Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi this morning visited the first phase of the works on the new MCAST campus, which started two days ago.

Block B of the campus is currently being demolished.

The €120 million project will see the development of three blocks in the next two years. These will house the Students House, a flexi-teaching block, an applied sciences block and the new institute for business. There will also be a 630-car car-park.

The first phase will cost €30 million, €10 million of which will be from ERDF funds.

Dr Gonzi described this as the biggest educational project in terms of infrastructure since the building of the Tal-Qroqq university.

MCAST, he said, was catering for people who used to be stamped as failures providing well-trained employees for industry.

"This is a historical page in the story of our country's education," he said.

Since its opening 10 years ago, MCAST has seen its population quadruple to now cater for 10,000 students, including 4,000 part-timers.

The college, Dr Gonzi said, was going from strength to strength.