Before the setting up of MCAST, the post secondary sector in Malta consisted of various institutions among which were the School of Hairdressing, offering hairdressing and beauty courses, the Mother Theresa Vocational School, offering revision studies, and Pre-School Education, offering courses leading to Kindergarten Assistants.
During the third year of MCAST's operation these three former post-secondary schools, with some modifications to the existing courses, merged and a new institute was created, namely the MCAST Institute of Community Services, which offers courses in Care, Health Studies, Early Years, Sports and Fitness, Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy.
A major development for the institute is its planed move to the new four-storey building on the Main Campus at Corradino. The new, modern block will house all courses offered by the institute so that all the 400 students currently based either in Sliema or Msida will move to Paola.
The block will be equipped with all modern amenities, such as CCTV, accessibility for persons with special needs and all other equipment which conform to health and safety standards. This new block will definitely help in offering staff and students a more comfortable and healthy environment. Being right at the centre of MCAST Campus, students will have accessibility to the Library and Learning Resource Centre and the Students' Canteen. Construction works, beauty and hairdressing salons and equipment are co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2004-2006 programme.
The institute offers a wide range of courses in services within the community, a diversity of programmes which cover a broad range of disciplines and caters for a wide population, in a nutshell, a whole spectrum of ages. Services within the community are increasing and employers are seeking more professional people with the right skills and qualifications. Clients are nowadays more demanding and want value for their money thus, the importance of the vocational training programmes offered by the Institute of Community Services.
Courses are currently offered at different levels (Level 1 to 4) and progression is automatic once students obtain their certificate or diploma which allows them to progress to the next level. Each course, although diverse, has units which are common, such as Communication Skills, Ethics and Values, Professional and Personal Development and Vocational Practice.
The hair and beauty industry is an exciting and competitive one. Hairdressing courses are very popular and every year there is a great demand for the two levels offered. At the end of the course successful students obtain the City & Guilds Diploma in Hairdressing.
The institute also offers beauty courses at two levels. Once students complete their first year they obtain the ITEC Beauty Specialist Diploma, enabling them to work as beauticians.
After completion of the second year they are awarded one out of three diplomas, namely, the ITEC Diplomas in Holistic Massage, Facial Electrics and Diet and Nutrition for complementary therapies.
The institute provides training opportunities for persons wishing to work in areas where they will be providing for and meeting the needs of others. The care courses are very popular among students as the demand for qualified people to work in the care services is on the increase.
The institute offers courses in care at three levels - Foundation, First Diploma and National Diploma. Students following these courses spend their work placements in day centres and residential homes for the elderly, in institutions for children and in residential homes for people with special needs.
As the students progress from one level to the other, they spend most of their work placements with persons with social problems and mental health difficulties. Stakeholders are now realising the importance of this course and have submitted very encouraging feedback.
Another course offered is the BTEC Diploma in Early Years, which replaced the former Pre-School Education Certificate was previously awarded by the Education Division. This Level 3 course is intensive and covers the phase, from birth to five years. During the course students undergo an 800-hour work placement and also spend 12 weeks in state kindergarten centres during which they are assessed by personnel from the Education Division along with their own tutors.
The sports courses are also very popular. These offer students a wide range of units which deal with how the body works and performs with exercise. The BTEC First Diploma covers units in Anatomy and Physiology, Practical Sport and the Exercise Science. If students progress to the National Diploma, they learn about Nutrition, Fitness Testing, Ethics and Values, Working with Children and Sports Massage and Therapy, just to mention a few.
They also have to complete two team sports and two individual ones. Their work placement is carried out in gyms and sports complexes. Once these students obtain the BTEC National Diploma in Sport (Exercise and Fitness), they would be suitably qualified to work in gyms as instructors, coaches and personal trainers.
Health Studies is also another new course offered by the institute. A Level 3 BTEC National Diploma, this course covers units such as Microbiology, Environmental Health, Public Health and Human Inheritance.
Besides the academic education, the institute believes in the holistic development of its students, therefore gives a lot of importance to extra-curricular activities. As soon as the students start their academic year, they insert the important dates of these extra curricular events in their diaries.
A creative competition with Christmas as a theme is held in December, during which students from all courses demonstrate their creativity and fantasy in hair, make-up, costume and choreography. Another important event is the Hair and Beauty Marathon which has been organised for the past 11 years, during which students provide hair and beauty services and also carry out other fund-raising activities.
All proceeds raised go to philanthropic organisations. The-end-of-year soirée sees all 350 students perform on stage. This event is always a huge success, as all choreography, music, themes, hair, make-up and costumes, carried out by the students, is of a very high standard.
The institute firmly believes in providing a holistic education to all students. Through the extra-curricular activities students get the opportunities to acquire 'soft skills', such as communication and interpersonal skills, and team building and negotiation, which are beneficial both on a personal and professional level.
The institute will continue to grow and evolve as services within the community are increasing and becoming vital for the success of the Maltese economy. The institute aims to provide the right skills, knowledge and competencies to students so that they could contribute effectively to our society.
Dorothy Meli is director of the Institute of Community Services.