MCAST principal and CEO, Professor James Calleja was earlier this month elected as the new president of the European Forum of Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
The organisation was set up in 1991 as a European non-governmental organisation that serves a network of 1,500 VET providers in 24 countries serving 750,000 teachers and over 25 million learners. Its main activities are advocacy, participation in research activities and sharing of good practices in VET across Europe.
EfVET is one of the leading European-wide professional associations of VET providers. Its policy and strategy is shaped, formulated and implemented by its members. EfVET collaborates but is independent of all government and funding bodies deriving its income from membership subscription, grants and sponsorships. It holds its annual conference in October to which over 200 members participate.
Prof. Calleja has been involved in vocational education and training since 2001. He served as director of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) from 2013 to 2018, prior to which he served as permanent secretary of the Ministry of Education and Employment (2011-2013).
In 2005 he was entrusted with the setting up of the Malta Qualifications Council where he served as its chief executive for five years. Under his leadership, Malta launched its National Qualifications Framework and related legislation leading to the validation of informal and non-formal learning, quality assurance and accreditation.
He has been Malta's delegate on the EQF Advisory Board, the Bologna Follow-Up Group and Cedefop's Governing Board.
As EfVET's new president, Prof. Calleja will shape and communicate the vision of EfVET while participating in different European forums and representing EfVET member's views and interests.
Following his appointment Prof. Calleja commented: "This is an important recognition of Malta and its vocational college, MCAST. Our visibility among European VET providers will increase considerably and will open up wider opportunities for staff and students to participate in international forums and work-based learning experiences across many European countries. Besides being a personal achievement to be entrusted with the headship of this important network, contacts with European VET providers will add value to MCAST and to vocational education and training in Malta."