As part of its drive to bridge vocational education with the industry, for the second consecutive year the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) in collaboration with the Ministry for Education and Employment, today held its Annual National Conference.

The theme of this year's conference focuses upon the reform of the apprenticeship scheme, which aims to bring apprenticeship training to the centre of the local industry. 

A reform rooted upon a collaborative practice between MCAST and local industry which provides apprentices with high-quality underpinning knowledge that is indispensable for the growth of the local industry and economy.

Since its inception last August, the apprenticeship reform has achieved a highly positive response from the industry with over 350 industrial entities offering over 600 apprenticeship posts which vary across training fields offered by MCAST such as, Finance and Marketing, Electronics and Mechanical Engineering, Agriculture, Construction, Applied Science, Hairdressing & Beauty, and Sports.

At the end of the conference held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, the Minister for Education and Employment, Evarist Bartolo presented certificates to sponsoring apprenticeship partners authorizing them to use the MCAST Apprenticeship Partner Logo on their company's letterheads, websites and other official corporate material.