Up to a few years ago, tertiary education was only offered through the University of Malta. The situation changed when private organisations started offering the courses of foreign universities, creating a choice of how qualifications could be acquired. It was a development which could not have happened a moment too soon, given the rapid evolution of the economy.
The Maltese economy has passed through various phases over the recent past. We first saw the rise of tourism alongside the manufacturing sector. Then came the growth in financial services, and now ICT.
These changes created demand for new initiatives within the education sector. The result was Mcast, the Institute for Tourism Studies and private institutions which started offering courses through foreign universities.
While the economy is becoming more knowledge-based, the Maltese are becoming more aware of how their skills and career prospects can be enhanced through tertiary education.
Tertiary education had therefore become an essential component of the development of our economy.
The more specialised and professional our workforce is, the better for economic growth.
The changes in education options
The demand for suitably qualified employees has stimulated private institutions to offer a range of courses at various levels, from diploma to doctorate level, including many courses that were, or are not available in the state tertiary education sector.
The subjects offered have ranged from specialisations in management to psychology. Such has been the growth of study opportunities that many people already in the workforce have opted to further their own studies in order to achieve an academic qualification.
Continuous Professional Development has now become more common and is rightly seen as the logical step for career development.
Companies have also realised that supporting employees who wish to further their studies, either by sponsorships or by career incentives, motivates them to give qualitative output.
Modalities of tertiary education
Tertiary education has evolved alongside the development of the internet, making the world 'a global village'.
Distance-learning courses started to develop as fast as technology improved. In the past, distance learning was restricted to a few areas. It was more language-focused.
There are subjects such as medicine which still cannot be studied in full by distance learning but many other specialisations can now be easily achieved through this method, such as business studies, management, psychology, human resources management and tourism. Such courses are nowadays offered by various private institutions in Malta.
The distance-learning format offers flexibility and opportunity to those who would like to continue working but also develop their career through their studies.
This method is enabling hundreds of Maltese to acquire a diploma, first degree or higher qualification which up to about 10 years ago was only accessible for those could go to the University of Malta or afford to study abroad.
Distance learning courses have exploited technological developments creating a virtual campus with effective direct communication between students and agents around the globe.
Tertiary Education, Malta as member in the EU
Malta's joining the EU brought with it further developments such as the official recognition of qualifications. At the moment the EU is undergoing an exercise so that all qualifications within the EU will be benchmarked against a number of criteria, thus facilitating cross-border recognition. In Malta such a process is being conducted by the Malta Qualifications Council within the Department of Education.
These developments have brought openings to Maltese citizens and to industry. Further education is not only accessible to the few, but to a much wider spectrum. We are bearing the fruits of this direct and indirect collaboration between industry and tertiary, giving a more professional and value-added service within the most important economic pillars: financial services, IT and tourism.
The author is Managing Director of the European Institute of Education (EIE).