Economic uncertainty can lead to job losses and dwindling savings but nothing can take away one's knowledge, experience and skills, Paul Attard, president of Mcast's board of governors told graduates yesterday.
Speaking during a ceremony when diplomas were distributed, Mr Attard stressed the severity of the prevailing international financial crisis, describing it as the worst yet. He encouraged students to keep studying and learning, bringing about prosperity for themselves and, ultimately, the whole country.
He said the diplomas awarded were an indication of the level of competence achieved by students, adding that they would serve as a key through which they would unlock future careers or further studies.
This was not merely an end to a course, he emphasised, but an important stage in the lives of students as it indicated that they were maturing intellectually, psychologically, personally and socially.
A college, he insisted, should not only educate students intellectually but also develop personalities, characters, values, attitudes, teamwork, mutual support, problem solving and creativity. Essentially, the personal development of students was as important as the acquisition of knowledge and skills.
To this end, the education imparted to students should be wider than what they would need in order to simply work in one particular field. Without such an approach there can be little lifelong education and development.
The country was in serious need of brain power that was creative and innovative, Mr Attard insisted. To achieve this, the country needed to focus on research and experimentation in order to compete in this regard.
Mr Attard emphasised the need for lifelong learning in modern society, as workplaces were increasingly focusing more on required knowledge, theory and qualifications. Because of this, students should not stop seeking knowledge and opportunities to learn.
Stefan De Battista, a student awarded a higher national diploma in 3D design, recounted the first days of the technical institute, emphasising how he matured and developed along with the institute itself.
In recent years, he said, workshops and studios were modernised, restricted facilities were replaced with state-of-the-art working spaces and students were provided with the latest technology tools and instruments.
He explained how the institute provided opportunities to students, adding that he himself benefited from various study programmes offered by the European Union. Such experience, he pointed out, opened up new doors to his future career.
Following is a list of students who received diplomas yesterday.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering - Level 3
Mcast Diploma in Computer Engineering
Stephen Agius, Matthew Cini Sarreo, Christian Gatt, Christian Sammut, and Stelvio Scerri.
Mcast Diploma in Industrial Electronics
Michael Abdilla, Darren Abela,Eliel Abela, Shawn Azzopardi, Albert Borg Bonaci Clint Borg, Stephen Borg, Kai Busuttil, Justin Camilleri, Charles Cardona, Jonathan Caruana, Keith Chircop, Alistair Ciantar, Adrian Ciappara, Liam George Cutajar, Darren Debattista, Colin Farrugia, James Gaffiero, Angelo Garnisi, Robert Gatt, Norbert Grima, Stefan Grima, Reuben Mallia, Vincent Micallef, Antoinette Mizzi, Mario Scerri, Alessandro Vella, Andrew Vella, Daniel Zammit, Leonard Zammit and Matthew Zammit.
Mcast-Btec National Diploma in Electrical & Electronics Engineering
Mario Abela, Kirsten Aquilina, Brian Attard, Miguel Attard, Christian Axiak, Gerald Azzopardi, Nicolai Bezzina, Johann Bondin, Daniel Brimmer, Jonathan Busuttil, Deo Cacciattolo, Antoine Camilleri, Kevin Camilleri, Karl Cardona, Melvin Caruana, Jonathan Cassar, Tristan Demanuele, Cliff Farrugia, Michel Farrugia, Robert Farrugia, Sean Farrugia, Michael Frendo, Jean Paul Galea, Godfrey Giordmaina, Terrence Grech, Franklyn Grima, Josef Grima, Dale Peter Mifsud, Leonard Mifsud, Melvin Mifsud, Matthew Mizzi, Clayton Pace, Nicholas Sammut, Kerstin Sant, Patrick Sant, Glenn Schembri, Ryan Schembri, Norbert Scicluna, Jeremy Spiteri, Nicholas Spiteri, Matthew Warne and JeanPierre Zammit.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering - Level 4
Mcast-Btec Higher National Certificate in Electrical & Electronics Engineering
Arnold Attard, Mark Paul Busuttil and Matthew Farrugia.
Mcast-Btec Higher National Certificate in Electrical & Electronics Engineering (Communications)
Etienne Mula, Marie-Louise Pullicino and James Schriha.
