Mcast celebrates graduation of 512 degree and HND students
Mcast is celebrating the graduation of 512 students who successfully completed their Bachelor's Degree or Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes.
The first graduates, 98 students from the Institute of Art & Design, the Institute of Business and Commerce, the Institute of Information and Communication Technology, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering were conferred with Bachelor of Arts or Science (B.A or B.Sc) degrees yesterday at the Grandmaster's Suite of the Hilton Malta, in St. Julian's.
Desiree Azzopardi, one of the students who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 3D Design and Interiors, addressed the guests on behalf of all graduates. She urged her colleagues not to be afraid of using their skills and competencies to realise their dreams and ambitions. "We have to believe in ourselves and use our capabilities wisely and courageously, because if we stifle them, each one of us, as well as our country, will lose out," she said.
Ms. Azzopardi added that the emphasis that the MCAST vocational programmes place on hands-on experience allows students to truly grasp the skills involved in their preferred area of study. In turn, this has made it much easier for her and for her colleagues to swiftly secure the jobs they have always aspired for.
Mcast Principal and CEO Prof. Maurice Grech presented the certificates to the students and explained that this graduation marks another successful year for the College as it celebrates its 10th anniversary. The rapid increase in students opting for MCAST's vocational programmes reflects current international trends, as studies have shown that half of European youths are opting for this type of education based on hands-on training in workshops and real work settings rather than lecture-based theoretical sessions only.
"We are committed to continue raising the quality levels of our courses by acquiring more industry-standard equipment, adopting innovative teaching methods, and most importantly, by investing in our human resources. Our lecturing staff are not only qualified in their area of study, but also have extensive industry experience, which places them in a better position to adequately prepare students for the realities of employment. We also provide lecturers with continued professional development training programmes to enhance their teaching skills and to acquire more qualifications in their subject areas." A few weeks ago, Prof. Grech added, MCAST also secured €20 million from the EU's European Social Fund, to continue upgrading its courses and to offer new career opportunities to students in Malta and Gozo.
Mcast president Joseph Farrugia congratulated the students on the completion of their studies. He stated that MCAST is a young, dynamic and innovative institution that is focused on matching vocational education with the needs of the labour market. "This is the main reason why MCAST graduates are in demand by various industrial sectors, and also why MCAST's vocational programmes, including our degrees, are being recognised internationally and offering students many opportunities to pursue post graduate studies successfully," Mr. Farrugia added.
Another 414 students who completed Level 5 programmes, including Higher National Diplomas, will be receiving their certificates today and on Friday.
They include students from the Institute of Agribusiness, the Institute of Art & Design, the Institute of Building and Construction Engineering, the Institute of Business & Commerce, the Institute of Community Services, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, the Institute of Information and Communication Technology, and the Institute of Mechanical Engineering.
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Joe Borg
Dec 9th 2011, 13:49
@Mark Demicoli. Up until now MCAST degrees have less than 240 credits, but this will change from this year on. I am sure (and I think you can extrapolate as well) that MCAST will adapt to this warrant issue and eventually MCAST engineers will get warranted as well. It is a question of when and not if. I feel sad for you Mr. Demicoli since you will sooner or later face this threat of having to compete with MCAST warranted engineers and from your input here, this bothers you a lot. I have a good idea of what are the traits of both options (univ eng or MCAST eng) and if I plot a histogram with the abscissa being(from left to right), hands-on to theoretical-thinker, Univ engineers are centered on the right side and the variance would be so low that only 5% would have good hands-on abilities. MCAST engineers who are graduating right now are centered in the middle and they span the whole spectrum. Good luck!
Joseph Camenzuli
Dec 8th 2011, 10:06
@Mark Demicoli MCAST students get 240 credits in engineering however they are ineligible for an engineering warrant. The engineering profession act states that for someone to be eligible for engineering warrant they need to have an engineering degree from the University of Malta or from a foreign university. Graduates of he microelectronics course and telecomms course from the ICT faculty are also eligible for warrant.
Cesco Bonello
Dec 7th 2011, 19:44
Why is it that university students feel the need to down vote MCAST and it's students? Some times, its like a certain air of "sour grapes" predominates certain pointless comments like a couple here below. Congratulations to all fellow MCAST graduates.
