Adding value to education at the MCAST and enriching the staff and student experience

"The purpose of further and higher education extends beyond simply preparing young people for jobs or careers. It contributes towards the fulfilment of human and social potential, the advancement of knowledge, social cohesion and economic progress." (Launching document of the National Commission for Higher Education, October 2005).

The Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology is playing a pivotal role in the future of our youngsters as they are tomorrow's workforce and decision-makers. The educational and technical component at MCAST is a leader in the country alongside which the college strives to promote a more holistic preparation for the world of work.

The promotion and participation in the main educational EU programmes offers MCAST students the possibility to go beyond what the curriculum stipulates. Active participation offers the option of adding value to one's educational experience at MCAST and opens up a whole new world of cultural experience and diversity.

The setting up of the International Programmes Office at MCAST in November 2002 at the Main Campus in Paola was a joint venture between MCAST and the European Union Programmes Unit (EUPU) within the Ministry of Education, Youth and Employment, although today this activity is fully funded by MCAST.

The aims and objectives set out for the office were to create a stimulus within the college to initiate, motivate and co-ordinate EU-funded projects through the programmes promoted by the EUPU.

Edel Cassar, international programmes co-ordinator, set a mission statement for the office to direct its actions and activities: "To create opportunities for MCAST staff and students to train, work or study in any EU country in relation to their field of work or study."

In line with the mission statement, the office has sought to maximise and facilitate opportunities for MCAST staff members and students. All projects promoted by MCAST have as their basis the philosophy that international experience must be 'directly related' to the study programme being followed by the student or endemic to the curriculum that the staff member is working with. The priority had been set to ensure that MCAST builds a reputation as a reliable project partner thus ensuring that projects bring an 'added-value' to the beneficiaries and not merely an alternative way to spend the time at the college or an easy way to visit another country.

The improvement of the students' education journey is always the final aim of any EU-funded project. Some projects, like Leonardo da Vinci placements and Comenius school projects, allow the students to be more involved, thus making the student the direct beneficiary. Other projects which focus on the development and enrichment of curriculum material, the upgrading of the pedagogical skills of lecturers and on creation or maintaining of international relationships, have directors, senior management or lecturing staff as their direct beneficiaries while the students are then the indirect, long-term recipients.

Students' active participation in an EU-funded project brings about numerous benefits to the individual's professional and personal life. Professionally, students get introduced to working methods, alternative implementation mechanisms and gain experience within a diverse working environment. They acquire many qualities which are useful for employment such as team- working skills and a capacity to acquire new knowledge. Certification of work experiences allows students to boost their CVs in view of employment, both locally and internationally.

On a more personal level, students improve their social skills and boost their self-confidence. The extent of these benefits is directly related to the intensity of the local preparation and the length of their work placement abroad. The younger participants, who possess less professional and international experience, turn out to be more self-confident and extrovert upon their return.

An international experience helps broaden horizons both personally and professionally. It also assists them in their flexibility and to instil a sense of initiative. Improvements have also been noted on the linguistic side. International experience provides the students with an excellent opportunity to improve their fluency in English, both technical and conversational, and in most cases be exposed to another European language.

The international activities at MCAST have become a very important and integral part of the MCAST experience and the future looks bright. The college has built a reputation of promoting and co-ordinating quality projects that are in direct line with the mission of providing vocational and professional education and training with an international dimension.