue their educational goals. This increase in funding ensures that no eligible student currently awaiting financing is impacted by the Scheme’s highly successful take-up. The current FSMA+ scheme is being intermediated through Bank of Valletta plc.
Moreover, a new Scheme will be launched shortly, supported by fresh EU funds under the new programming period and additional national resources. A new call for expression of interest will be issued for intermediary banks to operate the new Scheme
Since its inception, the FSMA schemes have benefitted close to 750 students, with a total support of nearly €33 million. The average loan amount per student was around €40,000, enabling students to cover tuition fees, accommodation expenses, and other education-related costs. The Scheme also helped to reduce the financial burden on families and incentivised young people to pursue further studies locally and abroad. Ms. Alison Micallef, MDB’s Chief Executive Officer, welcomed the progress of the scheme: “It is highly encouraging to witness so many students benefiting from this initiative to pursue studies aligned with their professional aspirations. It is promising to see a growing number choosing interesting disciplines that mirror the shifts in our economic landscape.
L-MDB jestendi l-appoġġ tiegħu għall-istudenti permezz tal-iskema FSMA+
Il-Malta Development Bank (MDB) ħabbar żieda fl-allokazzjoni finanzjarja għall-iskema Further Studies Made Affordable Plus (FSMA +) mill-Ministeru għall-Finanzi, biex ikun żgurat li jkompli għaddej l-aċċess għas-self tal-istudenti.
Imnedija bl-għan li jiffaċilitaw l-aċċess għal finanzjament sussidjat għal studenti fil-livell post-sekondarju u terzjarju, l-iskemi tal-FSMA kellhom rwol importanti biex jippermettu lill-individwi jilħqu l-oġġettivi edukattivi tagħhom. Din iż-żieda fil-finanzjament tiżgura li l-ebda student eliġibbli li qed jistenna l-finanzjament ma jintlaqat mis-suċċess kbir ta’ din l-Iskema. L-Iskema FSMA+ attwali qed tiġi intermedjata permezz ta’ Bank of Valletta plc.
Aktar minn hekk, Skema ġdida se tkun imnedija fiż-żmien li ġej, bl-appoġġ ta’ fondi tal-UE ġodda taħt il-perjodu ta’ programmazzjoni ġdid kif ukoll b’riżorsi nazzjonali addizzjonali. Se tinħareġ ukoll espressjoni ta’ interess għall-banek intermedjarji biex joperaw din l-iskema.
Sa mit-twaqqif tal-ewwel Skema, l-iskemi FSMA bbenefikaw kważi 750 student b’appoġġ totali ta’ kważi €33 miljun. L-ammont medju tas-self għal kull student kien ta’ madwar €40,000, self li ppermetta lill-istudenti li jkopru miżati tal-korsijiet, spejjeż ta’ akkomodazzjoni u spejjeż oħra marbuta mal-edukazzjoni. Din l-Iskema għenet biex jitnaqqas il-piż finanzjarju fuq il-familji u inċentivat liż-żgħażagħ ikomplu jistudjaw lokalment u barra. Is-Sinj. Alison Micallef, Kap Eżekuttiv tal-MDB, esprimiet sodisfazzjon għall-progress tal-iskema: “Huwa ta’ kuraġġ kbir li naraw tant studenti jgawdu minn din l-inizjattiva biex ikomplu studji li huma marbuta mal-aspirazzjonijiet professjonali tagħhom. Huwa inkoraġġanti wkoll li numru dejjem akbar qed jagħżlu dixxiplini li jiriflettu l-bidliet fil-pajsaġġ ekonomiku tagħna”.