Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694844528925.pdf (Malta)
IT-TLETTAX-IL LEĠIŻLATURA P.L.

1039 Dokument imqiegħed fuq il-Mejda tal-Kamra tad-Deputati fis-Seduta Numru 71 tat-22 ta’ Jannar 2018 mill-Ministru għall-Affarijiet Ewropej u l- Ugwaljanza, f’isem il-Ministru għall-Edukazzjoni u x-Xogħol.

___________________________ Raymond Scicluna Skrivan tal-Kamra AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF MALTA – BOROŻ TA’ STUDJU MOGĦTIJA 3490.

L-ONOR.
L-ONOR.

THERESE COMODINI CACHIA staqsiet lill- Ministru għall- Edukazzjoni u Xogħol: Fir-risposta mogħtija mill-Ministru għall-mistoqsija parlamentari 3387, il-Ministru wieġeb li l-boroż ta’ studju ngħataw fuq bażi ta’ gwida u tal-eleġibbilità tas- sejħa.

Jista’ l-Ministru jippreżenta kopja tal-gwida u tal-eleġibbilità tas-sejħa?

17/01/2018 ONOR.

EVARIST BARTOLO: Ngħarraf lill-Onor.

Interpellant li kopja tal-gwida li ħarġet mal-iskema msemmija qed titqiegħed fuq il-Mejda tal-Kamra.
Ir-regoli tal-eliġibilità huma inklużi f’sezzjoni 4 tal-gwida.

Seduta 71 22/01/2018 PO 3490 SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF MALTA TO FOLLOW STUDY PROGRAMMES AT THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF MALTA REGULATIONS This scheme is administered by the Scholarships Unit Ministry for Education and Employment DEADLINE: 31" August 2017 (NOON) !

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' ' CONTENTS I.


INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 3 2.

GENERAL REGULATIONS ......................................................................................................... 3 3.

EXPLANATORYNOTES ............................................................................................................. 3 4.
ELIGIBILITY .................................................................................................................................. 5 5.

TENURE AND CHOICE OF STUDY PROGRAMME ................................................................. 7 6.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE AUM-SS ........................................................................................ 7 7.
APPLICATION FORMS ................................................................................................................. 7 8.

ELIGIBILTY, SELECTION PROCESS AND PROCEDUR£ ....................................................... 8 9.

SELECTION CRITERIA ................................................................................................................ 9 10.

VALUEOFAWARDSANDPAYMENTS .................................................................................. 9 II.
GENERAL CONDITIONS OF AWARD ..................................................................................... II 12.

TERMINATION PRIOR TO COMPLETION OF PROGRAMME ............................................. 13 13.

PUBLICITY OBLIGATIONS ...................................................................................................... I4 14.
INFORMATION .......................................................................................................................... 14 AUM-SS August 2017 Page2 1.
INTRODUCTION The AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF MALTA Scholarships Scheme (AUM-SS) is intended to support ten (10) scholars who wish to pursue a study programme at the American University of Malta following either: • a four-year full-time study programme in : BSc in Game Development (MQF Level 6) BSc in Accountancy (MQF Level 6) BSc in Business Administration (MQF Level 6) OR • a full time or part time Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at MQL Level 7 2.
GENERAL REGULATIONS 2.1 Aims and Objectives The key objectives of the AUM-SS are to: • • • • assist people to pursue further levels of academic study in three key areas; improve the quality and relevance ofthe skills in key sectors of the Maltese economy; reduce skills mismatches particularly within the priority economic sectors; and increase the capacity and level of research, im10vation and development activity in Malta.

3.
3.

EXPLANATORY NOTES 3.1 Academic Record shall mean an official document issued by a Recognised Institution.

The document shall show the marks/grades obtained by the Applicant and where it is the norm, the final grade/classification.

3.2 Agreement shall mean a legally binding document to be signed by the Scholarship Awardee as beneficiary of the Scholarship and the AUM-SS Administrator.

