The course, wholly sponsored and organised jointly by the Employment and Training Corporation and Malta Enterprise in collaboration with the University’s Department of Chemistry, was launched after it had been noticed that foreign pharmaceutical companies, locating their manufacturing operations in Malta, were not finding the necessary skilled human resources.

The ETC, Malta Enterprise and the Department of Chemistry of the University of Malta agreed to collaborate and came up with this new joint initiative – the launching of a basic Chemical Technology Operators course. Together with the top executives of the local pharmaceutical manufacturing companies, the ETC, Malta Enterprise and the University gave a presentation to some 80 unemployed youths which provided details of the course and the career opportunities the industry offers.

The 75-hour course programme was delivered at the Department of Chemistry of the University between March and July this year. The training was industry-focused with both theoretical and practical instruction given in the following subjects: basic chemical concepts and techniques; good manufacturing practices; health and safety and documentation; packaging and warehouse operations; finished dosage; active ingredients manufacture.

The sessions comprised formal teaching, demonstrations and laboratory work aimed at acquiring basic skills for chemical/pharmaceutical production facilities. The theoretical instruction was complemented by hands-on practice on production problems.

Upon completion of the full programme, participants were assessed, and the many that succeeded were granted a certificate endorsed by the Department of Chemistry, University of Malta.

The certified students have already been called for interviews by local pharmaceutical manufacturing companies. Moreover, these successful trainees are now equipped to work in a number of manufacturing

sectors besides pharmaceuticals where quality control, health and safety standards and good manufacturing practices are the norm. Once in employment, they will have ample opportunity for further on-the-job training with very attractive career prospects thereafter.

This ETC-Malta Enterprise-University collaborative initiative showed that:

• The University and the ETC can respond promptly and appropriately to the needs of the industry;

• Malta Enterprise is no longer solely focused on bringing foreign direct investment to Malta but also on the parallel development of the infrastructural requirements (in particular the human resources) of the companies that locate here;

• The availability of suitably qualified human resources for this sector will enhance Malta’s attractiveness as an internationally competitive location and will therefore generate further demand for skilled human resources.

Present for the certificate presentation were Mr John Camilleri (CEO, ETC), Mr Philip Micallef (CEO Malta Enterprise), Prof. A J Vella (University of Malta), Mr Joe Cutajar (Senior Manager ETC), Charles Zammit (Executive ETC).