Mr Emanuel Farrugia
Dec 7th 2011, 19:26
L-importanti f'dan 'l pajjiz huwa, illi 'l gvern prezenti jiftahar bl-ammont gholi ta' studenti li qeghdin jattendu l-Universita u l-Mcast, basta nghidru sbieh ma' ta' l-EWROPA. Minn ghandu 'l hbieb tal-hbieb imbaghad, joffrulu 'TOP Management' positions. Halluna nghixu tkomplux turu kemm intom ipokriti.
Emanuel Farrugia former Executive Secretary Mtarfa Local Council
Franco Farrugia
Dec 7th 2011, 15:26
Had it been MCAST graduates who were behind the noisy and generally messy celebrations and the violence that also ensued in said celebrations, many people would have raised their noses high in the air, with a sense of fake superiority! Well done, students.
Colin Micallef
Dec 7th 2011, 19:45
Not really. Lots of people commented here that last week's incident was shocking and unacceptable and that students' celebrations on campus are puerile and over-the-top. Nevertheless, congratulations to these graduates.
Mark Demicoli
Dec 7th 2011, 15:22
the thing is that since these students did not attend university they can never for example get a warrant in engineering, unless they do part of the masters at unversity. The law regulating warranted engineers clearly states that 240 credits are one of the requirements. These can only be obtained after for example 4 years at university. Therefore although these students graduated as engineers, for the state they are not Engineers.
Kenny Muscat
Dec 7th 2011, 16:16
what is your point?!?!? you can also get 240 credits from MCAST!
CONGRATULATIONS to all graduates!
Matthew Muscat
Dec 7th 2011, 16:20
most of the companies hire MCAST students over University students because MCAST gives the opportunity to study and work, & this helps the student to increase his work experience. I hope that would clear out your idea about MCAST, Mr!
Russell Farrugia
Dec 7th 2011, 17:51
Mr. Muscat engineering degrees from Mcast currently are ineligble for the engineering warrant
Zagroma Savrene
Dec 7th 2011, 17:51
MCAST students are much more preferred over university students, this is evident by the fact that many companies look at MCAST to hire students from rather than the uni. Can't blame them really....when companies see that uni students have "hitting a professor in the face" and "celebrating like uncivilised people" as their work experience.
Russell Farrugia
Dec 7th 2011, 17:53
Mr.Demicoli you are right
Mr Luke Bonett
Dec 7th 2011, 18:58
B. Sc. in Engineering is not the same as B. Eng first of all. Also Mr. Savrene, I've seen much more uncivilised political elections being celebrated. And the hitting the professor in the face part was only done by one student out of all the graduates. Thank you.
Mark Demicoli
Dec 7th 2011, 20:09
I know I am right. MCAST does NOT provide an ESTC credit system like the university and I therefore stand with the facts THAT MCAST GRADUATES are not Engineers to the eyes of the state. You simply cannot get an engineering warrant without particular pre-requisites which include 240 ESTC credits. This forms part of the code of ethics and the law regulating engineering warrants. They cannot certify work, cannot give engineering support where you need to be an approved (warranted) engineer.
For all those who keep on insisting that companies hire Mcast students over univ, you have a point, they hire them for production line engineers (or better technicians), when a company looks for a real professional (one of the prerequisite of a professional is a code of ethics and a warrant like real engineers, doctors, nurses, etc..) you can bet all your money that a university student will always and always be preferred. A professional is not always expected and required to be good with his hands, but to have a brilliant mind and trained to think, something which only university can do.
Maria Victoria Bezzina
Dec 8th 2011, 08:01
For your information, Mr. Demicoli, yes MCAST does provide ECTS credits same as MCAST. Furthermore, there are also 4 year engineering courses that provide 240 credits.
Steve Diacono
Apr 23rd, 03:52
I can't speak for other courses.. but concerning Business related courses I must disagree. Sir I speak as a student who has experienced both the University and MCAST life and can grantee that the latter was and still is the superior option concerning business related subjects. Why you ask? simple... I speak from experience in saying that a BCOM degree is about as useful in Europe as a heater is on the surface of the sun. Yes University does offer one to delve deeper into SOME subjects... however the mentality between graduates is totally different. From the method of handling assignments to the examination process... we get a much better working ethic and understanding of the real business world. With that I find your statement of "only university can do", to be nothing more than the ignorant ramblings of a man who has judged without seeing. This is not a battle of whit.. sir but a progression into the future... MCAST is simply meeting the needs of the industry something which I strongly believe that the University of Malta has much to learn about.