Maltese least likely to have studied science at post-secondary level

Less than a tenth of Eurobarometer respondents studied science in the Czech Republic, Malta and Slovakia.

Only 8% of Maltese have studied science or technology at a post secondary level, giving Malta, together with the Czech Republic, the lowest rate registered in a survey conducted by Eurobarometer in all EU states.

16% of respondents in all 28 EU states have studied science or technology at college or university.

Respondents in Sweden (33%), Latvia (32%), Lithuania (31%) and Estonia (30%) are the most likely to have studied science or technology at university or college.

At the other end of the scale, less than a tenth have studied science in the Czech Republic (8%), Malta (8%) and Slovakia (9%).

Job creation is mentioned as the first priority for scientific research by most respondents in 16 Member States, while health and medical care is the first priority in 10 countries (Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovakia and United Kingdom).

Health and medical care is seen as the top priority by 35% of respondents in Malta, as well as 28% of those in the UK and 27% in the Czech Republic. On the other side, only 11% of respondents in both Germany and Slovenia regard this area as a top priority for science and technological development.

In Denmark and Sweden, the fight against climate change is considered the first priority for science and technological innovation.

Respondents in Nordic countries, Ireland, Malta and Spain were more optimistic that both science and technological innovation and also people’s actions and behaviour can have a positive impact, whereas relatively few respondents in Austria, Germany, Greece and Italy are optimistic that positive impacts can be achieved through either route.

Over half of the respondents in just two countries – Ireland (53%) and Malta (51%) – think that people’s actions and behaviour will have a positive impact on the protection of personal data.

In contrast, there were seven countries in which more people anticipate a negative impact than a positive impact. Notable among these are Germany (52% negative vs. 18% positive), Austria (45% vs. 21%), Greece (38% negative vs. 24% positive), and the Netherlands (34% negative vs. 32% positive).

As for the impact of the science and technological innovation on the protection of personal data 15 years from now, 52% of Maltese think that it will have a positive impact. 

Malta is one of 10 countries where at least half of the respondents think that technological innovation will have a positive impact in this sector.

The proportion of respondents who believe that science and technological innovation will have a positive impact is highest in Ireland (64%), Lithuania (62%), Denmark (60%) and Finland (60%).

In three Member States more respondents anticipate a negative impact than a positive impact. The states are Germany (45% negative vs. 23% positive), Austria (38% vs. 26%), and Greece (36% vs. 29%). The levels of ‘don’t know’ are highest in Malta (27%) and Bulgaria (24%).