Students following courses leading to the Higher National Diploma (HND) are expected to graduate at the end of the month, the first batch since the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology opened its doors four years ago.
Caroline Cassar, communications officer at MCAST, said this will be the first time that Maltese students are to be awarded this type of diploma, which falls just under the level of a university degree in the qualifications hierarchy.
A total of 105 students will be awarded their HNDs or equivalent after following a four-year course at MCAST, specialising in disciplines such as graphic design, engineering and computing.
The students graduating from MCAST's Institute of Information and Communication Technology, Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering are predominantly male, while students graduating from the Institute of Art and Design and Institute of Business and Commerce are mostly female, Ms Cassar said.
MCAST principal and CEO Frank Edwards explained that students graduating from Level 4 vocational programmes have recognition within industry, business and commerce, both on a local and international level. He stated that this was very important for the students.
"However, qualifications alone don't raise employment. It is the growth of companies and foreign direct investment that create jobs. The role of the college is to ensure that the qualifications students obtain will enable them to take up jobs once created.
"However the qualifications students are undertaking at the college will lead them to have the necessary knowledge and skills that will attract foreign direct investment."
MCAST is preparing students to work within a knowledge-based economy and qualifying people to take up certain roles. Malta Enterprise is doing an excellent job in attracting foreign direct investment in pharmaceuticals and ICT. Therefore, the HNDs will enable students to take up positions within companies."
When asked whether there are plans to upgrade HNDs to a qualification to enter university (at the moment, students in possession of an HND would still have to obtain their Matriculation Certificate to do so), Mr Edwards said this is the first year that HND students are graduating and therefore, although these qualifications are recognised internationally, they are relatively new to Malta.
"At the moment the college is in dialogue with senior officials at the university to see how progression opportunities may be offered to graduating students. This is in line with the policy document establishing the National Commission for Higher Education."
When contacted, Ministry of Education spokesman Claude Sciberras said that this is an important milestone for the college, which opened its doors to the first students in 2001.
"The college has developed strongly over these four years offering more courses and levels in the field of vocational education and training. The college has also worked hard at improving the status of vocational training in Malta and has so far managed well in its endeavour."
He said that when the college was set up, Education Minister Louis Galea had wanted it to build on the foundations that were already in place and are now steadily growing to become the second pillar of further education in Malta alongside the university.
"Although the college has come a long way from its creation, there is still need for further development but all is indicating that we are going in the right direction and that the government had made the right decision in the setting up of the college.
"The introduction of the first Higher National Diploma courses a couple of years ago was another step in the development and growth of the college and this year the first graduates at this level will be leaving the college and entering the labour force.
"One hopes that these students will be the excellent ambassadors of MCAST that we all hope they will be.
"Their performance will be an important factor in the way the industry will look at MCAST and its programmes and the future students who will graduate at this level."
Mr Sciberras reiterated that the college is still developing both with regard to the educational programmes it offers as well as infrastructurally.
The government is investing heavily in the college and with the help of EU funds it has managed to accelerate the building and refurbishment programme that was envisaged for the college.
"MCAST is also developing its part-time and evening courses to fulfil its mission as a community college committed to lifelong learning and there will also be further developments in this field."
When asked about the future of MCAST, Mr Sciberras said the college has to work at maintaining high standards in the educational programmes it offers and must continue to develop its programmes linked to the needs of the economy in a way that sustains and fuels the country's economic growth, development and competitiveness.
In the near future MCAST will be taking the next step in its development by offering degree courses in specific areas related to vocational education and that will be another milestone for education in Malta, he said.