The Government is committed to securing the funds to ensure the new campus of the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology was built, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said yesterday.

“I would like to stress that, after carrying out internal examinations, the Government is committed to build the new campus,” Dr Muscat said as he opened the second edition of the Mcast Expo at the Corradino campus.

“We will be securing the necessary funds to ensure it is built on time and in a way that satisfies the needs of the students and professionals who work there.”

Work on the €120 million campus started in 2011. The first phase, inaugurated in March, consists of two blocks housing Students’ House and the Institute for Business.

The project, partly funded by the EU, will have 17 blocks bringing all Mcast institutes on one campus.

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo pointed out in April that the previous administration did not have a sound financial plan to cover building new schools, including the campus. Soon after, both Mr Bartolo and Dr Muscat stressed they would ensure the funds were secured.

Dr Muscat yesterday praised the model of teaching used at Mcast – one based on hands-on experience – adding the EU looked at this as type of best practice.

Dr Muscat said Mcast had started out as an institute that gave students a second chance.

“We must now aspire to it becoming a first choice so that students consider it at the same level as other post-secondary options. Mcast students are not second class students but first class,” he said.

The Mcast Expo showcases its 170 full-time and 300 part-time courses. It is open from 9am to 8pm today and tomorrow, to 7pm on Friday and until 1pm on Saturday.