A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the Ministry of Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation and the University of Sheffield which will foster research-based academic cooperation between -two countries.
The agreement will facilitate academic research in the field of diabetes and endocrinology and will benefit both consultants and academics, as well as university students in medicine.
This partnership will see, among other things, joint research projects between consultants and academics from Malta and Sheffield. This agreement will also lead to a dialogue with Sheffield researchers to assist in the development of academic pathways for Maltese individuals, so that as part of the specialized training students will be able to spend a year or two in Sheffield to do research and attend specialty clinics. Medical students at the University of Malta and healthcare workers will also be eligible to apply for the MSc in Endocrinology and Diabetes.
Minister Clifton Grima praised this agreement because it will give more opportunities to students. He said, “This is a collaboration through which university students will benefit from research programs as well as other support that are prestigious opportunities for them. This collaboration will benefit not only the students but also the health sector in general. ”
Parliamentary Secretary Keith Azzopardi Tanti said, “This memorandum of understanding is crucial because through the collaboration between Malta and the University of Sheffield more research will be offered to improve the knowledge and skills of people who work in the field of health by also offering opportunities to experience the work and research in clinics in Sheffield ”.
Dr Miguel Debono, Consultant in Endichronology and Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Malta, said that through qualitative and quantitative research there is the possibility to discover and develop ideas that will change and revolutionize the way how we work in health, and in collaboration with a world-renowned research center, such as the University of Sheffield, we will work together to achieve these goals.
The agreement was signed by Professor Richard Ross of the University of Sheffield and Matthew Vella, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education.
