Following the Memorandum of Understanding that the Institute for Education and MCAST signed agreeing to collaborate and professionally support each other, the two institutions have joined forces for the past two years to design and develop a joint Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Early Years, Learning and Care (Top-Up). This programme aims to reach those Kindergarten Educators who already have an MQF Level 5 Higher National Diploma in the area. This 60 ECTS MQF Level 6 top-up course will allow those Kindergarten educators to further develop their competencies and acquire a Bachelor Degree.

On successful completion of the course, these Kindergarten Educators will become KGE 3, and this progression is also reflected in a better salary. This course is delivered on a part-time basis and with a blended approach. This means that lectures are delivered online and face to face. Online lectures can be both synchronous or asynchronous sessions. Synchronous sessions are live sessions during which there can be discussions with the lecturer and peers, group work, presentations, debates and other modes of interaction, whereas the course participants will have the possibility to access the material anytime when the sessions are asynchronous. This methodology will increase the flexibility for the learners and enhance the accessibility since they will be able to continue with their full-time job while obtaining a high standard degree. The course will be 18 months long, commencing in January 2022, and applications will open on the 15^th November 2021. Applicants may wish to apply for the Get Qualified Scheme which will enable them to benefit from a tax-credit for the cost incurred.

MCAST and the Institute for Education have brought together a team of professionals to develop this important qualification that will impact the lives of children directly and influence them in their approach towards learning and social-emotional challenges. Thus, investing in this area is crucial. The Ministry for Education firmly believes in this. It supports this initiative that will be beneficial for the educators who have been waiting for this opportunity for growth and for the children whose educators will be further developing their professional competencies.