The end of compulsory education is known to be a critical stage for students. They have to make very important decisions which will potentially impact the rest of their lives, including whether to further their studies, and if so, what and where to study.

The majority of students finishing compulsory education fortunately do proceed with their studies and statistics show that the obvious choice for most students seeking an academic career is the Junior College. For many, the Junior College is the institution most representative of the sector.

The Junior College officially opened its doors on October 1, 1995 as an integral part of the University of Malta. At the time, the College did not have to compete much to attract students. Nowadays, prospective students can choose from a number of educational institutions in accordance with their specific needs.

In spite of this challenging scenario, the Junior College still retains its position as the leading post-secondary institution on the island. This has only been possible for three main reasons: the excellent reputation of the College, the continuous investment in facilities, resources and services and a clear focus on what we want for our students.

The Junior College has a very clear mission, that of preparing students for university. It helps to bridge the gap between secondary and tertiary education. The experience offered is a formative one, aimed specifically at helping students grow on different levels, not least academically.

We are proud to offer our students a two-year course which students continue to cherish for the rest of their lives. It is best described as a unique learning experience which is of high quality, personalised, inclusive and holistic.  It is unique because it is different from that offered by other institutions. We strongly believe that by the end of the course, students will be better prepared for their next part of their educational journey – university.

A lot of attention is given to the academic programme to ensure that it is of the highest standard. The College has already set up its internal Quality Assurance Committee to ensure that our academic programme meets expected criteria at this level. Although the academic programme is at the core of the course, the experience offered goes beyond that.

We want our students to grow on different levels – physically, socially, psychologically and emotionally.  We strive to ensure that they learn how to communicate, to work in and lead a team, to form friendships and to enhance their employability.

To ensure the realisation of this vision, we invest heavily on different levels, first and foremost in our staff. We strongly believe that our staff are the key to our success. Only the best and most deserving are recruited and the College provides continuous support for their continuous professional development.

The facilities offered at the College are second to none. During the past three years, the College has em-barked on a very ambitious and intensive refurbishment programme to ensure that all facilities are of the highest standard to meet today’s teaching and learning needs.

Lecture rooms are furnished with the latest technology, state-of-the-art laboratories, a spacious library, areas where students can study, extensive sports amenities, a canteen, an auditorium, and the amenities one would expect to find at such an institution.

It does not mean that it is all plain sailing for students. It cannot be.  Students have to adjust to the higher demands of learning at this level, to manage their time wisely and to start taking ownership of their own learning. But at the College they receive a lot of support.

We boast about having a very effective pastoral care system. Parents are very often positively surprised and impressed that we give so much attention to our students. We do recognise that at their age, students need to be given space to grow.

However, we also recognise that this process has to be gradual, and parents are involved in the process.  Parents expect to receive phone calls and messages, e-mails and letters about the progress of their children.

The College is proud of being an inclusive institution. All students who have the six SEC passes or equivalent can be admitted to the College. Students have the possibility of choosing any combination of subjects offered by MATSEC as long as they satisfy the university entry requirements.

Students at the College do enjoy a degree of freedom as one would expect from an institution which caters for the needs of 16-18 year-olds. They are however expected to follow the code of behaviour of the College and to abide by regulations which are aimed at helping students to grow as responsible citizens.

To complement the formal curriculum, the Junior College offers an extensive range of informal and non-formal activities. These include the possibility of taking part in sports and leisure activities, theatre and performance, such as the Christmas concert, soiree and the  Ħolqa European Theatre Festival for Students, orchestra and rock bands, international projects, manga, astronomy, seismology, poetry, the International Duke of Edinburgh Awards Programme, Young Enterprise, Chrisco and others.

The majority of students join the College as first years. However, we recognise that some students may learn at a different rate, or would like to change subjects.  These students have the possibility of repeating a year, if need be, even both years of the course.

We also welcome students who were previously registered at another institution but would like to start or repeat their second year at the Junior College.

We strongly believe that one of the secrets to success is being well prepared before embarking on the post-secondary experience. This is why on Friday we are holding our annual Open Day.

Everyone is welcome to visit the Junior College to get informed.

Junior College Open Day on Friday

The University Junior College is inviting the public, prospective students and their parents, to ‘Your Next Stop… Junior College’ – Open Day on Friday from 5.30 to 9pm to meet lecturers and subject coordinators and see the facilities and services offered at the college. There will also be ongoing activities which form an integral part of college life.

Paul Xuereb is principal of the University of Malta’s Junior College.