Several Maltese students are pursuing their postgraduate degrees in Britain, at the University for theCreative Arts – which boasts world-renowned fashion designers such as Karen Millen as past alumni.
Another student has been accepted for a Masters programme in aerospace engineering at the prestigious Cranfield University.
Another graduate is now working with international design company Foster and Partners, the designers of London’s Millenium Bridge and City Hall and the new German Parliament in Berlin. Another is working with the world-renowned Crimsonwing-Tom Tom in Holland.
All these students have one thing in common – they are all graduates of the Malta College of Science and Technology.
Such is the Mcast success story that this year the college is adding 12 new degree programmes, among them a BA (Hons) in Media (Moving Image), a BSc (Hons) in Animal Management and BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Engineering (Electrical).
“These are degrees designed around the needs of the industries; we offer degrees for the hands-on student,” said Mcast principalMaurice Grech.
A quick look at the prospectus highlights this more practical approach. How, you might ask, is an Mcast Bachelor degree in Media different to a Bachelor degree in Communications at the University?
Unlike the more academic-based Communications students, Mcast learners will work on productions using industry-standard equipment to produce top-notch audio visual productions.
The same goes for students who love art. Whereas the degree course at the University is more based on the history of art, the Mcast degree is studio-based. At Mcast, the art student covers the practice, history and theory of contemporary art; students develop their own work with tutorial and technical assistance, hence it is a less bookish and more of an investigative degree.
“Here it’s more hands on. The method of assessment is more practical. It’s closer to real life and because of that, it prepares students for their working life. Vocational degrees are a bigger component in the education system. At the same time we want to ensure the student has a career, not a job,” said Grech.
Mcast is Malta’s only college which invests in vocational courses, as opposed to strictly academic ones. Roger Murphy from the University of Nottingham recently commented about the lack of vocationally oriented subjects at secondary level and the sheer emphasis on traditional academic knowledge – a practice out of line with other countries.
While acknowledging Murphy’s views, Grech said Mcast has been working with the Ministry of Education for the past year or so to introduce vocational studies at secondary level too.
“That would then enable students to follow up the subject at Mcast. It’s only by starting off at secondary level that we’d be able to ensure the smooth running of the education system,” said Grech.
One of the flexible aspects of Mcast, said Grech, is that there are several routes whereby one can join a course: “You can either start at the bottom rung, or depending on your qualifications you can slot in at whichever level fits you best.”
Mcast’s vocational degree programmes are recognised within the European Qualification Framework. Also, Mcast is a partner of the Fraunhofer – Europe’s biggest research institute, based in Germany.
At the moment the college houses 6,600 students. “But the rate of growth is 10 per cent increase every year. Student intake has been limited so far due to physical space,” said Grech.
Not any more. The Malta Environment and Planning Authority has just given the green light for a new 110,000-square-metre footprint campus. It will span from the Grand Harbour waterfront to the north, to St Anthony’s church, and, on the south side, connected to Gaddafi Gardens via a bridge over Corradino Road.
It is being designed to cater for 10,000 full-time students and will include public amenity spaces and a 630-car underground park.
The Grand Harbour waterfront will enable the college to expand its marine sector courses and tap into the super yacht industry. This, according to Grech, “varies from normal maritime industry, in the way you deal with people and the things you offer”.
The vast campus will mean the end of an array of institutes spread all over Malta. The Naxxar, Kalkara, Tarġa Gap, and Luqa institutes will all converge in Paola.
“It’s not just a matter of physical space. It’s also a matter of better synergy between the institutions. It will allow for better cooperation and efficient use of the facilities,” he said.
Most of the demolition and excavation works will be completed before October to try and keep inconveniences to students and staff to the minimum. Several safety measures will be taken to ensure health and safety in the vicinity of the construction sites.
There were recently several complaints from students about problems with absent lecturers, with one student telling The Sunday Times: “If you know nothing about the subject, and go to Mcast to learn, you won’t: you have to do it by yourself.” In view of this, I asked whether spending €120 million on thecampus was wise?
“It’s not about increasing the number of students,” said Grech, “it’s about increasing the quality of the courses”.
He explained that Mcastinvests substantial sums every year in the training of its staff. Thecollege’s 350 full-time teachers attended approximately 800training courses, and the staff is continuously appraised.
“Our lecturers have to undergo a two-year pedagogy course before teaching here. And we are working towards attaining funds from an EU project dedicated to ongoingprofessional development,” said Grech.
He said students should not hesitate to approach him or any other of the staff with their complaints.
“My door here is always open.”
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If you wish to contribute an article or would like a particular subject tackled in the Education section, call Davinia Hamilton on 2559 4513 or e-mail dhamilton@timesofmalta.com.