The new MCAST Act has been approved by parliament and is a significant step in ensuring more autonomy for the college as a centre of excellence in vocational education and training.

Writing in the Times of Malta, the Minister for Education, Sport, Research and Innovation Clifton Grima said that the legislation gives MCAST greater autonomy, more responsibilities and resources to continue to provide Malta with the skills it needs for today’s and the future workforce.

“The new law is also testimony to the hard work that has gone into its drafting, consultation with the widest possible stakeholders and the vision to give the college an instrument that will sustain its future on levels of excellence.

MCAST is the first further and higher education institution in Malta to have its own legislation independently from the Education Act. MCAST’s profile is eclectic in nature. The institution is at once a school, a college and a higher education institution.”

Minister Grima also writes about the law’s focus on a learner-centred approach ensuring that education is accessible and available to all students.

“Every student enrolled at MCAST is entitled to a qualification that provides skills for employment and personal enrichment. Statistically speaking, over these last two years, circa 20 per cent of students who obtained a bachelor’s degree at the college were previously qualified at the college at levels inferior to the traditional entry point of Level 4 on the qualifications framework. This is one of the highest accomplishments of MCAST; students whose potential shone as a result of MCAST’s learning environments and flexibility.”

Read the full articles here.