Mcast and Aurobindo signed a Memorandum of Understanding at Aurobindo premises in Hal-Far, in the presence of Education Minister Evarist Bartolo.
The purpose of this memorandum is to establish a formal collaboration between the two players. Aurobindo is a major player within the local pharmaceutical industry while Mcast is the major vocational education and training (VET) college in Malta.
The collaboration envisaged through this memorandum spans a range of activities that can support both parties, including formal accredited training and practical work placements.
The college will participate in joint promotional campaigns with Aurobindo to promote the importance of science education in Malta and illustrate the job opportunities within the science industry. Aurobindo will fund the marketing material to be used during promotional campaigns to increase awareness on the importance of science education in Malta and promote programmes of studies at the Mcast Institute of Applied Sciences.
Aurobindo will support Mcast through its international links by providing possible work placements for students wishing to pursue their work experience in a pharmaceutical company abroad and possible work experience/job shadowing for Mcast lecturing staff at Aurobindo.
The company will also sponsor an award for the best student project carried out at the Institute of Applied Sciences and will also sponsor the annual Mcast Skills Challenge – which enables students from various vocational specialisations to participate in skills challenges with the possibility of participating in the Euroskills Competition 2019. The Mcast Skills Challenge 2017 will promote vocational education and will give exposure to student talent.
Dr Silvio De Bono, president of the Mcast board of governors, welcomed this partnership and spoke about the benefits of this collaboration with Aurobindo. He mentioned the opportunity for internships and apprenticeship and that students will gain hands-on experience in the quality control and quality assurance activities of pharmaceutical products.
He also said that Mcast would consult with Aurobindo during the development of study programmes and review of established programmes. Together they will share their industrial expertise to ensure Mcast programmes will be relevant to latest industrial trends.
Frederick Schembri, managing director of Aurobindo Pharma Malta, said they were pleased to have finalised a MoU with Mcast to work together in an initiative to support formal training and practical work placements. He said this initiative would support the company’s growing workforce in view of the anticipated growth of the Malta operation, as well as provide an opportunity for Mcast students to work in the pharmaceutical industry.