“We are at the MCAST campus in Gozo to launch two documents of national importance. We have also come here to mark the government’s investment in the island of Gozo. I recently announced an investment of €35 million being made in our schools in Gozo, and today I am also announcing that we are working on a more ambitious, multi-million project to have a new MCAST campus which, along with various other works at hand, represents a seven-fold increase over the last year, a confirmation of the investment that the government is making and of the commitment that the government has in Gozo.”
This was stated by Minister for Education Justyne Caruana as she launched the document ‘MCAST Strategic Plan for the years 2022-2027’ together with Professor James Joachim Calleja, Principal and Chief Executive of MCAST. Additionally, in the coming days a bill will be tabled in parliament to further strengthen MCAST.
The Ministry for Education is working in full synergy with the educational institutions which offer both vocational and tertiary education, to continue working towards a full and holistic education. Minister Caruana explained that, as Minister for Education, she is looking at the future of MCAST on various levels; infrastructure development, enhancing the quality of teaching; and attracting more students from the secondary level to MCAST.
Minister Caruana said that various consultations have been held about the strategy, both internal and external, in order for it to be comprehensive and to shape the need of our country in the field of education.
The Minister recalled MCAST’s development in the last 20 years; 40,000 students, 1,739 companies collaborating with MCAST, a population of 1,500 full-time and part-time employees, and 33 externally funded projects amounting to €3.2 million. She recalled that a few weeks ago, during another visit to this campus, she had announced an investment of around €190,000 in new equipment and an investment of more than €60,000 in a modern and advanced videoconferencing and collaborative learning system, as well as new courses.
The strategy announced today continues to strengthen what has been achieved over the last 20 years by this educational institution.
Professor James Joachim Calleja said that every year MCAST takes the opportunity to be at the forefront of economic development and to take the necessary decisions to help shape the labour market. This strategy will further better, strengthen and expand what this institution has to offer.