These Regulations shall be construed as forming part of the Agreement.
The Agreement has to be signed by not later than three (3) months after the commencement of studies or the publication of rankings, whichever comes last unless otherwise justified.

The monetary amounts shown in the Agreement shall be disbmsed only if the proper documentation (invoices, receipts and any other relevant documents) is submitted and verified for eligibility and correctness.
In the event of any inconsistency or discrepancy between the Agreement and these Regulations, these Regulations shall prevail in all cases and the Agreement shall be amended to the extent of the discrepancy or inconsistency with these Regulations.
3.3 Appeals Board shall mean a Board appointed by the Minister of Education and Employment, entrusted with assessing and delivering fmal decisions in respect of petitions submitted by Applicants contesting decisions taken by the AUM-SS Board and/or the administrator of the AUM-SS on the interpretation of these Regulations.

Any decision taken by the Appeals Board shall be regarded as fmal and irrevocable for all intents and purposes of the AUM-SS.

AUM~SS August 2017 Page3 !


i I' ·-· " f ' '' 3.4 Applicant shall mean a person who submits a scholarship application.

3.5 Awardee shall mean a person who is awarded a scholarship.

3.6 Awarding Body refurs to the American University of Malta whose shall award accredited qualifications.

3.8 Commencement Date of scholarship shall mean the date as specified on the ULA being the start date of the programme/course on which any payments to Awardee commences.
3.9 Completion Date shall mean the date when the programme/course is completed and the final result is published.

3.10 Course Duration is to be established by the Awarding Body.

When it does not cover whole months, the funds disbursed will be calculated pro rata to the nearest month.

For further defmition of how a month is calculated, please consult Clause 3.22 of these Regulations.

3.11 ECTS shall mean European Credit Transfer System.
3.12 End Date shall mean the date as specified on the ULA or the date specified on the Transcript as issued by the Awarding Body, whichever date is the earliest.

Payments are calculated to cover the period from the Commencement Date to the End Date.

3.13 American University of Malta Scholarship Scheme (AUM-SS) shall mean, for the purposes of these Regulations, and the Agreement, a Scholarship scheme administered by the Scholarships Unit - within the Ministry for Education and Employment.
3.14 American University of Malta Scholarships Scheme Board shall mean a Board appointed by the Minister responsible for Education and Employment.

This Board shall be entrusted with the evaluation and ranking of Applicants for the awarding of Scholarships and overseeing of the scheme.

3.15 Fnll-time studies shall mean studying physically full-time at least 12 US Credits/24ECTS per semester on-campus at the Awarding Body.
This excludes learning or studying from any other place that is not designated as being part of the campus of that Educational Institution.

The Board may ask the Institution to confirm the physical presence and the duration on campus of the Awardee.

3.16 Fnll-time/distance learning programmes.

The Awarding Body is to inform the AUM-SS Office which part of the programme which is to be held on campus and that which is by distance-learning.
3.17 ISCED shall mean International Standard Classification of Education.

3.18 Maintenance Grant shall mean a grant which is awarded in parallel to the Scholarship and in accordance with all conditions laid in these Regulations and in the Agreement.

3.19 MQF - Malta Qualifications Framework shall act as a translation device to make national qualifications more readable across Europe, promoting workers' and learners' mobility between countries and facilitating their lifelong learning.
3.20 MQRIC shall mean Malta Qualifications Recognition Information Centre within the National Commission for Further and Higher Education.

3.21 NCFHE shall mean National Commission for Further and Higher Education.

3.22 Per Annum shall mean twelve (12) calendar months.

This means that when a course is of a duration of for example nine (9) calendar months, the grant shall be awarded pro rata over that number of months.
For avoidance of doubt in calculating the meaning of a month the Awardee must spend more than fifteen (15) consecutive days in order to be eligible for funds covering a month.

3.23 Scholarship Administrator shall mean the person who is entrusted with the overall financial and legal responsibility for the implementation of the scheme.

