The Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) hosted an Industry on Campus event at the Paola campus, bringing together more than 70 representatives from across industry for a business breakfast and onboarding session focused on strengthening ties between education and the workplace. This was an opportunity for students to meet employers directly and discuss apprenticeships and work-based learning opportunities. It was also a chance for employers to learn more about MCAST’s work-based learning initiatives.

Proceedings opened with a presentation outlining MCAST’s approach to work-based learning and the role of industry partners in forming the next generation of skilled professionals. The Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) presented legal aspects and developments particularly relevant to employers taking on apprentices. Representatives then took part in a series of engagement visits across the campus’s institutes, meeting students and discussing potential apprenticeship and work-based learning pathways.

Principal and CEO Stephen Vella said, “When we speak about Industry on Campus, we mean it in a practical sense, not as a slogan, but as a way of working. At MCAST, we bring industry into how we design and deliver education. We must ensure that our students are safe, supported, and properly guided. At the same time, we must ensure that what they experience is real. Because only real experience prepares them for real work. ”

More than 60% of students at MCAST have apprenticeships or work-based learning opportunities included in their coursework. The Industry on Campus initiative grants students direct access to employers, giving insight into workplace expectations and the chance to start forming professional relationships. For employers, it offers an opportunity to identify and engage emerging talent across disciplines.

The event was supported through the Encounter MCAST meets Industry initiatives, founded by the Ministry for Education, and forms part of MCAST’s wider effort to close the gap between education and industry, with a focus on making sure that both students and employers are well prepared regarding the demands of the future workplace.