Banif Bank and the MCAST Institute of Art and Design have agreed to extend a successful collaborative agreement that will see both organisations working together on initiatives that seek to bridge the gap between education and industry.

Students at the Institute of Art and Design will be commissioned to work on a number of projects that Banif is currently planning, giving students a chance to put their skills to the test in the marketplace and work on a live case-study with a real brief, brand guidelines and targets.

“Banif ’s relationship with MCAST is a win-win,” said Joaquim F. Silva Pinto, CEO of Banif Bank (Malta) plc. “It gives us an opportunity to work with young people in a context of education and art while the students are challenged to produce conceptual work that is timely, topical and relevant to the market.”

The institute’s director Stephen Vella welcomed the Bank’s support, saying the team was looking forward to another year of collaboration with Banif. “Our institute looks for significant collaborations that can grow over time and that can develop new ideas and fresh approaches. The institute has in place a number of partners that give students this opportunity through work placements and springboards for their dissertations. Banif Bank is one of them.” The collaboration will see Banif Bank allocate funds for the institute, and work together with tutors and lecturers on student projects, as from the start of the upcoming academic year.