Mcast-Btec Higher National Diploma in Electrical & Electronics Engineering
Ephraim Azzopardi, Johann Borg, Julian Borg, Janet Bugeja, Nicholas Cachia, Simon Duca, Adrian Farrugia, Joseph Fenech, Clint Grech, Sarah Gusman, Jonathan Mifsud, Daniel Pisani, Kevin Scerri, Shawn Roderick Sciberras, Ian Spiteri and Stephen Zahra.
Institute of Art and Design - Level 3
Mcast Access Course to Diploma in Foundation Studies in Art & Design
Veronique Azzopardi, Francesca Borg, Mandy Cassar, Cassandra Cutajar, Alexander Ferrante, Adrian Gauci, Kaya Jabar, Kurt Micallef, Raul Pace, Christopher Ryan, Elisa Savona Ventura, Sarah Sciberras, Sarah Maria Scicluna, Emma Scudamore, Bettina Spiteri, Damian Tonna, Luke Vassallo, Carl Vella, Keith Vella and Tamara Webb.
Mcast-Btec Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art and Design)
Kevin Anastasi, Paula Anastasi, Krista Aquilina, Jessica Attard, Cheryl Azzopardi, Keith Azzopardi, Dawn Baker, Francesco Bonello, Chanelle Bonnici, Claire Borg, Jessica Buttigieg, Marika Camilleri, Clifford Carabott, Justin Caruana, Philippa Cassar Montanaro, Marie Claire Cremona, Mauro D Amato, Matthew Demarco, Edward Dingli, Abigail Doneo, Mireille Ellul, Sabrina Ellul, Ryan Falzon, Rosanna Farrugia, Kailey Fenech, Ryan Lee Galea, Adrian Gambin, Leanne Grech, Matthew Anthony Keith, Craig Macdonald, Julian Mallia, Matthew Mamo, Sarah Mamo, Neil Martin, Carden Mizzi, Krista Ripard, Daniel Spagnol, Kurt Vella, Adrian Zammit, Gabriel Rosario Zammit and Jessica Zammit.
Mcast-Btec National Diploma in Design Crafts
Michael Agius, Kamy Aquilina, Christiana Attard, Glen Borg, Sabrina Calleja, Daniella Camilleri, Sara Camilleri, Sean Camilleri, Jonathan Cauchi, Ingrid Darmanin, Jamie Farrugia, Lindsey Farrugia, Kirsten Fenech, Ritianne Genovese, Magdalena Karolina Juul Nielsen, Stephanie Micallef, Francesca Miggiani, Adrian Saliba, Krysta Maryann Danielle Stivala, Enrique Tabone, Kenneth Tanti, Felicienne Zahra and Troika Zammit.
Institute of Art and Design - Level 4
Mcast-Btec Higher National Diploma in 3D Design
Michael Calleja, Ritianne Camilleri, Ruben Caruana, Nadya Coppini, Ruth Curmi, Stefan De Battista, Jennings Falzon, Michael Falzon, Vanessa Galea, Enrika Grima, Stefania Mercieca, Erica Muscat, Rachel Muscat, Sarah Lee Muscat, Shawn Muscat, Victoria Maria Pisani, Martina Vassallo Eminyan, Elaine Vella and Emily Zammit.
Mcast-Btec Higher National Diploma in Graphic Design
Ken Borg, James Camenzuli, Trisa Camilleri, Francantonio Cauchi Cuschieri, Ramona Cauchi, Yanov Cutajar, Roberta Gatt, John Mizzi, Jeremy Oliver Pace, Gabrielle Terpougoff and Neil Zammit.
Mcast-Btec Higher National Diploma in Spatial Design
Daniela Attard and Claire Vella.
Institute Of Mechanical Engineering - Level 3
Mcast-Btec National Certificate in Manufacturing Engineering
Ilario Degiovanni.
