The MUT today wrote to the Minister for Education and Employment with reference to the proposed MCAST reform announced recently. The union has asked a series of questions, including whether this proposed reform is another fait accompli due to the fact that MCAST has already issued applications for Heads of Colleges when Lecturers have hardly had the time to digest proposals and the MUT has not submitted its feedback.

The union, in a statement, said it also asked about the roles of such Heads of Colleges and what the new role of Director of Institutes will entail, whether it makes sense to establish three colleges within an institution which is already a college and whether it makes sense to merge institutes to create an institute of a 1200+ population. The union asked how MCAST is going support this change and what the additional cost per annum of this reform will be.

In conclusion, the MUT stated that it will not allow changes in job descriptions or redundancies that may come into effect as a result of the proposed changes. The union concluded that it also expects MCAST to formulate and present a clear organigram and manpower plan for the proposed structure.

In reply, MCAST said has always been open to feedback to the important change it is implementing. This has always been the case and will continue to be so. Over the last weeks, MCAST has undergone a process of meeting as many of its stakeholders as possible in order to explain the proposal and to listen to feedback. These included MUT officials, MUT Council, UHM Officials representing administrative and support staff, MCAST Directors and Deputy Directors, MCAST Administrative and support staff, MCAST Academic Staff per institute (meetings are ongoing as meetings are being held in groups per Institute), MCAST student organisations.

During these meetings, key aspects of the change were explained to all including the different roles of the Heads of Colleges and the links between the Colleges and the different Institutes.  In general feedback given during all these meeting was positive and very encouraging. A number of suggestions were made some of which were taken on board and incorporated into the proposed changes.  The discussion developing from these feedback sessions has also been of great benefit in the development of the structures which will be underpinning this important change.

During these sessions it was continuously emphasised that all MCAST lecturers will continue working under exactly the same conditions as present, as staff members of the different institutes, and will continue performing lecturing duties as MCAST lecturers in all programmes falling under the remit of any of the three above mentioned colleges.  It was also emphasised that all MCAST administrative and support staff will retain all their present conditions.  This point was strongly reiterated during all meetings with union officials and at all times MCAST has clearly stated that as a result of this transformation no staff member will be made redundant. On the contrary, this change process will bring about new and exciting opportunities to all staff members.

To ensure a strong continuity all present courses and programmes will continue running without any interruption whatsoever and for next academic year all present programmes and courses will run as planned.

Key aspects of the proposed changes

MCAST has a wide ranging and unique remit in the post-secondary sector.  Within the Malta Qualifications Framework, MCAST provides level 1 and 2 Foundation programmes for students who may have left formal schooling without any formal qualifications with the aim of helping them to at least achieve a level 3 Vocational qualifications and possibly even more. MCAST also provides level 4 courses to students who may wish to enter employment at the technician level or who may aspire to continue their studies at a higher degree level. Finally, MCAST offers  courses at level 5 and 6 in which students aim to achieve a first degree.

All of these different levels are an important and vital part of MCAST’s mission. In order to strengthen each one of these different levels, it has been felt that MCAST’s structure needs to develop further in order to cater in a better manner for the needs of our students at different levels.

MCAST remains as one organisation

MCAST will remain as one organisation incorporating all these levels and emphasising the possibility of one continuous and strong pathway between the different levels.

One organisation, three colleges

The aim of having three. These will be:

·         The Foundation college which will cater for students attending programmes at level 1,2 & 3

·         The Technical College which will cater for students attending level 4 programmes

·         The University College which will cater for students attending level 5 and 6 programmes and eventually Level 7 programmes.

In order to maximise synergies between different vocational areas, within the context of these changes, the proposal envisages that MCAST will have six institutes which will be servicing the three different colleges.

MCAST is working hard to ensure that all support will be given to the Colleges and the Institutes to ensure that students and staff will have the necessary resources and back up required. MCAST strongly feels that this change will further strengthen its ability to meet the different needs of its students at different levels.

As always MCAST is always willing to meet with MUT to explain any issues further and to clarify any issues the union may have .