MCAST’s Journal of Applied Research and Practice is a Gold Open Access Journal published twice yearly. Papers published provide insight into a broad spectrum of ongoing research at MCAST, executed by over 100 MCAST academics and channelled through MCAST’s Applied Research and Innovation Centre.

This latest issue of the MCAST Journal of Applied Research and Practice is the 7th issue and the most comprehensive and diverse. The issue includes peer-reviewed research papers from all MCAST Institutes and Centres, including the Institute for the Creative Arts, the Institute of Community Services, the Institute of Information and Communication Technology, the Institute of Applied Sciences, the Institute of Business and Commerce, the Applied Research & Innovation Centre and the Learning Support Unit.

The research is applied and impact-oriented, looking toward finding real-world solutions to complex problems faced by industry and social organisations. The themes of this journal issue delve into employee wellbeing, student adaptability toward programming, MCAST library usage patterns, the impact of apprentices on the workplace, lean implementation in Malta, hearing loss in Malta’s adult population, technology for healthcare in times of COVID-19, and more.

As well as the full-text online journal access through its Index Copernicus platform, 500 printed copies of the journal are distributed with every issue. Recipients of the journal include the authors and editorial team, MCAST key researchers and leading academics, MCAST senior management, all Maltese ministries, a wide range of local industry partners, the Maltese chambers, the national libraries, and a wide range of international academic and industry partners.

On 29th July, the MCAST Research Journal editorial team and MCAST Principal Professor James Calleja paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Research and Innovation, the Hon Dr Owen Bonnici. During the visit, Dr Bonnici was presented with a set of copies of the new journal issue. MCAST Principal Professor Calleja outlined how MCAST is “steadily evolving from a teaching institution to a community college that supports and strengthens its teaching and skilling with impact-oriented research that is driven by industry and community needs.”

Minister Owen Bonnici stressed the vitality of encouraging MCAST academics and partners to take on this applied, impact-oriented research because “it is the key to providing real world solutions and achieving greater levels of national sustainability and cross-organisational collaboration.”