MCAST’s Full-time Courses Prospectus for the upcoming academic year is introducing nine new courses, including four Bachelor of Engineering degree programmes.

The MCAST 2012/2013 Prospectus, offering 161 different full-time courses beginning in October, was launched this week, at the College’s Main Campus, in Paola. The new courses include three programmes at MCAST’s recently-launched Institute of Applied Science, the MCAST Foundation Certificate in Applied Science (MQF Level 2), MCAST Diploma in Applied Science (MQF Level 3), and the MCAST-BTEC Extended Diploma in Environmental Sustainability (MQF Level 4). The Agribusiness Institute and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering will be introducing the MCAST-BTEC Extended Diploma in Fish Husbandry (MQF Level 4) and the MCAST-BTEC Higher National Diploma in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (MQF Level 5) respectively. Additionally, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering and the Institute of Mechanical Engineering will be extending four of their current Bachelor of Science degree programmes to give students the possibility of reading for a Bachelor of Engineering (MQF Level 6) in Electronics and Control Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering (Plant) or Mechanical Engineering (Manufacturing).

To introduce prospective students to the 161 courses on offer, and to give them a taste of the MCAST student experience, the College is launching the first edition of the MCAST Expo, a four-day event from Saturday 23 to Tuesday 26 June, at the MCAST Main Campus, Paola. All students who completed secondary education (Form 5) and post-secondary education (Sixth Form) will be invited to attend this event, where they will be able to collect their copy of the new Prospectus, participate in many hands-on activities, meet current MCAST students to find out more about their research projects, seek free personal advice about the jobs and careers they’re interested in, talk to employers about career opportunities in different sectors, and participate in Information Talks about MCAST’s Institutes. Further details about this event will be announced soon.

The new Prospectus will also be available at all local councils as from 27 June. In the meantime, the Prospectus can be viewed online or downloaded through the MCAST website www.mcast.edu.mt.

This year the College will once again be encouraging adult learners to take up a full-time course at MCAST under the Maturity Clause. The Prospectus provides information on how these prospective students can submit their application.

The College’s 10 institutes and the Gozo Centre will be receiving applications for their respective courses on the following dates, between 08:30hrs and 12:30hrs: Monday 23 July for applicants whose surname starts with the letters A and B, Tuesday 24 July for applicants whose surname starts with the letters C to F, Wednesday 25 July for applicants whose surname starts with the letters G to P, and Thursday 26 July for applicants whose surname starts with the letters Q to Z. Applicants who cannot submit their application on these dates may submit their application on Friday 27 July, between 08:30hrs and 12:30hrs. Applicants who live in Gozo and wish to apply for a course in one of Malta’s institutes will be able to present their application at MCAST’s Gozo Centre, in Xaghra. Applicants who will be abroad during the registration period will be able to submit their applications ahead of these dates, on presentation of their airline ticket. More information on these dates, and on the application process, can be found in the Prospectus, and on www.mcast.edu.mt.

MCAST’s career advisors will be available to meet prospective applicants and provide them with personal advice on their career paths, without the need of an appointment, from Monday 9 to Friday 20 July, between 08:30 hrs and 16:00hrs. The College’s Inclusive Education Unit will also be meeting prospective students with disabilities or learning difficulties to discuss their specific requirements before applying for a course. Additionally, the MCAST Expo will also provide information about MCAST’s Pathway for Independent Living two-year programme aimed at providing tailor-made education and training to students with mild to moderate intellectual disability.

During the launch of the new Prospectus, three MCAST students, Maria Victoria Bezzina, Dimitri Calleja, and Jolene Falzon, addressed the guests and media representatives. Ms. Bezzina explained that she joined MCAST after obtaining her ‘A Levels’ and soon discovered a new way of learning through hands-on practice. “During practical sessions, lecturers explain the basic theories, then give us a free hand to apply them as we preferred. This helped me to learn how to analyse a situation, come up with my own ideas on possible alternatives, apply them, and then convince my colleagues to consider these options as well.” This year Ms. Bezzina is reading for an MCAST Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering, for which she has just concluded a study in which she developed electronic sensors that can help persons who have difficulties moving their hands.

