Mcast considering degree in aviation maintenance and repair

Mcast is considering the offer of degrees in aviation maintenance and repair, Maurice Grech, principal and CEO said this afternoon.

Speaking during the presentation of certificates to 59 students from the Mcast Institute for Mechanical Engineering at Lufthansa Technik in Luqa, Prof. Grech said the college was also in contact with the aviation industry to see whether on the job training could be offered.

Mcast had already tapped EU funds to start offering higher level courses and it received the respect and admiration of industry and prospective investors.

There were bigger countries with more resources than Malta which did not have an aviation training centre. Such a centre could be a tool to attract other investment in different categories to Malta.

Mcast, he said, was determined to be a centre of excellence in aviation maintenance and repair.

Christoph Meyerrose, the managing director of Lufthansa Technical Training said he was impressed with the company’s new quarters.

Malta, he said, had achieved a training environment that many countries in Europe would be jealous of. He described the training as a breathing space for aviation talent.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi stressed the importance of lifelong learning telling students who completed courses they had to continue learning and flourishing in one of the most established companies worldwide.

Mcast, he said, had transformed the way Malta looked at vocational training.

Dr Gonzi said the government wanted all young people to succeed to have a full life and to contribute to the country’s prosperity. The government was investing €1.4 million every school day to ensure that most educational aims were achieved.

The government had set up Mcast and continued to support it.

While there were 1,500 students eight years ago, there were now more than 5,500 full time students.

There were also 120 full time and 300 part time courses against the 46 courses in 2001. It was also offering degree with a German institution Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.

Dr Gonzi said Malta wanted “a knowledge based society to create a knowledge based economy”. In eight years, he said, the number of workers at Lufthansa had increased from 100 to 500 and the number was to continue increasing.