Mcast-Btec National Diploma in Aerospace Engineering
Joseph Azzopardi, Nathan Azzopardi, Cris Borg, Russell Borg, Domenic Facciol, Samuel Farrugia, Charlene Fenech, Paula Gauci, Christian Grech, Dario Grech, Clint Grima, Kenneth Micallef Stanmore, Malcolm Mifsud, Josef Mizzi, David Sammut, Mathias Scicluna, Christine Tanti, Andre Vassallo, Pierre Daniel Zammit, Roderick Zammit and Stephanie Zammit.
Mcast-Btec National Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering
Shawn Barber, Alexander Borg, Mark Livori, Gabriel Mamo, Shawn Pisani, Daniel Sammut, Saviour Luke Spiteri, Noel Vella and Christopher Xuereb.
Mcast-Btec National Diploma in Operations and Maintenance
Charlton Bezzina, Bernard Callus, Matthew Camilleri, Karl Carabott, Nicholas Caruana, Darren Debono, Duncan Delizio, Richard Grioli, Melvin Hili, James Muscat, Jonathan Sacco and Omar Toutoungi.
Technician Diploma in Motor Vehicle Engineering (C&G 3905)
Stephen Camilleri, Christian Galea and John Vella.
Institute Of Mechanical Engineering - Level 4
Mcast-Btec Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering
Kyle Alamango, Louis Attard, David Bonello, Wayne Bugeja, Terence Camilleri, Troy Caruana, Johann Karl Dalli, Ryan Darmanin, Christian Grima, Jonathan Mallia, Sefton Mamo, Danilo Overend, Jean Paul Pace, Omar Sammut, Mark Sciberras Grungo, Kristian Sultana, Ryan Mark Tanti, Amy Vassallo and Wayne Vella.
Technician Advanced Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (C&G 2565)
Christian Borg and Terence Schembri.
Institute Of Community Services - Level 3
ITEC Diploma in Holistic Massage, Facial Electrical Treatments, Diet & Nutrition for Complementary Therapists
Roberta Attard, Cheryl Azzopardi, Amanda Bellizzi, Claire Calleja, Angela Cassar, Elaine Cassar, Tracey Galea, Kim Grima, Francesca Jaccarini, Marie Josette Mercieca, Lourdes Mifsud, Ann Marie Naudi, Marie Schembri and Stephania Spiteri.
Mcast Diploma for Pharmacy Technicians
Bernardette Aquilina, Ilona Borg, Melissa Ceci, Jessica Ellul, Sergio Fenech, Cherieanne Giles, Valerie Mifsud, Emmeline Mizzi, Jennifer Paris, Nadia Portelli, Daniela Vella and Stephanie Wonnacott.
Mcast-Btec National Diploma in Applied Science
Christina Attard, Zenaide Barbara, Leanne Buhagiar, Rowena Calleja, Dorianne Cutajar, Anton Paul Falzon, Glen Galea, Ismael Gauci, Marie Stella Grima, Melvin Mallia, Gemma Micallef, Chris Mintoff and Vanessa Muscat.
Mcast-Btec National Diploma in Care
Kathleen Agius, Larissa Axiak,Miriam Azzopardi, Jennifer Bezzina, Jeannie Buttigieg, Sarah Casha, Sephora Cassar, Jolene Debattista, Jurgen Farrugia, Marlene Fenech, Nadege Fiteni, Charlene Galea, Leanne Marie Haidon, Eve Marie Mckeon, Charlene Micallef, Margaret Muscat, Bernice Pizzuto, Svetlana Sillato, Janica Spiteri, AnnaMarie Sultana, Georgette Tanti, Roxana Tanti, Josette Vella, Loredana Vella and Diane Xuereb.
Mcast-Btec National Diploma in Early Years
Victoria Attard, Romina Bianco, Svetlana Busuttil, Bryndis Ellul, Elisha Galea, Maris Galea, Stephanie Ghigo, Georgina Rose Mallett, Rodianne Mercieca, Stephanie Anne Mizzi, Melissa Muscat, Janella Penza and Kristianne Sammut.
Mcast-Btec National Diploma in Health Studies
Nathalie Azzopardi, Maria Balzan and Miriam Saliba.
Mcast-Btec National Diploma in Sports
Leanne Debattista, David Grech, Mike Longo Galea, Julian Muscat, Petra Muscat, Matthew Naudi, Michael Saliba and Michelle Vella.