The Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology is concluding a European Social Fund project aimed at promoting the acquisition of literacy and numeracy skills, reducing school absenteeism and promoting lifelong learning opportunities and ensuring further inclusion and equal opportunities for students with disabilities and learning difficulties.

The project involved redesigning and reviewing the curricula of 49 Mcast courses, staff training and the development of the teaching and learning resources and the production of course resource packs.

The designing/redesigning of the syllabuses was conducted through the innovative Embedded Learning and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) methodologies. UDL is a methodology that helps meet the challenge of diversity by suggesting flexible instructional materials, techniques and strategies that empower educators to meet these varied needs.

Lecturing staff were trained on issues pertaining to vulnerable groups. Training was also provided by the National Commission for Persons with Disability (KNPD) on the theoretical aspects of inclusion issues, physical and intellectual disabilities.

Through the project, tenders to acquire hundreds of books for the Mcast library were issued. Other specialised equipment is being procured to set up multipurpose rooms for the Learning Support Unit and one for the new Gozo campus. Three computer labs, two for Malta and one for Gozo, equipped with the resources required particularly for students with certain conditions, disabilities and/or severe learning difficulties are also currently being set up.

Other specialised resources include jumbo keyboards, headphones, interactive whiteboards, reading pens, software, large monitors for visually impaired students and desks with adjustable height particularly for wheelchair users.

The project, entitled ‘Inclusion for Employment’, was carried out under the Cohesion Policy 2007-2013 – Operational Programme II – Empowering People for More Jobs and a Better Quality of Life.

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