MCAST opens consultation on Act and Strategic Plan to strengthen vocational and professional education in Malta

MCAST has launched the consultation process for a new Act and its Strategic Plan for the years 2022 - 2027, which it says aim to strengthen vocational and professional education in Malta.

Celebrating the College's 20th anniversary on Thursday, MCAST Principal and CEO Professor Joachim James Calleja said he was proud of its history and that staff and stakeholders "can look back and be proud of its growth".

Looking to the future and addressing the new Strategy he said, "with a clear plan, we can now look ahead with an outward-looking and responsive role to the changing labour market".

"Being a community college means that learners will consider MCAST not simply as an institution where they enrol for two or four years, but as a place where one can continue learning and designing their career".

The legislation proposed by MCAST would see the College have an Act of its own that is distinct and separate from the Education Act.

This would seek to provide further autonomy to the college and address industry developments by providing quality vocation education and training and by promoting the strengthening of accountability and transparency, it explained.

In its Strategic Plan 2022 - 2027, the College sets its ambition to sustain its strategic direction and to strengthen its links to the community. MCAST says this will include closer cooperation with public and private entities to build a more dynamic workforce.

It also prioritises the structured use of its resources to empower active citizenship and support lifelong learning.

Speaking about the importance of the consultation process, Director for Strategy Implementation Edel Cassar announced that an online consultation meeting for employers would be held online on 25th May, and that the draft document and information is also available online.

The consultation process closes on 18th June.