Mr. Calleja is completing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction Engineering. He joined MCAST nine years ago, to become a draughtsperson. After completing his course, he started working with the company that had offered him an ETC apprenticeship as part of his MCAST studies. Eventually, he returned to MCAST to complete a Higher National Diploma on a part-time basis. This year, his employer gave him permission to take a year off work to complete his degree course on a full-time basis. “During my degree course studies, I often found myself going back to what I had learnt years ago, in my draughtsmanship course. The knowledge and experience I gained back then provided me with a solid foundation for my studies at degree level.”

Ms. Falzon, a Higher National Diploma student at the Agribusiness Institute, started her studies at MCAST at one of the first levels, and progressed from year to year to continue her studies in animal management. “As part of my studies, the Agribusiness Institute organised various placements at different workplaces, including farms, animal parks, veterinary clinics, and animal husbandry companies. These experiences helped me to apply what I had learnt during lectures in different scenarios, and to develop a greater awareness of the specific requirements of different jobs within this sector.”

The event was also addressed by Ing. Ray Muscat, Director General of the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, and Ms. Dorien Bianco, Head of Marketing and Development at Toly Products. Ing. Muscat said that the ongoing collaboration between MCAST and the Malta Chamber is an important step towards enabling employees to enhance their knowledge through specifically designed courses. Indeed, the Diploma in Manufacturing Excellence, a Malta Chamber-MCAST collaboration, is now in its third year, and other courses in green technology and plastics have also been established. “MCAST’s qualifications are recognised by all companies and are appreciated for the hands-on, practical training that is provided. Through the flexibility offered, employees attending MCAST courses are provided with an excellent opportunity to further their education. In parallel, MCAST’s qualifications provide a unique opportunity for individuals who aspire to move up the career ladder by acquiring the right mix of technology, skills set, competence and knowledge.”

Ms. Bianco explained that the Toly Group maintains several collaborations with the MCAST Institute of Art and Design, including sponsorship and prizes to top scoring students in each assignment, internships and factory visits, and ongoing discussions with students on market demands and requirements. Students who perform successfully during their internships are often offered a position within the company. “Toly’s experience in this collaboration with MCAST has been very positive and commendable to any other business establishment having a firm belief that its responsibilities go beyond merely meeting its commitments to its customers but also to the communities in which its customers and indeed itself operate. Such initiatives assist MCAST students to be well prepared for the work environment. A well-educated workforce is one of the most important factors that entices local and foreign direct investment to set up their operations in Malta.”

Prof. Maurice Grech, MCAST Principal and CEO, said that through the new Prospectus, MCAST is once again emphasising the crucial link between its vocational education programmes and the industry. For example, the recently-formed Institute of Applied Science is launching new courses to address skills gaps in environmental sciences, health sciences, and other sectors that require specialised technologists. The introduction of the first Bachelor of Engineering programmes will ensure that MCAST gives students an opportunity to further improve their experience and competencies in various engineering fields. “The College’s positive collaborations with the industry provide us with constant feedback, knowledge, and resources to improve the quality of our programmes, to prepare students for the latest practices and innovations adopted in different workplaces, and to contribute to the development of a highly-trained workforce capable of boosting our economy’s productivity and competitiveness,” Prof. Grech concluded.

In his concluding remarks, Dr. James Calleja, Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Education and Employment, explained that MCAST, in collaboration with Maltese industry stakeholders, has recognised the importance of ensuring that education provides students with knowledge and experience that is relevant to the workplace. He hailed the College’s successes in its first 10 years, and added that MCAST is now embarking on a €10 million EU-funded investment aimed at upgrading the quality of all MCAST courses and services. This needs to be achieved by strengthening the link between education and employment, by increasing the number of locally-accredited, home-grown courses, by focusing on improved quality assurance procedures, and by adopting European educational tools, such as the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET), and the Europass Diploma and Certificate supplements.

More information about the New Prospectus, the MCAST Expo, and other MCAST services can be obtained by contacting the College on information@mcast.edu.mt or 2398 7100.

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