The Malta Qualifications Council was set up to create a national qualifications framework for Malta and ensure that vocational and educational training will lead to local and international recognition. Malta Qualifications Council acting chief executive officer JAMES CALLEJA tells Juan Ameen what it is all about.

Malta Qualifications Council (MQC) acting chief executive officer James Calleja carefully explained that the main objective of the MQC is to develop a national qualifications framework for lifelong learning. It is also to oversee the training and certification leading to qualifications within the framework and which is not already provided for at compulsory education institutions or degree awarding bodies.

The MQC was set up by the Youth, Education and Employment Ministry through a legal notice published in 2005, and the first council meeting was held last year.

“The aim of a national qualifications framework (NQF) is to facilitate learning by providing clearly-defined routes for qualifications from the lowest to the highest qualification in a single framework,” said Dr Calleja.

The NQF will provide learners with a clear map of all available levels of qualifications: of entry and exit points at every level of qualifications as well as levels of qualifications by sector and by occupation.

The proposed guide to Malta’s national qualifications framework for lifelong learning is based on the eight-level system of the European qualifications framework, explained Dr Calleja.

Each of the eight levels is defined by a description indicating the learning outcomes relevant to the award of a qualification at that level in any system of qualification.

Malta’s national qualifications framework is structured to accommodate compulsory, vocational and higher education. Levels One to Three reflect the successful completion of compulsory education whereas Levels Four to Five are levels of qualifications associated with vocational education and training. Levels Six to Eight are levels in higher education with Level Six representing a Bachelor’s degree and Level Eight a Doctoral Degree.

The learning outcomes are statements of what a learner knows, understands and is able to do on completion of the learning process and is defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence, he added.

Dr Calleja explained that the eight-level system was developed at European level following analysis of evidence from research, from structures of work practice in companies and from the Bologna agreements of the cycles in higher education.

It was found that an eight-level structure was also the closest match to the main national qualifications structures in many European countries and has met with wide consensus among all EU member states.

“Both processes came under one framework which needs to be adopted by all EU member states,” he said.

“We have to create an alternative route for people who did not follow the standard secondary, higher-secondary and tertiary system,” said Dr Calleja. “We have to create a system of vocational educational training (VET) for those who didn’t manage to make it through the traditional route.”

The system will open learning and achievement to students of all levels and all ages.

“Students who do not have one ‘O’ level but just a school-leaving certificate or are illiterate will also be able to take up VET,” he said. “Level One of the NQF requires no qualifications at its entry point.”

The national qualifications framework is proposing a restructuring in the VET system in which learners may now achieve qualifications on a five-level tier system with the lowest being a VET Foundation Level One and the highest a VET Advanced Diploma which would be comparable to a Higher Education Diploma or Certificate or the Foundation Degree.

Levels Three and Four are defined as Basic VET Certificate and Inter-mediate VET Diploma respectively. Learners may enter at any level of the qualifications framework as long as they respect the minimum entry requirements defined by the Malta Qualifications Council, said Dr Calleja.

A full Matriculation Certificate is expected to be comparable to an Intermediate VET Diploma.

Each level of VET is a package and is made up of three main components: the content, practice and key competence, explained Dr Calleja.

The eight levels will describe what someone is capable of doing rather than what he or she has learnt or has been taught, he added.

In other words, the national qualifications framework will provide a common language to describe the qualifications provided in all education institutions in Malta.

This is of great advantage to everyone as it will ease progression from one level of qualification to another and make the whole process more transparent, said Dr Calleja.

Furthermore, it will allow all individuals irrespective of their level of knowledge, skills and competences to enter into a qualifications framework which meets the needs of the individual and those of the economy.

At present, the MQC is holding a consultation period, which will end in April 2007, with all stakeholders to discuss the proposed NQF.

“We have already met several organisations and their feedback was very positive,” said Dr Calleja.

“In the coming weeks we will also meet various representatives from the industry sector.”

However, he urged all those who are interested to contact the MQC to discuss the proposed qualifications framework.

“It is in everyone’s interest to become involved in the NQF as it will facilitate employability,” said Dr Calleja.

“The industry knows what type of workers it needs and these can be found through the NQF.”

Another advantage of the NQF is increased mobility in the EU.

“The red tape to study in other EU countries will be greatly reduced as the educational value of the degree will be the same in all countries,” said Dr Calleja.

“Not only will it become the common language for qualifications, but it will also facilitate the employability of a person.

“An employer will see what level of education a person has and see what he or she is capable of doing.”

Dr Calleja believes the VET will provide a greater motivation for people to learn.

“People will attend VET to learn out of their own free choice and these are usually more motivated to learn,” he said.

“Each qualification should relate to a job description – not only will it make it easier for the employer when they will recruit someone but the worker will be able to know what they can achieve,” added Dr Calleja.

The MQC is already collaborating with the Institute for Tourism Studies to relate the different levels of qualifications to a job description.

This system will also create greater transparency as to what each qualification is worth and Dr Calleja believes that it should be done for all sectors of society.

He also pointed out that these qualifications should be industry-driven.

“I strongly believe that the industry should become more involved in the process because eventually it is up to it to dictate what type of workers it needs.”

However, will the alternate system suffer from a stigma because it does not follow the traditional academic route?

“VET might suffer in the beginning or be looked down upon,” said Dr Calleja.

“However, we are working hard to ensure that the two systems are on the same level but passing through different routes, and I believe that in the long run, the VET will become very successful because it will train the people needed for the country’s industry.”

The VET system will be more balanced and also include hands-on work experience, he said.

This will be an asset to students who will look for employment, as the industry is more interested in employing someone who already has hands-on experience in the job, said Dr Calleja.

Lifelong learning is not only limited to people who are 40 years and over, he added.

“According to EU statistics, everyone will have to continue their education or else they will be out of a job,” said Dr Calleja.

For more information visit the Malta Qualifications Council website on www.mqc.gov.mt.