AUM-SS August 2017 Page 4 3.24 Transcript shall mean the same as Academic Record.
3.25 Tuition Fees shall mean the cost on instruction not includiog any other fees charged by the Awarding Body so that the Applicant follows an MQF Level 6 programme.

Tuition Fees covered shall be those charged directly by the Awarding Body as approved by the AUM-SS Board.

Any subsequent increase in Tuition Fees cannot be claimed by the Awardee or the Awarding Body if not included in the ULA submitted.
3.26 Unconditional Letter of Acceptance (ULA) shall mean a letter issued to the Applicant by the Registrar (or a delegated high authority) of the Awarding Body which shall have the following details: • A clear statement by the Awarding Body that it is unconditionally accepting the Applicant to follow a programme of study.

• The Commencement Date of studies.

• The End Date of studies.

• Modality ofstndy (full time studies); • The Nnmber of Credits I Number of ECTSs pertaining to the programme of study.
• The Tuition Fee shall be indicated on the ULA.

• The Bench Fees (if applicable); Applicant shall note that the Agreement to be signed at a later stage (should he/she be awarded a Scholarship) shall include the ULA.

4.

ELIGIBILITY 4.1 In order to apply for an AUM Scholarship, by the closing date of the scheme, an Applicant shall: 4.1.1 (a) Be a Maltese citizen who has been residing in Malta for the past five (5) years.
Provided that a Maltese citizen who has been residing outside Malta for stady, health or work purposes or any other purpose which the AUM-SS Board may consider, will still be eligible to apply and this period of time during which the citizen was abroad will not be taken into consideration for the purpose of calculating the five (5) year requirement, or (b) Be a Maltese Citizen who is a worker or self-employed person in Malta, or (c) Be a national of an EU/EEA state or a family member of such EU/EEA national (as defmed in SL460.17 and in SL217.04respectively for EU and EEA nationals), provided that such person has obtained permanent residence in Malta in accordance with SL460.17 and in SL217.04 respectively for EU and EEA nationals or (d) Be a national of an EU/EEA state who is in Malta exercisiog his/her Treaty rights as a worker, self-employed person or person retaining such status in accordance with SL460.17; or (e) Be a third country national that has been granted long-term residence statas under SL217.05.
4.

1.2 Be applyiog to follow programmes of stadies at MQF level 6 io BSc in Game Development; or BSc in Accountancy; or BSc in Business Administration; Masters in Business Administration.

4.1.3 Applicants shall start their course specified in Article I of these Regulations leading to a Qualification on the II th September 2017.
4.1.4 Applicants who by closing date of application are still undergoiog another programme of study may still apply, provided that such progrmmue is to be concluded m1d results AUM-SS August 2017 Page 5 I " " ; ' . '

published by September 2017, before entering into agreement if awarded an AUM Scholarship.

4.2 The complete Application Form shall be submitted by Thursday 31" August 2017 at noon (Local Time).
4.3 It is the responsibility of Applicants, in possession of qualifications awarded by a foreign or local Institutions (excluding University of Malta (UM) and (MCAST) Malta College of Arts Science and Technology) to produce an evaluation report on equivalence and comparability of qualifications issued by the Malta Qualifications Recognition Information Centre (MQRIC) within the National Commission for Further & Higher Education (NCFHE) (as per Education Act - Act XXN of 1988 in accordance with the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications Act - Act XVIII of 2002).
A copy of the said report issued by the MQRIC, or the designated authority in case of warrants, shall be attached to the application, with the original presented at the interview.
4.4 Employees of the Public Service/Public Sector who submit an application for full- time studies are required to make a formal written request to the Pennanent Secretary of their respective Ministry through the Head of the relative Department/Directorate, on pain of ineligibility, to confirm whether paid or unpaid leave of absence for the duration of the course has already been conceded under those terms and conditions as established by the Ministry concerned.
Approval or rejection of such request has to be endorsed by the Permanent Secretary.

