Two years after the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology launched its first vocational degrees, representatives of local industry and of the first graduates expressed their satisfaction at the way these courses are turning students into the successful, experienced professionals that the Maltese industries require.
MCAST last week held a seminar entitled Supporting Industry which informed industry stakeholders about the first results and upcoming developments related to the college’s vocational degree programme launched in 2009. The funding of these courses is part of a €6 million project co-funded by the EU’s European Social Fund, and is being coordinated in collaboration with Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the largest research institution in Europe with over 15,000 scientists, university professors and engineers and over 70 research institutes in various countries.
The seminar was addressed by Ann Marie Attard and Antoinette Mamo. Ms Mamo, who read for a BA (Hons) in 3D product design and interiors explained that the degree studies were “characterised by tight deadlines, presentations that taught us how to sell our ideas, and exchange of ideas with foreign tutors who are still practicing the subject they teach. All of this proved crucial once I started working.”
Ms Attard, who graduated BSc (Hons) in software Development and is now employed as a developer at Crimsonwing Ltd, said that through the degree course she acquired different views inspired by different cultures and experiences. Important aspects of her studies included the modules that gave her a better idea of how companies operate, and the work placements. “Thanks to the commitment of our Fraunhofer and MCAST lecturers, most of the students in my class acquired a good job. Some of them started their own companies, and are already moving ahead with remarkable success.”
Maurice Grech, MCAST’s principal and CEO, explained that the college sought the assistance of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, because it wanted to provide vocational degrees that were practically based and closely linked to the industry.
The courses were designed in collaboration with local industries and with the input of Fraunhofer’s professors to ensure that the curricula address the present and future needs of industry, while injecting new international dimensions. The MCAST degrees are already widely recognised locally and abroad, as some graduates have already been accepted for Masters Programmes in local and foreign universities.
Tonio Portughese, director at ST Microelectronics (Malta) said that his company employed three of the first engineers who graduated from MCAST. He urged MCAST to increase the number of graduates in the electrical and mechanical engineering streams.
“You can never have enough engineers in industry – they generate increased production levels, which in turn, boost turnover,” he said. In this regard, he welcomed the news that in September the college will be launching new degree courses in plant, manufacturing, communication, marine and biomedical engineering as well as in power generation and renewable sources of energy.
Anthony Saliba, MCAST deputy principal and the project leader of the ESF project that financed the launching of the vocational degrees, said that the number of degree graduates had doubled.
“We urge the numerous private sector representatives attending this seminar to continue helping MCAST strengthen these courses by providing work placement opportunities to students as well as by giving them the chance to carry out their degree dissertation projects within the industry” he said.