Phoenicia Energy Company Ltd, a subsidiary of Mediterranean Oil & Gas Plc and Genel Energy Plc, which is currently carrying out oil exploration offshore Malta, awarded a scholarship to cover tuition fees to Liam Grech, a Maltese student following the M.A. in Ocean Governance. This M.A. degree is being offered by the Faculty of Laws at the University of Malta, in collaboration with the International Ocean Institute. Starting this October, it is being held at the Valletta Campus of the University in Malta, as part of the University’s International Masters Programmes.

This Master degree programme on Ocean Governance is unique in its approach – it aims to forge a knowledge base that is essentially legal but which also serves to further enhance the development of learning and research in the field of marine resource management and maritime security from a multidisciplinary perspective. Emerging issues and threats, such as global maritime security, the sustainable use of the oceans and their resources, as well as linkages between natural sciences, socio-economic requirements and the law, necessitate a multidisciplinary approach for promoting learning and research on ocean governance.

In this era of globalization and sectoral integration, capacity building in the regulation of ocean governance plays a pivotal role and this M.A. degree programme continues to build the capacity that Malta needs, as a key maritime player in the region, to successfully manage its resources and obligations locally, regionally, and internationally. The support of this aspect of the programme by national government, academia and industry was highlighted during the scholarship award.

The presentation of the scholarship to Mr Liam Grech, was held at the Valletta Campus of the University of Malta. Rector Professor Juanito Camilleri and the awardee signed an agreement in the presence of distinguished guests that included the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, the Hon. Joseph Mizzi; Mr William Higgs, CEO of Mediterranean Oil & Gas; Pro Rector Professor Alfred Vella and Professor Kevin Aquilina, Dean, Faculty of Laws, University of Malta; Dr Awni Behnam, President of the International Ocean Institute; and Mr Jon Knight, Deputy British High Commissioner in Malta, amongst others. Mr Grech was selected by a specially set-up board following a public call by the University of Malta inviting applications for the scholarship.