4.5 Applicants in possession of other national/EU (or a combination of both) public grants or national/EU/Commonwealth (or a combination) scholarships for the same course or programme shall be deemed ineligible under the AUM-SS if not notified and approved by the Board.
Any scholarships or other supplementary grants awarded to the Scholarship Awardee shall be notified to and approved by the AUM-SS Board, whether such are awarded to the Applicant prior to the AUM-SS or throughout the duration of the Scholarship.
In the event that an Applicant is granted an AUM Scholarship and the MEDE discovers that the Scholarship Awardee had, at any point in time, whether prior to the award of the AUM-SS grant, or after such award, is in receipt of any national!EU public grant or national!EU scholarship, the Scholarship Awardee shall be liable to refund all the amount/sup to then paid to him/her or on his/her behalf in full, and this without prejudice to any other legal action which may be taken in his/her regard.
4.6 Applicants in possession of other national!EU (or a combination of both) public grants or national/EU/Commonwealth (or a combination) scholarships for a different course or programme, have to complete the first course and fulfil all the contractual obligations before the grant of a second scholarship (at a higher level) is awarded.

AUM-SS August 2017 Page6 4.

7 Applicants shall become ineligible for a Scholarship if s/he is in breach of any part of the Regulations.

5.
TENURE AND CHOICE OF STUDY PROGRAMME 5.1 Awards are tenable only at the American University of Malta for one of the specified programmes of study: BSc in Game Development (MQF Level 6)- Full Time BSc in Accountancy (MQF Level 6)- Full Time BSc in Business Administration (MQF Level 6)- Full Time Master in Business Administration (MQF Level 7)- Full Time or Part Time' 5.2 Applicants are expected to identify not more than two (2) programmes/courses that they consider most appropriate on the Application Form.
No changes to the indicated choice are accepted after the closing date.

5.3 Courses may have strict subject-specific admission requirements' and Applicants must take the necessary steps to secure admission to their preferred programme.

6.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE AUM-SS 6.1 The AUM Scholarships Scheme is administered by the Scholarships Unit within the Ministry for Education and Employment.

The AUM Scholarships Scheme Board is responsible for the selection and ranking process and for overseeing the scheme.
All correspondence is to be addressed to: A UM Scholarships Scheme Scholarships Unit Ministry for Education and Employment Room ll6, Education Building Great Siege Road, Floriana VLT 2000, Malta Tel.

No.

: (+356) 25982230/25982433/25982127/25982390/25982263/25982250 E-mail: myscholarship.mede@gov.mt I scholarships.aum@gov.mt Website: www.myscholarship.gov.mt 7.
APPLICATION FORMS 7.1 In line with goverrunent policy and to enhance the Scholarships Unit enviromnental social responsibility ONLY online applications are accepted.

Applicants are invited to apply using the appropriate online Electronic Application on: www.myscholarship.gov.mt - It is the responsibility of the Applicants to ensure that their Application is successfully submitted, to keep a printed copy of the Application Form and to print a copy of the electronically generated acknowledgement.
This shall be the Applicants' proof that an Application is submitted successfully online, and on time.

The below supporting document must be uploaded with the application: - A copy of Curriculum Vitae with photo 1 Admission requirements for the MBA at MQF Level 7 includes 2 years applicable work experience and two reference letters.

AUM-SS August 2017 Page7 I, . '

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'' ~ I A copy of the residence permit (where applicable); A copy of the Applicant's HE!
transcripts; A copy of the MQRIC evaluation report (where applicable); A copy of the two (2) Appendices: i.e.
Appendix I and Appendix II; Reference letters (when applying for MBA at MQF Level 7) Signed declaration by Parents/Guardians authorising applicant to participate in the Scheme if the applicant is under the age of 18 by the closing date 7.2 The AUM-SS Board shall give considerable weight to the contents of · Appendix I - Overview of the personal and academic interest in the chosen Study Programme, and · Appendix II- Relevance of study to Malta Strategic Priorities.
Thus AUM-SS Board shall penalise Applicants who fail to submit the required Appendices with the Application Form.

