MCAST’s Quality Assurance Department invited The Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) to deliver a presentation on how Quality Assurance plays a central role in maintaining and enhancing standards within Malta’s Further and Higher Education sector. This session, which was well attended, was held at the MCAST Resource Centre’s Auditorium on Friday 29th May 2026. The main speaker was Michelle Calleja Gafa`, Head, Licensing, Accreditation, Quality Assurance & Validation Higher Education & Further Education, who, together with her team, discussed various ways on how to strengthen Quality Assurance within the Maltese Higher Education sector.

MFHEA has established comprehensive quality assurance principles and procedures that align with the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG). These measures ensure that educational institutions remain accountable, transparent and committed to continuous improvement. At the core of Malta’s quality assurance framework is the principle that institutions themselves carry the primary responsibility for the quality of their educational provision. MFHEA supports this through both internal and external quality assurance processes designed to foster a culture of excellence, accountability and ongoing development across institutions.

The framework emphasises several key principles. First, quality assurance must respond to the diversity of educational systems, institutions, programmes and student needs. Secondly, it should actively support the development of a robust quality culture within institutions. Equally important is the recognition of students and stakeholders as essential partners in the educational process, ensuring that their expectations and experiences contribute directly to institutional development.

MFHEA’s role extends beyond regulation. It coordinates quality assurance requirements and operations across educational providers, while also supporting institutions in organising their own effective quality assurance structures and processes. Through these efforts, Malta strengthens public trust in education and ensures academic recognition of Maltese qualifications within the European framework.

The session also served as a training initiative under the MCAST Quality Assurance Department’s recently launched Quality Culture Insights. It acted as a refresher on the College’s responsibilities in preparation for the upcoming five-yearly External Quality Audit, which will be the third of its kind. In this context, the MFHEA team emphasised the significant component of the external quality assurance process, the Self-Assessment Report (SAR).

The SAR serves as a critical document through which institutions evaluate their own performance, systems and procedures. More than a compliance exercise, the self-assessment process encourages institutions to critically reflect on their strengths, identify areas for improvement and demonstrate their commitment to quality enhancement. According to the MFHEA guidelines, the self-assessment process should involve academic staff, students, administrative personnel and resource managers. This collaborative approach ensures a balanced and comprehensive evaluation of institutional practices and student experiences. In turn, the SAR provides stakeholders — including students, families, employers and society at large — with transparent information about institutional quality and academic standards. Institutions are expected to present honest, concise and evidence-based evaluations supported by relevant documentation and annexes. This discussion opened the floor to a number of pertinent queries led by MCAST’s Deputy Principal responsible for regulatory services, Ing Pierre Dalmas.

Ultimately, Malta’s quality assurance framework contributes not only to institutional accountability but also to the broader national objective of delivering high-quality education as a public good. By embedding transparency, continuous improvement and stakeholder participation in institutional practices, MFHEA continues to strengthen confidence in Malta’s education sector both locally and internationally. To this end, on behalf of MCAST, Dr Jacqueline Micallef Griamud thanked MFHEA for the formidable task they undertake on a daily basis and particularly for the time and expertise dedicated to the session by Ms Michelle Calleja Gafa’ and all the MFHEA speakers, as well as the MFHEA CEO, Mr James Perry Maia, who attended the session.