ANNUAL REPORT 2017/18 EDITOR Caroline Balzan DESIGN Peresso Design Studio PROOF READER Joyce Hili PRE-PRESS AND PRINTING Velprint Ltd. POSTAL ADDRESS PR and Communications Office Administration Building, MCAST Main Campus, Corradino Hill, Paola, Malta Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. All rights reserved. All reasonable care is taken to ensure truth and accuracy, but the editor cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions in articles, advertising, photographs or illustrations. MCAST BOARD 4 OF GOVERNORS INTRODUCTION BY MINISTER OF EDUCATION 5 Hon Evarist Bartolo MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE MCAST BOARD OF GOVERNORS 6 Mr Frederick Schembri A YEAR’S REVIEW BY THE PRINCIPAL & CEO 7 Prof James Joachim Calleja CURRICULUM AND 9 STUDENT AFFAIRS INSTITUTES OF TECHNOLOGY AND APPLIED SCIENCES TABLE OF CONTENTS OF TABLE 15 INSTITUTES OF ARTS 21 AND SOCIAL SCIENCES MCAST GOZO 24 CAMPUS RESEARCH AND 27 INNOVATION ENROLMENT 33 AND CERTIFICATION OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL 40 - ADMINISTRATION 42 EU PROJECTS OFFICE MCAST GATEWAY TO 45 INDUSTRY OFFICE EXCERPTS FROM THE 48 AUDITED ACCOUNTS 4 MCAST Annual Report 2017/18 MCAST Board of Governors 2017 - 2020 From left standing are Mr Frank Farrugia, Ms Louisa Grech, Mr Frederick Schembri, Dr Amanda Bezzina, Prof Mark Borg From left sitting are Ms Marietta Lanzon, Ms Rhoda Garland, Prof James Joachim Calleja, Ms Claire Grima, Mr Brian Farrugia President (2018-2020) Mr Frederick Schembri Dr Amanda Bezzina Mr Brian Farrugia Principal and CEO Mr Frank Farrugia Prof James Joachim Calleja Ms Rhoda Garland Ms Louisa Grech Deputy President Ms Claire Grima Prof Mark Borg Ms Marietta Lanzon Board Members MCAST Annual Report 2017/18 5 Introduction by the Minister for Education and Employment Hon. Evarist Bartolo MCAST has taken giant steps in pace of educational change is not developing Malta’s education determined only at a national level framework over the years. A period but equally, or more importantly, of continuous achievement has by what is happening in the rest of resulted in excellence as we have the world. Ultimately, an education developed from a competent experience should not be evaluated and resourceful society to one by how traditional its methodology with a competitive culture, driven is, but by how successful it is in by the critically mindful and delivering a relevant, innovative innovative approach to learning and fruitful experience, which not for development. This philosophy only helps young people master a has been rewarding to hundreds skill-set but also prepares them for of students as they taste first-hand the ever-changing realities of the the real world of employment. modern world particularly those posed by technology, artificial MCAST has been at the forefront intelligence and automation. in shaking the educational system from one-size-fits-all to the current The Maltese government remains approach, providing various committed to the development of courses leading to different learning MCAST by strengthening the legal routes and pathways. It has helped framework of this educational bring about a major revolution even institution and improving its through the My Journey project. financial resources. The Ministry This will come into force during remains in touch with reality and the next school year at secondary works in close collaboration with level. This more holistic educational the educational and economic experience will prepare students sectors and civil society to endlessly for their future employment. The follow the updated educational factual difference is not between needs of our nation. We want all vocational and academic courses students to develop their personal but between good and bad and social potential and acquire the education and helping students appropriate knowledge. obtain the necessary skills for the real world of work. MCAST is a success. My hope for the future is for MCAST to remain a MCAST’s ideology is aligned fresh and innovative vocational and with European and world professional educational College. benchmarks and strategic goals. In today’s globalised age, the 6 MCAST Annual Report 2017/18 On behalf of the Board of We took time as a country to reflect Governors, I am pleased to present on our rich history that laid the MCAST Annual Report 2017/18 foundation to develop into the to the Minister for Education nation we are today. We took time to and Employment, the Hon. acknowledge social equity, cultural Evarist Bartolo for the accademic diversity and inclusion, the building year ending August 2018. The blocks of a strong nation grounded report highlights the College’s in the values of dignity, respect and achievements in fulfilling our tolerance for all. As