Each appendix shall be not less than two hundred (200) words each.

In all cases the word count does not include references, bibliographies or footnotes.

7.3 The Applications' deadline is Thursday 31" August, 2017 at noon (Local Time).

7.4 Late and incomplete applications shall not be considered by the AUM-SS Board.
7.5 Applicants are to ensure that they apply online by the stipulated deadline.

The AUM-SS Board and the Appeals Board shall not consider any petitions stating that the Application Form was submitted without tangible proof as evidence.

8.

ELIGIBIL TY, SELECTION PROCESS AND PROCEDURE 8.1 The Ministry for Education and Employment has set up the AUM-SS Board to operate the proce" of selection.
This Board shall be responsible for all matters concerning selection according to pre-established criteria identified in Clause 9 and determination of appropriate awards according to the Regulations.

8.2 Eligible Applicants may be called for an interview.

It is the responsibility of the Applicant to make sure to be available on the date and time communicated to him/her for the interview.
No alternative arrangements shall be made to change the date and time of the interview unless there are exceptional circumstances (supported by written proof) that warrant the change of such date and time.

The aforementioned exceptional circumstances shall be examined and such alternative date and time may be agreed to by the Board, at the Board's discretion.

Interviews are expected to be scheduled in September during week days from Monday to Friday from 8.30a.m.

to 6.30 p.m.
to 6.30 p.m.

Applicants who do not tum up for their interview will be considered no longer interested and thus they will be considered ineligible by the board, unless the applicant informs the Scholarships Unit that he/she cannot make it due to exceptional circumstances.

8.3 In the case of applicants who are unable to attend on the given date and time for the interview due to being abroad, such interviews shall take place via SKYPE only at the given date and time.
The AUM-SS Board does not assume any responsibility if the interview fails to materialise properly due to any technical reason.

In exceptional cases, an alternative date for interview may be given by the AUM-SS Board depending on the circumstances which led to the failure of such an interview.

AUM-SS awardees must confinn acceptance within 2 days of receiving the scholarship offer and commit to begin instruction at the Awarding Body on ll'h September 2017.
8.4 The Ministry for Education and Employment has also set up the Appeals Board to deal with objections raised by Applicants after they are informed in writing of the decisions of the AUM SS Board.

AUM-SS August 2017 PageS 8.5 If an Applicant disagrees with the AUM-SS Board, only the Applicant may present a petition by registered mail to the Appeals Board within three (3) working days from the date when the AUM-SS Board communicates its decision to the Applicant in writing through registered mail.
In the petition, the Applicant has to state clearly the reasons why he I she is contesting the decision taken by the AUM-SS Board.

8.6 The Appeals Board shall only address appeals from decisions of the AUM-SS Board on matters related to procedure or interpretation of the Regulations in terms of eligibility, awards, and other decisions related to the granting of a Scholarship.
Under no circumstance shall the Appeals Board alter the Regulations, the score of the Applicants derived from interviews by the AUM-SS Board, or change the ranking of an Applicant as a result of such score.

8.

7 The decision of the Appeals Board is final and conclusive.

9.
9.

SELECTION CRITERIA 9.1 Applications are considered on the basis of the following selection criteria: (a) Academic merit of the Applicant (20%); (b) The personal and professional objectives of the applicant related to the sector (30%); (c) The likely opportunity for similar studies in Malta (30%); (d) Any previous experience in the area of studies applying for (20%).
9.2 An Applicant is considered to have passed the interview if the Applicant obtains a pass mark (that is 50% of the total allotted marks) in the criteria (b), (c) and (d) above.

Obtaining a pass mark does not automatically mean that a scholarship is being awarded.

10.
10.

