Comprehensive Guidance and Counselling services at MCAST

MCAST is now in its sixth year of operation as the main vocational institution on the island. The college's Guidance and Counselling team works to run and offer the optimum service both to prospective students and their parents and to students following courses in the nine different institutes. The team's duties can be divided into three main areas:

• Vocational guidance and counselling

• Personal counselling

• Group activities.

In the past years we have witnessed a huge increase in educational opportunities in all sectors and at different levels. MCAST this year offered over 90 full-time courses, over 260 part-time/ad hoc courses, a number of ESF courses and tailor-made courses on request from industry.

Traditional jobs and the manufacturing sector are on the decrease while entrepreneurial opportunities in the services industry are flourishing. These changes are affecting our youth in their choice of career.

Furthermore our youth are also aware of the feeling of job insecurity among workers, created by these continuous changes. In view of all these changes the Guidance and Counselling team works with prospective students in various ways to help them make an informed decision on their career choice. The main activities include:

Course presentations

In the first and second term of the academic year guidance teachers from all schools contact MCAST counsellors to address students and explain in detail the different levels of courses in each MCAST Institute, the qualifications necessary to be able to apply in July and the selection criteria adopted.

An aptitude test is used in the Foundation courses (Level 1), whereas a point system is applied for all other levels, First Diploma courses (Level 2), National Diploma/Certificate courses (Level 3) and Higher National Diploma/ Certificate courses (Level 4). MCAST is now in the process of working on its Degree courses (Level 5). The selection criteria is always included and explained in the college prospectus.

Students visiting MCAST institutes

Some schools prefer their students to get a personal view of the institute besides the usual talk delivered by the counsellors. As a team counsellors help co-ordinate these visits or facilitate the materialisation of these initiatives from state, private or Church schools. Many times counsellors themselves address and accompany students on these visits.

MCAST's Guidance and Counselling service is always available to all guidance teachers, career guidance teachers and school counsellors. Seminars and visits are organised to update personnel working in the field with the latest course information and development. MCAST packs are sometimes given to schools so college material can be displayed on school notice boards. MCAST counsellors are usually asked to present data about Fifth Formers, many of whom are prospective students.

Vocational guidance

In preparing prospective students the team is involved in a variety of activities, such as contributing towards the preparation of the MCAST prospectus and sending information to Fifth Formers in schools (state, private and Church). The counselling team also participates in information talks, delivered by directors/deputies of institutes, at the beginning of July. Students and their parents and the general public are invited to these talks.

Frank Parsons, the father of Vocational Guidance, famously declared that in order to select an occupation an individual should first have a clear understanding of himself, secondly a good knowledge of the existing work opportunities and thirdly the ability to match the two kinds of knowledge.

Though famous many years ago, these three challenges are very current ones and have perhaps become even more important than in Parsons's time (early 20th century). To help students and their parents along these three challenges, individual counselling is a major activity when students receive their Sec/O-level results (have a clearer understanding of themselves), have a copy of the prospectus (existing opportunities) and match the two kinds of knowledge through individual counselling before they apply for one of the 90 plus full-time courses at MCAST.

In a college like MCAST, where students are trained for the career of their choice, vocational guidance is of utmost importance. If students are sure of their choice, they need help and encouragement to go on along the chosen path. If on the other hand they cannot decide or have found difficulties while on the course, they need to be aware of alternative paths.

Sometimes students who are in apprenticeship courses encounter difficulties at their place of work. Here counsellors liaise with ETC personnel so that together they clarify situations and help students overcome the encountered challenge.

The National Framework for Careers Education and Guidance in the UK (March 2003) states that "Career guidance enables young people to use the knowledge and skills they develop to make decision about learning and work that is right for them."

MCAST counsellors assist students through this process of development by giving individual appointments to help them explore alternative paths and decide on the right one in order to reach their goals.

Every year a good number of students who are not fulfilled by their choice of course at another post-secondary or tertiary institution contact the Guidance and Counselling team. They clarify their aspirations and explore alternative courses available at MCAST or elsewhere.

Adults who are considering to further their studies or are searching for alternative careers also make use of MCAST's guidance and counselling services. Thus it is imperative that MCAST counsellors keep abreast of all other current vocational opportunities not only in Malta but also abroad.

Vocational training exhibit

Last March students from all over the island as well as the general public visited the Vocational Training Exhibition at the Trade Fair grounds in Naxxar. The exhibition got industry and training providers together and students manning MCAST stands from all institutes were encouraged to talk about the courses they were following.

Students on apprenticeship courses also shared their experiences with students from secondary schools and the public. This activity showed the link between learning, training and the world of work. It was interesting to note that a number of ex-MCAST students already represented their companies on stands put up by local industries.

To be concluded

Mr Bartolo and Ms Borg are principal counsellors at MCAST.