Through several part-time courses offered by its 10 Institutes in Malta and the Gozo Centre, the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology said that it is providing vocational education and training to over 4,000 individuals every year.

Next month MCAST will be starting another 200 evening courses, including 14 new programmes, providing lifelong learning in various artistic, scientific and technological industries.

These training opportunities are aimed at persons who cannot follow full-time education due to work or family commitments but who still wish to acquire new skills and qualifications to get a new job, seek career advancement or simply to learn more about subjects that interest them. Students aged 16 and over also take up these courses to sustain their full-time education with additional knowledge, skills and experiences.

Individuals who choose MCAST’s vocational education and training part-time courses will be learning through hands-on practice in workshops and laboratories rather than acquiring theoretical knowledge only.

This approach provides a level of experience which makes it easier for learners to get used to the practicalities of their chosen sector once they end their studies. It also helps employers by saving them the cost of providing on-the-job training for new recruits with less hands-on experience.

The list of classes beginning in March was sent to all Maltese and Gozitan families a few days ago and is also available through the new website www.mcast.edu.mt/shortcourses.

The new courses include ‘Olive Oil Tasting – Introduction,’ ‘Adobe Photoshop – Introduction,’ ‘Adobe Photoshop – Intermediate,’ ‘Adobe Illustrator for Fashion,’ ‘Adobe After Effects as an Editing Tool,’ ‘Weldability of Carbon and Low Carbon Steels,’ ‘Weldability of Stainless Steel,’ ‘Non Destructive Examination and Symbols for Welding Technology,’ ‘Fixtures, Positioners and Safe Practices,’ ‘Codes, Standards and Weld Quality,’ ‘Basic Hair Cutting Techniques,’ ‘Airbrush Make-Up Body Design Artistry,’ ‘Certificate of Professional Competence in Transport of Goods by Road (National)’ and ‘Certificate of Professional Competence in Transport of Goods by Road (International).’

There are also courses in applied science, animal care, bee keeping, gardening, horticulture, organic farming, wine making, art, interior design, fashion design and tailoring, video and photo editing, welding, DIY, construction, installation of renewable energy systems, various business and management skills, use of accounting software, make-up techniques, beauty therapy and hair care, sports psychology, electrical and electronic technologies, web and software development and programming, use of general engineering machine tools, goods transport, and several programmes leading to the acquisition of licences required to operate various types of sea vessels or to work in the maritime sector.

To help workers obtain full certification without having to quit their jobs and follow full-time courses, most of MCAST’s part-time courses are accredited through the ECVET or ECTS frameworks. This means that, at their own pace, learners can complete a number of accredited part-time courses within the same field, which, when put together, will lead to the awarding of an over-arching Certificate or Diploma.

Prof. Maurice Grech, MCAST Principal and CEO, explained that the traditional life pattern of training-work-retirement is fast becoming obsolete as workers are now required to continue training throughout their lives to meet the ever-changing needs of the economy. They must ensure that they invest in lifelong learning to guarantee their jobs and to acquire the necessary qualifications to advance, earn more, and improve their quality of life. This emphasis on lifelong training is particularly important for low-skilled, unqualified persons whose employment prospects are in decline.

“MCAST is committed to continue offering new lifelong learning options for Maltese workers. We also need to make sure that these opportunities are available to all, even to those who don’t have much time for training, or who are finding it difficult to return to formal education. This is why we will soon be launching new courses through e-learning as well as a framework for the accreditation of prior learning. Through this procedure, MCAST will be able to assess and accredit the skills that a worker may have acquired through work and training in previous years, to identify what training they will require to obtain higher qualifications without having to take up learning units about what they already know. This will encourage more persons to seek lifelong learning whilst increasing the creativity and flexibility of our country’s workforce,” Prof. Grech concluded.

MCAST’s part-time training programmes are managed by the College’s commercial arm MCAST Gateway to Industry Ltd.

The full list of courses and the application form can be found on the booklet sent to all families, as well as on www.mcast.edu.mt/shortcourses, where prospective students can also apply online. Alternatively, they can hand in the application at the MCAST Main Campus, in Paola, on weekdays between Monday 27 February and Wednesday 7 March, from 0830hrs to 1900hrs.

More information can be obtained by telephone or email on 23987103 or shortcourses@mcast.edu.mt.

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