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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 25 JUNE 2023 10 COMMERCIAL MeDirect's new MeMax savings account offers high flexibility whilst paying interest monthly MEDIRECT Malta has launched MeMax, an innovative instant access savings account offering an attractive interest rate of 2 per cent per annum, which is paid monthly. Existing custom- ers can open a MeMax account in a few simple steps through their app or online banking. New customers can use MeDi- rect's straightforward online process to apply to become cus- tomers. Pawel Malukiewicz, Group Head – Channels & Customer Experience at MeDirect, said, "By paying out interest at the end of each month. MeMax is changing the game when it comes to instant access savings accounts in Malta. While giving savers the opportunity to benefit from higher interest rates, Me- Direct is also offering customers the flexibility of not having to tie up their money for long time periods. MeDirect continues to democratise finance, using technology and innovation to provide benefits to all our cus- tomers, regardless of their net wealth." Every MeDirect customer will be able to open one MeMax ac- count, denominated in Euro, and deposit up to €2,000 per month up to a maximum account bal- ance of €50,000. The launch of the MeMax sav- ings account is the second prod- uct innovation launched by Me- Direct in 2023. At the start of the year, MeDi- rect became the first and only bank in Malta to offer an online Discretionary Portfolio Manage- ment Service to retail customers. MeManaged gives customers the opportunity to have their investment portfolio actively managed, a service normally on- ly available to high-net-worth individuals, with a minimum in- vestment of just €100. Ingrid Micallef, Head – Prod- ucts & Marketing at MeDirect Malta, said, "As Malta's first dig- ital bank, MeDirect continues to develop its online platform and mobile application to make banking and investment services easily available to all our cus- tomers. At the same time, we have an exciting array of product innovations, including MeMax, which can be accessed easily and without the need for significant initial sums. We are confident that receiving interest payments monthly will prove popular among savers." More information on MeMax can be found on MeDirect's website at https://www.medi- rect.com.mt/save/me-max. MCAST hosts EU4Dual Alliance Rector Council meeting THE Malta College for Arts, Sci- ence, and Technology (MCAST) hosted a EU4Dual alliance talk to address major societal chal- lenges through dual higher ed- ucation. THE EU4Dual Alliance is an unprecedented collaboration comprising nine leading dual university and higher educa- tion institutions in Europe, including MCAST. The Alli- ance's mission is to make du- al higher education the future of higher education in a bid to address emerging econom- ic, environmental, and social challenges. During the meeting, the Al- liance elected its new secre- tary-general, John L. Harris. Mr Harris brings to the role over 30 years of experience in the industry, corporate diplomacy, and stakeholder engagement across multiple continents. MCAST Principal and CEO Professor Joachim James Calle- ja stated, "This alliance works toward achieving strategic goals such as developing joint master's programs with Euro- pean Degree accreditation, in- creasing mobility opportunities for our students, and attracting international students. These objectives align with MCAST's overarching ambitions and are crucial to the College's contin- ued expansion and progress in delivering quality vocational education and training". Moreover, the alliance ap- proved a work plan for the first year. A top priority for 2023 will be establishing governance bodies, including the Academic and Student Councils, Industry Relations Council, and Advi- sory Board. Furthermore, the Alliance will embark on a re- search program that will inves- tigate the methods and impacts of dual higher education. From the start of the 2023-24 academic year, students and staff at the nine institutions namely, Mondragon Universi- ty of Spain, Duale Hochschule Baden-Wurttember of Germa- ny, FH Joanneum Gesellschaft of Austria, Savonia-Ammat- tikorkeakoulu OF of Finland, Ecole Superieure Des Technol- ogies Industrielles Avancees of France, Neuman Janos Egye- tem of Hungry, Politechnika Koszalinska of Poland, Veleu- ciliste Par University of Ap- plied Sciences of Croacia, will gain additional opportunities across the EU4Dual network and participate in multiple new research projects launched in areas linked to the green tran- sition and future of work.