The Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) launched From Vision to Practice: Driving the Evolution of Vocational Further & Higher Education on Wednesday, 21 October, at the MRC Foyer. The edited volume, published to mark the College’s 25th anniversary, is edited by Dr Tatjana Chircop, Dr Lorna Bonnici West and Prof. Judita Theuma.The publication gathers contributions from across MCAST’s research and academic community, joined by international researchers. Together, the chapters consider how vocational further and higher education can respond to technological, societal and economic change, and what that means for the institutions that deliver it.Speaking at the launch, Dr Chircop explained that the title reflects both the College’s story and the philosophy of applied research. “A vision, however ambitious, only acquires real value when we succeed in putting it into practice,” she said.

Dr Chircop said the themes point to a clear message. “We cannot innovate in isolation. We cannot make a meaningful difference unless we connect research with practice. And we cannot prepare students for the future unless we ourselves are prepared to change.”Addressing the audience, Dr Bonnici West pointed to the spirit of collaboration behind the volume. What began as an initiative of the Applied Research & Innovation Centre to mark the anniversary grew into a collective academic effort, involving researchers and contributors from Malta and abroad.

“Research, by its very nature, thrives on collaboration. It brings together different disciplines, experiences, perspectives, and expertise,” she said. “Because research is not simply about producing knowledge. It is also about building relationships, creating opportunities for dialogue, and learning from one another.”Looking ahead, Dr Bonnici West described the launch as a starting point rather than a conclusion. “I hope that we see it not simply as the completion of a publication, but as another step in strengthening the research relationships and collaborations that will continue well beyond MCAST’s 25th anniversary,” she said.

Dr Chircop closed by expressing the hope that the volume will be read, discussed and used as a starting point for further work. “A book such as this is not the end of a journey, but an invitation to continue it,” she said.Published in the College’s 25th anniversary year, the volume reflects on how far MCAST has come while setting a direction for the future of vocational education, applied research, and innovation.