The Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) is one of the key partners in the newly established Foundation for Transport. The transport sector is experiencing challenges regarding the skills and competences required and MCAST is well placed to contribute to upskilling and reskilling needed in the industry.

In November, MCAST Principal and CEO Prof Joachim James Calleja signed the Foundation deed on behalf of the College during an event held at San Anton Palace, under the patronage of the President of Malta, Dr George Vella.

The foundation was established to work with various stakeholders to reskill and upskill the current and future employees of this sector, particularly due to the fast-approaching 2030 objectives and longer-term 2050 strategies for the adoption of greener modes of transport.

In his speech, President Vella noted with satisfaction an element of holistic and mature vision. The future and the desired improvements in the transport sector are being addressed, as new cooperation between directly involved entities has been established. The President appealed to prioritise the safeguarding of the natural environment in all our actions and explained how the nation should also continue to do everything possible to minimise pollution on our land, in the air and in our seas. Above all, the President said that everyone should keep in mind the obligation we have as guardians of the natural heritage we have inherited to leave our country in a sustainable, clean and above all healthier state.

The Foundation for Transport intends to reach all possible modes of transport. This will offer various objectives and room for improvement, including promoting, organising, developing and facilitating innovative services, and creating training courses in the transport industry. Through this, there will be improvements and developments in both workers and stakeholders’ skills and the public to improve the transport industry in Malta and Gozo. It is also worth mentioning that this foundation will ensure that the activities always comply with the government’s regulations and strategies and the Minister responsible for transport.

Minister Ian Borg said that “It is very important that now, more than ever, we start embracing and practising this philosophy to benefit from more sustainable transport. During these difficult times, I think we realised more than ever how important, even more so essential, the transport sector is for our country. Thanks to this foundation, we will be improving the transport sector. We will be encouraging the public to take the initiative, show interest in this foundation, be key players and further imbue that sense of intermodality so that they recognise that yes, there are other modes of transport besides the private car.”

Another purpose of this foundation is to create networking between the Maltese transport industry and Maltese transport industry employees and key players and similar industries and groups based outside Malta. The foundation will establish, undertake, execute, manage, and assist institutions or organisations in any legal form to achieve the same or complementary purposes or aims. Furthermore, it will promote the publication of periodicals and other papers of professional interest and importance, focusing on the transport industry.