On October 20, the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) held a graduation ceremony for the first group of its lecturing staff who achieved a BTEC/EDEXCEL Certificate in Further Education Teaching.

The ceremony was combined with a thanksgiving Mass at Mdina Cathedral, followed by the presentation of certificates to the graduates and professionals in their own field of specialisation, who have been studying pedagogy for the past two years - a reflection of commitment and professional development. The Cathedral Chapter hosted this ceremony, the first of its kind, within the beautiful cathedral.

The sung Mass with the participation of the graduands was celebrated by Fr Lawrence Zammit, chaplain of the Armed Forces. Fr Zammit, who was invited by the college, marked the occasion as special on two levels: as witness to the success of the graduands and as a step forward towards a more appropriate vocational pedagogy.

According to Fr Zammit, an educator continues to enhance what is innate through lifelong learning and through every student who has shared his knowledge and left an imprint on his life.

What makes an impact, and remains forever imprinted in the mind and heart of the student, is the authentic witness of the educators who give themselves.

In the words of the great Lebanese philosopher Kahlil Gibran, the wise educator leads the students to the threshold of their mind.

Not by imposing facts and figures, but by leading the students to recognise wisdom from folly, good from evil, principle from opinion; never manipulating the truth, but rather opening wide all doors and windows on to the roads that lead to the full understanding of the truth.

Fr Zammit finally said: "A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." (Henry Brooks Adams)

The presentation of certificates started with a speech by Conrad Aquilina, who, on behalf of his fellow graduates, expressed his appreciation of the hard work carried out. The college principal, Frank Edwards, the president of the board of governors, Paul A. Attard, and Education Minister Louis Galea emphasised the need for continuous professional development in an ever-changing world economy and congratulated the graduands.

The graduands, sponsored by their tutors, David Bonello, Katya DeGiovanni and Jacqueline Micallef Grimaud, presented themselves: Anna Ancilleri, Conrad Aquilina, Vincent Aquilina, Karen Azzopardi, Sharon Bartolo Diacono, Marcelle Bonello Cutajar, Adrian Borg, Martin Borg, Andy Bugeja, Joshua Bugeja, Carmel Lino Camilleri, Paul Camilleri, Victor Camilleri, Alex Caruana, Godwin Caruana, Carmel Cassar, Maria Cassar, Raymond Cassar, Lawrence Debattista, Mark Fleri, Connie Galea, Emmanuel Gatt, Joseph Grech, Emanuel Grima, Stephen Hoiles, Charlotte Lanfranco, Ludwig Mallia, Stephen Marston, Chris Micallef, Alexander Mifsud, Jason Muscat, Alexander Pace, Paul Privitera, Joseph Psaila, Anthony Saliba, Mario Schembri, Annadora Spiteri, Edward Vella, Pierre Vella and Joseph A. Zammit.

The certification, a qualification at British National Vocational Qualification Level 5, is offered to MCAST assistant lecturers as part of their Continuous Professional Development. It is specifically geared for vocational education and covers Induction, Initial Assessment and Support, Communication and the Teacher, Learning Theories and Teaching Techniques, Further Purpose and Use of Assessment, Teaching Practice and Resources, A Research Project, Further Education in Context, and The Professional and Reflective Practitioner.

Each unit consists of 30 or 60 guided learning hours involving the notional measure of the teaching, instruction and assessment, together with other structured learning time, such as directed assignments or supported individual study.

The Vocational Teacher Training Unit (VTTU) staff at the Professional Development Centre, namely Mr Bonello, Ms Micallef Grimaud and Ms Degiovanni, are responsible for the organisation and running of the course programme.

The course is financed by MCAST. The unit's mission statement is "to provide quality and state-of-the-art pedagogical training to staff in reflection of a constantly changing society, enabling them to fully develop their own individual potential and talents within the context of the college and related industry".

To fulfil this mission MCAST is collaborating with the UK's Edexcel/BTEC Vocational Teacher Framework as the vehicle to achieve a Certificate in Further Education (FE) Teaching of international recognition. The qualification would have the joint badge of Edexcel and MCAST.

Such professional qualification in FE teaching is designed to provide centred and specialist vocational programmes with a clear work-related focus underpinning the whole programme.

The innovative factor of this particular qualification is that it has shifted away from the usual dependence on summative assessments towards a more motivating formative approach through the use of assignments and projects.

Professor Ronald G. Sultana is currently acting as consultant to the course.

The programme included an intensive input from other experts in the field of higher/further education from different entities, such as the University of Malta, the Education Division and also from the state and private sector as well as MCAST itself.

The main aim is to impart to MCAST lecturing staff the necessary pedagogical skills to provide a holistic teaching approach with young people and adults.

Ms Balzan is communications officer at MCAST.

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