VALUE OF AWARDS AND PAYMENTS 10.1 (a) MQF Level 6 Programmes: Programmes/courses provided by the Awarding Body on a full-time basis, the Scholarship grant shall cover all tuition fees for the entire duration of the study programme (a four year period) valued at €7,750 per annum.

Any additional fees incurred by the Awardee are not considered to be part of this scholarship.
(b) MQF Level 7 Programmes: Programmes/courses provided by the Awarding Body (either on a full-time or a part-time basis, the Scholarship grant shall cover all tuition fees for the entire duration of the study progrmmne and is values at €14,000.

Any additional fees incun-ed by the Awardee are not considered to be part of this scholm·ship.

10.2 The AUM-SS Board may consider extension for completion of studies.
ONLY one Extension beyond the completion date indicated on the scholarship agreement may be considered by AUM-SS Board.

Any request for extensions are to be addressed to the AUM SS Board supported by the approval of the Awarding Body.

Any request for extension is at the discretion of the AUM-SS Board to approve or otherwise.

During the extension period, no funds will be allocated or paid.
10.3 Payments of the Scholarships grants are settled between the Awarding Body and the Scholarships Unit, as applicable 10.4 Awardees may be eligible for the students' maintenance grant and should seek such information from the Students Maintena11ce Grant Office: Students' Maintenance Grants' Office, AUM~SS August 2017 Page9 I ' ' i' . '

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~ 1 f ' Minishy for Education and Employment, Room207, Great Siege Road, Floriana Tel: 25982330 Email: maintenancegrants.mede@gov.mt AUM-SS August 2017 Page 10 11.
GENERAL CONDITIONS OF AWARD 11.1 The general conditions in this section apply to all Applicants under the scheme and to all Scholarship A wardees.

Application stage 11.2 Full-time Awardees shall need to seek approval beforehand from the AUM-SS Board of any commitment of employment/self-employment during the duration of their studies.
Unapproved employment shall be deemed to be a breach of these Regulations and the Agreement signed between the Scholarship Awardee and the MEDE and shall lead ipso facto to the termination of the Scholarship and the obligation on part of the Awardee to reimburse all the Amounts awarded until such time.
11.3 Without prejudice to Clause 11.2, Scholarship Awardees retaining more than twenty (20) hours per week of employment/self-employment contemporarily to their studies/research shall be deemed to be in breach of their obligation towards full-time studies resulting in a cancellation of the Scholarship award and refund of any Amounts paid by then.
For the purpose of these Regulations, a Scholarship Awardee who is on approved paid or unpaid leave shall not be deemed to have retained the said hours per week of employment contemporarily to the studies/research.
For the avoidance of doubt, any Scholarship Awardee who notwithstanding the fact that he I she was granted paid or unpaid leave, engages himself/herself in employment or any other work including voluntary work, exceeding twenty (20) hours per week, shall be in breach of this Clause and the provisions of Clause 11.2 shall mutatis mutandis apply.

Applicants and Scholarship Awardees are to inform and seek approval of the AUM-SS Board in advance.
11.4 Full time Awardees who are intending to work part-time or already engaged in part time employment including voluntary work not exceeding twenty (20) hours per week, are required to inform and to seek the approval of the AUM-SS Board in writing .

This Clause applies also to self-employed persons.

An affidavit needs to be presented by the Awardee in case of the latter.
11.5 In the case of Awardees who are employed on full-time employment contracts and receiving paid leave of absence or full pay with a reduced load, the grant shall be restricted to cover only tuition fees and bench fees.

In such cases, no maintenance grants and no additional allowances shall be allocated.

11.6 Supplementary Scholarship awards or supplementary grants for the same course of programme of studies must be declared at the point of interview or before formally accepting the other awards.
All declarations require approval from the AUM-SS Board.

Any unapproved supplementary Scholarship awards or supplementary grants additional to AUM-SS for the same course or programme shall be deemed to be in breach of the agreement.

