Scholarships Section Quality Service Charter

 

This charter

 

Our service

 

How you can contact us

 

What you can expect from us

 

How you can get information on available scholarships

 

How to apply for a scholarship

 

Processing your application

 

What you should know about the interview

 

After the interview

 

Your obligations as a candidate for a scholarship

 

How to lodge a complaint

This charter

The Scholarships Section forms part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Investment Promotion.  This Quality Service Charter is an expression of our commitment to improving the service we provide.

 

In this Charter, we explain how you can obtain information on available scholarships and how you can apply for one.  We also set out the standards of service you can expect from us and explain how you can give us your feedback.

Our Service

From time to time, foreign governments and international organisations offer scholarships to Maltese citizens. These scholarships are usually part of cultural and scientific agreements aimed at enhancing the country’s development and range from short-term courses to post-graduate research and degree courses.

Our section processes most of these international scholarships. While a few are targeted exclusively at public officers, the majority are open to the general public.

How to contact us

Web page:      http://www.foreign.gov.mt/pages/main.asp?sec=82

E-mail:           scholarships.mfa@gov.mt

Facsimile:       21240083

Telephone:     21242191/ 22042376

Address:          Scholarships Section

                        Ministry of Foreign Affairs

                        Palazzo Parisio

                        Merchants Street

                        Valletta VLT1171

Our offices are open from Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) as follows:

·         8:00am to 12:00pm throughout the year

·         2:00pm to 4:30pm by appointment only (between 1st October and 15th June)

What you can expect from us    

You can expect us to:

  • treat you with courtesy and consideration

  • reply to your requests promptly

  • help you with your application

  • provide you with any information you may need on available scholarships

  • follow-up on your nomination should you be selected for a scholarship

  • facilitate your visit abroad.


 How you can get information on available scholarships

Scholarships are available throughout the year. Most, however are issued between January and March.

Scholarships are advertised through the following channels:

  • the Government Gazette

  • press releases

  • our web page.

The publication of scholarships in newspapers is at the discretion of the editor.

The notice will normally include

  • the body offering the scholarship

  • the type of scholarship

  • the duration of the scholarship

  • qualifications required

  • experience required

  • the deadline for applications

  • any additional requirements

Detailed information on available schholarships can also be found on our web page.  If you do not have access to the internet, you may call at our office and we will provide you with  the information/material you require

How to apply for a scholarship

We have a general application form for all scholarships, which you may collect from our office or download and print from our web page.

If you wish to apply, return the form to us by the stipulated deadline together with a recent photograph, your Curriculum Vitae, and a written clearance from your employer if you are currently employed. For certain scholarships you may be required to provide some additional information. We will inform you on this beforehand.

You can return the forms to us:

  • by sending it by post

  • by bringing it to our office

  • by sending it by fax if you think that it will not arrive before the deadline if sent by post (you still need to send us the original form)

We cannot accept applications after the deadline.

Processing your application

Within 3 working days from receipt of your application we will send you an acknowledgement letter.

Under normal circumstances, you will be asked to attend for an interview within three weeks from the deadline for submission of applications. Usually we will send you a letter to inform you about your interview at least one week before the scheduled date.  If this is not possible, we will give you at least  48 hours notice.

What you should know about the interview

A representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs always chairs the interviewing board. Representatives from the Staff Development Organisation within the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Education and usually the Embassy of the country offering the scholarship also form part of the interviewing board.

The interview is normally conducted in English and/or the language of the country offering the scholarship, if fluency is a criterion for eligibility. However, limited knowledge of language does not automatically preclude you from being considered.

If you did not submit the relevant certificates with your application, you will be asked to present them during you interview.  We expect you to be punctual. The Board reserves the right to reject candidates who do not turn up for the interview on the given day and time.

After all eligible candidates have been interviewed, the board then passes its recommendations to the foreign government or organisation offering the scholarship.

After the interview

Within 10 working days from your interview we will send you a letter informing you on whether you have been nominated for the scholarship.

If you are nominated for a scholarship, we will ask you to sign a form of undertaking  binding you to return to work in Malta, either in the public or private sector for an established period of time.

At this stage, we will also ask you to submit further information which  will be forwarded to the relevant organisation in the donor country for a final decision on selection. It is important that you keep to the stated deadline to submit this information,

We can only send you the confirmation of your acceptance when the donor country informs us of its decision.

Your obligations as a candidate for a scholarship

When applying for a scholarship, please ensure that:

·                     you send us the application form, fully completed

·                     you enclose your Curriculum Vitae

·                     you include a recent photograph

·                     you follow the instructions given

·                     you keep any appointments

·                     you sign the form of undertaking once you have been nominated

·                     you know the language of the country offering the scholarship or have undertaken to learn it, or are willing to learn it before the start of the scholarship.

            If you are awarded the scholarship, you are required to:

·                     notify us on your return from your scholarship abroad

·                     submit a report within one month of your return to Malta.

How to lodge a complaint

If you feel that we have not met the standards outlined in this Charter, and wish to lodge a complaint, we suggest that you first take the matter up with the person you have been dealing with.

You can also write to us, or fill in our Feedback Form.  We will send you a reply within 10 working days.  If we are unable to meet this target we will explain why and give you a new deadline.

If you have followed this procedure and you are not satisfied with the explanation given, you may then write to:

The Permanent Secretary

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Investment Promotion

Palazzo Parisio

Merchants Street

Valletta VLT1171

You will receive a reply within 3 working days from the date of receipt of your letter.

You can also lodge a complaint, make a suggestion or ask a question by accessing the Customer Care System at www.servizz.gov.mt .

All information is correct at time of going to print.  More information is available on the Charter Support Unit website and on the Scholarships website.

 

First published June 1999

November 2003