Twenty-four MCAST students have been presented with a diploma in Quantity Surveying from MCAST, which organised the course under the auspices of the internationally recognised College of Estate Management UK.
The Diploma in Quantity Surveying is a part-time course spread over three years. Opened in 2001, it is a continuous professional development course for adults already working in the construction industry and is a product of an agreement between MCAST and the College of Estate Management UK.
This agreement allows MCAST graduates to apply for the degree in Quantity Surveying at Reading University, on either a full-time or distance learning basis. MCAST graduates are allowed to enter the third year of this degree course, therefore benefiting from an exemption of two years. Of the 24 students, five have already applied and have been accepted for the degree course. Both the College of Estate Management and Reading University are renowned institutions in the Construction Sector.
With this diploma, all graduates become eligible to apply for membership of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). A logbook will be issued, including the Tech.RICS Card, on completion of the necessary work experience. This will automatically allow the holder to work at technician level in Quantity Surveying in the UK.
This course, which provides new opportunities in the construction industry in Malta, will open again in October for both females and males.
Newly appointed MCAST chairman Paul Attard described MCAST as a pillar for lifelong learning.
He emphasised that those who already have a job should continue their education in order to improve their qualifications. Mr Attard also spoke about recognition of prior learning, which means that institutes need to acknow-ledge and recognise the ability and skill acquired through work experience.
MCAST Building and Construction Engineering director James Pearsall said that there are very positive prospects for the construction industry in Malta. In recent years, the value added in the construction industry has increased to Lm3.5 million.
College Principal Frank Edwards said that this course was another major step towards MCAST becoming a community college.
Education Minister Louis Galea said that MCAST was consistently proving to be a valid partner to local industry by supplying the trained human resources that are needed.
When MCAST was created, said Dr Galea, the construction industry had emphasised the need for a Quantity Surveying course.
Through its partnership with the UK training institution, MCAST had responded and filled the gap that had been felt for quite some time.
He pointed out that the college was similarly responding to the needs of the pharmaceutical, ICT and aerospace sectors. Such an effective response, said Dr Galea, is only possible through the excellent relationships that MCAST has with local industry, and its strong partnerships with foreign institutions of repute in their specialised fields.