The decisions we take shape our lives, and the ability to take the right decisions early in life will help our young people build a future for themselves. It is up to us, however, to ensure that we have the right structures in place to encourage youngsters to dream and to plan their futures.

As children grow up, their dreams will start revolving around a passion for something specific, like working in an area they imagine would give them the most satisfaction. As they progress through their school years, they will start putting together some kind of plan for a ‘good’ future. This is a crucial yet delicate phase of our youngsters’ development, an important threshold with which they will need help to cross successfully. And here we must come in with the right support: we must provide the bridge between the dream and the plan. Yes, providing a good education is important, but we cannot stop there; education needs to be intrinsically linked to the realities of the working world. Establishing a firm correlation between theory and hands-on experience will prove invaluable to youngsters when making important decisions early in life, not least because it will enhance their employability.

However, to do this we need to refresh our approach to the role of education in such a way that it acknowledges the realities of the 21st century economy. Our educational system needs to be flexible enough to allow education providers to tap into young people’s passions to help them recognise their talent and fulfil their potential. We need to support young people to help them communicate their skills and attributes in a way that employers understand and value.

We need to ensure that young people understand the full range of jobs available to them and the qualifications required to obtain those jobs. They must learn more about the private sector, which is, after all, the source of a great proportion of new jobs. This is the only way in which we can effectively match their talents and interests to careers where their skills will be in demand and best rewarded. Careers education should assume greater importance in helping advise and educate young people as they make the choices that will shape their lives. Perhaps we should start talking about the world of work before they choose their subjects at school, not after the choice has already been made.

I have always believed that business and industry must support educational institutions in helping youngsters progress into working life. This inter-linkage used to work brilliantly at MCAST where, until recently, the Board of Governors was composed of a mix of people from academia and industry. Over time, and under the Board’s guidance, the college went on to introduce courses in areas where industry had pinpointed the need for personnel. During my 10-year stint as a member of MCAST’s Board of Governors, we did this in a very timely way; we were proactive and fully supported the apprenticeship scheme.

Although my professional life has given me much satisfaction, I am particularly happy to recall my experience at MCAST, especially because, over the years, this institution has served as a springboard for thousands of students who wanted to get a feel of working life. And the results were always very encouraging, with many students finding a job immediately after graduating.

Choosing a fulfilling career is a determining factor in each person’s life. Helping young people make the right choices and training them to succeed in their jobs is essential. And if, in doing so, we also manage to instill in them a passion for enterprise in whatever they do, then the sky will be the limit for each and every one of them.