As a result, cancellation of award and refund of all funds granted by then shall be required by the AUM-SS Board.

The Board considers this as fraud and may proceed with a criminal liability suit against such Awardees.
11.6.1 When a Supplementary Scholarship award or Supplementary Grant covers in full Tuition Fee and/or Bench Fee, then AUM-SS shall not cover for the Tuition Fee and I or Bench Fee.

111.6.2 When a Supplementary Scholarship award or Supplementary Grant covers part of the Tuition Fee and/or Bench Fee, then AUM-SS shall cover the remaining part of the Tuition Fee and/or Bench Fee not covered.

AUM-SS August 2017 Page 11 I, . '

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' ' 11.6.3 When a Supplementary Scholarship award or Scholarship Grant is not intended to cover Tuition Fee and/or Bench Fee, then the AUM-SS Board shall reserve the right to revise the amount of the AUM-SS grant.

Provisional Award stage 11.7 Applicants will be notified oftheir ranking by the AUM-SS Board.

11.8 The Awardee shall be given a draft Agreement that stipulates the terms and conditions of such Award.
The AUM-SS Board reserves the right to review and cancel the provisional award if new information reveals any change in information or conditions which renders the provisional Awardee ineligible for the Scholarship Award.

11.9 The Awardee shall conclude and sign the Agreement by not later than three (3) months after the commencement of studies or the publication of rankings, whichever comes last unless otherwise justified.
Failure to present signed Agreement by the prescribed date shall lead to the award being awarded to others according to their respective ranking.

As part of the signing of Agreement, the Awardee shall be required to fill in a number of forms, including, TR/S-9, the Confitmation of Residence Form and other forms that may be communicated by the MEDE.

Awardees following full-time studies are also required to provide the Employment History Form issued by Jobsplus.
11.10 Shall any conflict arise between the interpretation of clauses in the Regulations and the Agreement, the Regulations shall prevail.

11.11 The Awardee shall be expected to take up the Scholarship and begin instruction on the lith September 2017.
11.12 The AUM-SS Board reserves the right to publish the names of Applicants provisionally selected for Scholarships on the website of the Ministry for Education and Employment and on the main notice board of the Education Information Unit, Education Building, Floriana.

In applying for an award, the Applicant gives consent for such publication in the event that his/her application is successful.
Contracted award stage 11.13 The AUM-SS Board reserves the right to publish the names of Scholarship Awardees on the website www.myscholarship.gov.mt.

11.14 Scholarships cannot be extended to enable the Awardee to complete an additional or higher qualification other than that for which the selection was made.

11.15 Awardees catmot engage themselves in other programmes of studies than the one being sponsored for under this scheme during the time of the scholarship.
11.16 Any intellectual property including patents directly arising from or derived from the research work funded by the Scholarship and carried out by the Awardee shall be covered by an Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) agreement that acknowledges that the research work carried out, is partially funded by the AUM-SS.

11.17 The AUM-SS shall not seek to obtain any rights in intellectual property owned by the Awarding Body and/or the Awardee.
11.18 On award of a Scholarship, the MEDE shall make information obtained available to public authorities for accountability purposes.

11.19 Awardees who are found to have given false information or who have in any manner withheld information that would have influenced the awarding of the Scholarship and/or any grants in accordance with these Regulations, shall be immediately disqualified and shall be asked to reimburse any expenses and money granted to them or on their behalf.
The Board may AUM:~SS August 2017 Page 12 proceed with a criminal liability suit, without prejudice to any civil action for damages, against such Awardees.

Progress and completion 11.20 Every six (6) months, Scholarship Awardees shall ask their faculty supervisor to submit to the MEDE a short statement confirming progress and attendance of the Awardee.

