As happens regularly at this precise time of year, the Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology (MCAST) presents a new list of part-time courses. This time round, the possibilities of further training are truly there for the taking, with well over 290 different options due to open in spring 2016. Feeling truly spoilt for choice, I head to Paola's campus to meet with Ing. Louis Aquilina, who directs the Partnerships Office at MCAST. He speaks about the new courses and what we can all expect to see in the courses prospectus booklet which all households are due to receive in the coming days.

"Every year on a bi-annual basis, MCAST prepares a copious list of courses which start at the very basic level as hobby courses and span through to fully accredited courses up to the level of Bachelor's Degree. A very novel course being launched this March, is the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Banking Practice & Management training which is being offered jointly with the ifs University College of the UK."

After the strategic move in June 2015 which saw the previous 10 MCAST Institutes downsized to a total of six, MCAST is seeing each of its six Institutes launching their own set of courses. So how are course topics selected? Ing Aquilina says, "There are regular courses which happen as a matter of fact because they are so very popular. A case in point is Interior Home Design for instance. Agribusiness courses have certainly caught the attention of people, as has all the DIY range of courses we offer. Other very popular vocational educational training includes salon management, complete nail art, pastel techniques.......Most of the courses are hands-on as are those linked to childcare, engineering, laboratory work, rubble wall building or pruning of trees."

"We carry out attentive exercises to attract students and it seems we are truly hitting the nail on the head, since we now enjoy an attendance of over 5,000 students a year, just on our part-time courses. Each course is submitted to a stringent Quality Assurance Procedure and if it is not up to scratch, we sometimes opt not to issue such course, until it is re-designed to fit the bill. It is all part of our aim to raise and maintain high levels of education. But repeat custom only helps reflect our good quality courses, year in, year out. And in actual fact 50% of courses on offer manage to run successfully every season. We are sometimes also faced with the phenomenon of applicants submitting their applications even beyond the extent of the indicated closing date."

"As every training course being created is designed on the basis of feedback received  from students, academics and members of the industry,  course material is very often reflecting what  employers require most of their employees within very specific categories, and what individual self-employed feel they need in order to reach competitive levels within the local and extended market. Bespoke courses for industry are truly created ad-hoc according to current trends and needs. Accredited courses at various MQF (Malta Qualifications Framework) levels are very popular since they all ultimately help to improve and influence employment possibilities.  All tutors are usually Maltese and qualified experts in their unique field and resources are there to complement the courses. Consider for instance that at MCAST we have the facilities of using 12 different laboratories for the Applied Sciences courses."

MCAST offers training at MQF (Malta Qualifications Framework) Levels 1 - 6  with most of the part-time courses ranging between  Levels 1 -  4. Certificates of attendance are given out to candidates who attain at least 80% attendance for 'hobby courses'. Higher level courses lead to a certificate of achievement at the appropriate MQF level. Exams, assignments or projects validate such a qualification depending on the awarding body's criteria.

Deciding to opt for part-time training with MCAST is truly a superb opportunity to try something new, to improve on what one has and to move on in life.

 

Applications are open between Monday 22 February through to Friday 11 March, 2016. Find applications online via shortcourses.mcast.edu.mt or simply post in the application form retrieved from the free prospectus booklet distributed to all homes; or by go directly to apply at MCAST Main Campus in Paola or at Ghajnsielem in Gozo during the same period. For more updates visit the MCAST  facebook page Facebook.com/mcastparttimecourses