On 8 May MCAST and the Malta Maritime Forum signed a collaborative agreement which will strengthen the existing good relationship between the Maltese maritime industry and MCAST. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the Ministry for Education and Employment in the presence of Evarist Bartolo, Minister for Education and Employment.

The collaboration between both parties will continue to strengthen and upgrade the technical skills and competences of persons already working in the maritime sector by providing high- quality training programmes.

Through this partnership the Malta Maritime Forum will support MCAST in the Apprenticeship Scheme by promoting the scheme with the members of the MMF in order to provide work placement opportunities within the maritime sector for MCAST students.

The College will support the MMF by ensuring that's its maritime-related training programmes are always up-to-date and in line with the skills and competences required by the sector. This partnership will also provide training opportunities to students and individuals who wish to take up a career in the maritime sector.  

Both parties will nominate a liaison person/s to develop and coordinate specific activities agreed upon to organise the planning of specific educational units and clinical placements.

Dr Silvio De Bono, president of the MCAST Board of Governors, mentioned that a new programme for maritime students to work on super yachts is being developed in collaboration with the City of Glasgow College, thanks to European Union Funds.

Dr Joe Borg, chairman of the Malta Maritime Forum stated that the MMF will provide logistical help to the College so that it will be able to provide a high level of excellence in education to the maritime industry.  

Minister Bartolo stated that this collaboration is a clear example of how industry and educational institutions can work together to address any gaps.