MCAST: an investment in Malta's future

The Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology reopened its doors in September 2001. The former Polytechnic, or MCAST, as it was commonly known, was inaugurated by Prime Minister George Borg Olivier in 1970 to give the young Maltese nation at that time the opportunity to train its citizens towards a new context, that of transforming Malta's economy, based prevalently on that of a fortress colony, to a country seeking challenging economic pastures.

That vision was uprooted and for three decades Maltese youngsters were subjected to erroneous political and educational policies which only burdened successive governments with the problem of filling the empty niche of vocational training in Malta.

The continuous changes going on in the world necessitated the upgrading of the skills of our workforce, so the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology was reinstated. The consultations with various interested parties started in the late 1990s and led to the creation of a new framework which should see vocational education founded on solid ground.

In 16 months, MCAST has made big strides forward. It must be seen as Malta's Vocational College of excellence. Six institutes were set up which included the new Institute for Information and Communication Technology. Academic and non-academic staff were recruited; a new floor was added to the Institute of Electronics Engineering; hundreds of computers were purchased and over 15 computer rooms set up.

Many of the lecture rooms have been air-conditioned and many others are in the process of having units installed. A facelift was given to the Institutes of Business and Commerce, Art and Design, Maritime Studies and Electronics Engineering.

The "old" gym at the Corradino site has been fully refurbished through the efforts of the parliamentary secretariat within my ministry.

New infrastructural developm-ents have taken place at MCAST sites in Naxxar, where the Institute for Building and Construction Engineering is located. The Ministry of Gozo has been instrumental in opening an MCAST Gozo Centre to cater for Gozitan students in a variety of subjects, such as business and commerce, information technology, electronics engineering and building and construction engineering.

Today a counsellor, an IT technician and a sports coordinator are among the staff at the Gozo Centre helping students receive the same level of training as that received in Malta.

Plans to launch a corporate Management Information System which would link all MCAST sites are at an advanced stage. Space will also be created to expand on the existing administrative facilities as well as those of the Information Centre, the Basic Skills Unit and the Counselling Services.

Landscaping will also be given a new boost with added spaces for relaxation, study areas and sports activities. The building of another school in Karwija will free the space at the Corradino educational complex, currently occupied by the Junior Lyceum.

In September 2003, three other MCAST institutes will be added to the existing six. It is expected that this development together with the new intake of students next summer will bring up the number of students at MCAST to over 3,500, making the vocational college the second largest post-secondary education institution in Malta.

The three new institutes will focus on mechanical engineering, agribusiness and community services with focus on care, beauty therapy and leisure activities.

Such an important development will be weaved into the existing structures of the Mikelang Sapiano Technical Institute, the Umberto Calosso Trade School, the Carmen Carbonaro School of Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy, the Guzé Micallef College of Agriculture, the Pre-School Education Centre and the Mother Teresa College (Health Care).

The government's vision is to create the educational structures that will practically cover all areas of vocational education relevant to Malta's needs and development.

Parallel to these developments is the ongoing substantive upgrading of the existing day courses at MCAST together with the increasing number of evening accredited courses.

Malta's vocational college is expected to be the school of life for as many individuals as possible. Its critical goal is to open its doors to everyone at all times and stages of his or her life.

MCAST is a landmark in the history of education and training in Malta. Re-founding MCAST is an act of faith in our people and in the capacities of present and future generations.

The bitter experiences of the 1970s and the 1980s have taught leaders of this country to invest heavily in education and training and in the processes of democratisation.

The vocational college is the government's accomplished plan to place technical and vocational training at the professional level that it deserves.

MCAST's budget for 2003 has had significant increases both in capital and in recurrent expenditure. This was largely due to the fact that during its first academic year the college has made major steps forward.

MCAST is a positive sign of our times. On the threshold of a major decision, which will hopefully see Malta form part of the European Union, the vocational college is the answer to the expected investment that would flow from accession and the new paradigm shift that Malta's workforce is expected to carry out if we want our country to sustain and increase its quality of life. The government is determined to make the Vocational College a leading post-secondary educational institution.

Located in the south of our islands but stretching as far as Gozo, MCAST's vocation is to ensure that young and old generations find within its physical, academic and training structures the answer to their professional and vocational needs, while developing character formation and citizenship.

Our policy is to ensure that every student, irrespective of his or her qualifications, is exposed to the principles and practices of solidarity, active citizenship, participation in community building and spiritual formation.

In sharing our sovereignty with larger and more advanced nations in Europe, education will provide us with the tools to achieve higher standards of living, security, well-being and a stronger sense of cultural, national and European identity. It is my vision to see all of this happening at a higher education institution such as MCAST.

The first steps have been in the right direction.

With Malta as a member of the European Union, MCAST will play a leading role in ensuring that our workforce is well prepared, well trained and updated on new developments in given sectors. A Nationalist government as part of the European Union is a guarantee that this enormous project, now in its infancy, will bear fruit for many decades to come.

People from all walks of life stand to gain from MCAST at any junction of their professional or personal development.

Dr Galea is minister of education.