The Ministry for Education has appointed former banker Horace Laudi as the President of the Board of Governors of the Malta College of Arts, Science, and Technology (MCAST) with immediate effect, following the resignation of Professor Ian Refalo.

A statement by the Ministry said that Laudi has held various positions within a local bank over a 39-year career, and in recent years, he has been entrusted with leading the Student Maintenance Grants Board within the Ministry for Education as Chairperson. 

"Laudi has driven forward the necessary changes and improvements in the operation and work of this board," the statement read.

The Ministry thanked Prof Refalo for his service as President of the MCAST Board of Governors over the past years. "The College is grateful to Professor Refalo for his valuable and professional work carried out for the benefit of the College and MCAST students," the Ministry said.

MCAST has been in the news recently as the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) ordered industrial action over stalled collective agreement talks, leading to the dispute lasting for over a month, and many students have been left without their exam marks.