Failure to receive this information could lead to a halt in payments of further instalments of the Scholarship.
11.21 Should an Awardee fmish his/her programme of study/course prior to the completion date indicated in his/her Scholarship Agreement, he/she will be required to refund the Maintenance Grant and other allowances paid in excess following the new completion date communicated by the HE!

to AUM-SS Board.
to AUM-SS Board.

11.22 On completion of the studies, the final report (which has to be received by the Scholarships Unit direct from the institution), the thesis/dissertation/research work/project together with an abstract of their thesis/project in soft copy format on a CD or USB, as well as a copy of the Transcript and/or the Official Certificate awarding the Degree, shall be submitted to the AUM-SS Board within two (2) months from the award of the qualification.
11.23 By accepting an AUM Scholarship, the Awardees shall be accepting that MEDE shall have the right to publish all publications by Scholarship Awardees, including any publication arising from the thesis shall be sent in electronic format to the AUM-SS Office, within thirty (30) days of being made public to be uploaded on the Scholarships Unit Portal created for such purpose.
11.24 Awardees shall be expected to write a minimum of one article on their work/studies in the Maltese public media within sixty ( 60) days of their graduation, during which they publicly acknowledge that the degree was carried out following the award of an AUM-SS.

Such articles may be published on the website of the Scholarships Unit - MEDE.

Awardees shall present a soft copy of the article.

12.
12.

TERMINATION PRIOR TO COMPLETION OF PROGRAMME 12.1 Scholarship Awardees who for any reason discontinue their studies shall inform the AUM-SS Board in writing innnediately.
12.2 The AUM-SS Board shall on thirty (30) days written notice terminate the award if- • • • • the Applicant's progress is deemed unsatisfactory by the Awarding Body; the Applicant is not in good academic or non-academic standing with the Awarding Body; the Applicant discontinues the studies; and/ or an Applicant is in breach of any provision of these regulations, and does not remedy the breach within thirty (30) days of receipt of written notice requiring him/her to do so.
12.3 When an Awardee has the Scholarship award terminated under conditions stipulated in Clause 13.2, the AUM-SS Board shall determine the amount to be reimbursed however it may not be less than the proportionate amount representing the tuition fees of the time spent on the progra1mne.

The refund has to be made within three (3) months of failing the course or failing to complete the course of studies as the case may be.
12.4 Awardees shall not be deemed to be in breach of these regulations ONLY in case of serious illness and demise of the awardee.

In case of serious illness, the awardee needs to provide AUM-SSAugust2017 Page 13 I . '

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medical certificates and testimonials to the AUM-SS Board.

Thus, awardees who cannot pursue further studies due to serious illness might be required to refund grants on a pro-rata basis as approved by and at the discretion of AUM-SS Board.
In such situations, the Scholarship Awardee shall provide justifiable explanation as to why the course was not completed or why the Scholarship Awardee failed to obtain the qualification.

Documented evidence, medical certificates and testimonials must accompany each claim.

The AUM-SS Board shall in no way be bound to waiver all claims put fmward.

The AUM-SS Board reserves the right to appoint its own expert, be it medical or otherwise, to advise and assess the case of the claimant.

13.
13.

PUBLICITY OBLIGATIONS 13.1 All publications arising from the programme being sponsored by the AUM-SS shall reflect the following acknowledgement on the first pages of the thesis: "The research work disclosed in this publication is funded by the AUM Scholarships Scheme".

14.
INFORMATION 14.1 For further queries and information please contact: Scholarships Unit Room 116, Ministry for Education and Employment Great Siege Road, Floriana, VLT 2000 Telephone:(+356) 25982230 I 25982433125982127 I 25982390 I 25982263 I 25982250 Email: myscholarship.mede@gov.mt I scholarshipH.aumCWgov.mt Website: www.myscholarship.gov.mt Please note that the official website of AUM-SS is found on www.myscholarship.gov.mt Neither the AUM-SS Board, nor the Scholarships Unit- MEDE, shall assume any responsibility for any incorrect information found on other websites about the AUM-SS.
AUM~SS August 2017 Page 14