we stand at mandate and commitment in the this juncture, it is important for all principles of good education. of us to acknowledge and come to understand our true history, and In the year under review, the Board to work together to form a nation of Governors sought to establish where everyone has the opportunity the strategic direction for the to achieve their full potential. At College, by building on previous MCAST, we confront the issues accomplishments whilst addressing our country and her people have Message contemporary challenges. An faced for years: connecting with our extensive consultation process was past, our present and our future. launched targeting an inclusive MCAST provides the opportunity from the audience comprising of internal to celebrate shared values, mutual and external stakeholders including achievements and to reflect upon staff members, students, alumni, what it means to be Maltese. It President employers, social partners and also lets us explore the contrasts policy makers. The scope was to and similarities found within our understand how MCAST remains country and its people: diversity of the relevant and central to the and inclusion, youth and wisdom, progressive economic development reconciliation with humbleness and of our country. The MCAST Strategic compassion, and reflecting and MCAST Plan 2019-2021 revolves around understanding our shared history. the synergistic interplay between seven strategic objectives, each of Perhaps more importantly, we Board of equal importance. Ambitious goals look forward to our future. We have been set for the College, but we must continue to plan for our remain confident in management’s students’ future, including strategy Governors ability to drive forward the strategy implementation, development for MCAST. of our campus, continued Mr Frederick partnerships with stakeholders and STUDENTS ARE OUR #1 PRIORITY_ the well-being of our students and Schembri In a time where intolerance, employees. hatred and fear permeated the media, educational institutions At MCAST, we have bold ideas offer havens of hope, creating and aspirations for an inclusive space where diversity is valued, society. It is only through courage, where dignity towards humanity is education, respect and compassion respected, where compassion is that we will change the world for extended and fear is mitigated by the better. education; creating space where all are invited, and more importantly, everyone feels welcomed. MCAST Annual Report 2017/18 7 MCAST is a unique educational and administrative shortfalls has institution awarding qualifications enabled the College to move towards from the lowest to nearly the a more professional approach in highest levels of the Malta implementing decisions by the Qualifications Framework. We Governing Board which is also in are proud to do this because our a process of a robust procedural efforts reflect what workplaces reform system. actually need – skills, competences and talents at all levels. Strong governing and management systems allow the College to MCAST’s academic year 2017/18 continue building first class witnessed changes in management industry-driven qualifications, but a stable attractiveness to community-oriented vocational students and adult learners. A total education and training, and impact of 7,325 applications were received research across all Institutes. for the academic year 2017/18. In Q3 2018, on recommendations Notwithstanding reforms, the A Year’s completed by the Mullard Report successes in the academic year (in early 2018), a College-wide 2017/18 must be attributed to a consultation process was initiated combination of exceptional efforts Review to ensure that the future of MCAST undertaken by the various Institutes is rooted in an ownership process and Departments by committed by all stakeholders. It culminated personnel with unfailing loyalty to by the with the launch of a strategic plan the College. This report gives an for 2019/21 by Prime Minister overview of the various initiatives Joseph Muscat in May 2019 when that the Institutes, the Departments Principal he visited MCAST to inaugurate and the Units have undertaken to the first phase of the state-of-the- drive the College to new levels of art Institute of Engineering and excellence, inclusion and growth. & CEO Transport. In many respects, MCAST boosted The management reform the growth of its research Prof James system, spearheaded by the development area by launching recommendations of the Mullard the Applied Research and Report, moved away from the Innovation Centre giving rise to new Joachim three college system and instead opportunities for research studies, reinforced the structures and ethos propagating new methodologies of the six Institutes and appointed and