The MCAST Board of Governors has announced the appointment of Prof. Maurice Grech, as the new Principal of the college. Prof. Grech is now Principal Designate and will become Principal of the College as from 1 January.

Prof. Grech will be taking over from Frank Edwards who has made an exceptional contribution to the development and growth of the college, as well as to professional and vocational education and training in Malta. He will be returning to the United Kingdom following seven years of professional and dedicated service, first as consultant and later as Principal. Mr Edwards will continue to provide support to the college for a few months as consultant in order to ensure a smooth transition.

Until recently, Prof. Grech was Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Head of Department, Metallurgy and Materials Engineering at the University of Malta. He is in possession of a doctorate in engineering from the University of Birmingham. He won the British Non Ferrous Metal Federation Prize for the most distinguished student undertaking postgraduate studies in Materials.

Prof. Grech has worked at Malta Development Corporation, Malta Shipbuilding Co. Ltd and TeleMalta Corporation. He has received the Engineering Excellence Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Chamber of Engineers, is a Fellow of the Institute of Metals, Minerals and Mining, FIMMM, a Chartered Engineer, and a council member of the International Federation of Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering, IFHTSE.

Prof. Grech will be facing the challenge of implementing the MCAST Strategic Plan as well as the Master Plan that should transform the college from a Maltese centre of excellence to a regional centre of excellence in professional and vocational education and training.