Today the Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation of Kosovo Mrs Arberie Nagavci and her delegation paid a visit to MCAST and met with the Principal and CEO of the College Professor James Calleja and two other Deputy Principals Mr Philip Vella and Ing. Pierre Dalmas.

The discussion centred around cooperation between Kosovo Colleges of Vocational Education and Training and MCAST and in particular on the area of work-based learning in particular apprenticeships and quality assurance. The discussion focused on the need for vocational colleges to collaborate closely with industry in the design, review and provision of qualifications in this sector.

The two parties agreed to widen this collaboration by exchanging expertise between the two countries and in presenting joint projects for EU and national funding. The two parties also agreed to look into the resources need to run such institutions and how learners are seeking vocational courses so that they combine learning with working. Another area for possible collaboration is quality assurance and the sides agreed to explore the possibility of having joint seminars on the mechanisms needed to enhance quality in vocational education.

In addition to these areas of common concern Minister Nagavci also welcomed the support that EfVET (the European Forum for Vocational Education and Training) gives to institutions across Europe and asked the Professor Calleja, who is also President of EfVET, to accept Kosovo’s vocational colleges as members of this European Association.

Following these discussions Minister Nagavci and her delegation visited the campus and in particular the MCAST Resource Centre (MRC).