Mcast lecturers will be required to work after normal hours twice a week for a total of five hours under the terms of a new collective agreement, signed today.

The agreement features improved pay and working conditions for the academic staff and will also enable the college to extend its reach for students, including those who wish to follow courses after 4.30 p.m., Mcast officials said.

Joe Farrugia, chairman of the board of governors, was unable to specify how much the new package will cost, because it has direct and indirect costs, but he said it would raise productivity.

Despite the evening hours, the contact hours of lecturers will go down from 21 to 19 hours.

The agreement was signed by Mr Farrugia and MUT president Kevin Bonello in the presence of Education Minister Dolores Cristina. It will cover some 400 academic staff including, for the first time, learning support assistants.

Mr Bonello said the agreement had been backed by 84% of the academic staff.

The agreement will remain valid till 2016.Its provisions include funds which lecturers may use for personal academic development and to purchase equipment, including software.