MCAST marks 25 years of vocational and professional education
MCAST has opened a new academic year in a special year for the College, as it commemorates its 25th anniversary. The opening ceremony, themed Gratitude while Looking Ahead , brought together students, educators, staff and alumni at the MCAST Main Campus in Paola.
Since its establishment in 2001, MCAST has continued to grow and is today the leading institution in Malta for vocational and professional education and training, with programmes leading from certificate to doctorate.
Minister for Education and Sport Byron Camilleri, who addressed the ceremony, said that this anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate what has been achieved in these 25 years, but above all to look towards the generation of students who will continue to write the next chapter of MCAST.
“Be proud of the vocational choice you have made. It is no less a choice than any other educational path. Our country needs the skills, talents and professions for which you are preparing. Here you have a place where you can not only learn a trade or profession, but where you can grow, discover what you are good at and build your future. You students, seize the opportunities that will be before you, believe in your abilities and do not be afraid to try. The choice you have made today can take you much further than you think,” said Minister Camilleri.
He also appealed to MCAST to remember in every decision it makes the purpose for which MCAST was founded and exists.
MCAST Principal and Chief Executive Stephen Vella reflected on the College’s journey over the past 25 years and on the experience that MCAST wants to continue to offer its students.
“This year has a particular meaning for us. On 28 September 2001, MCAST welcomed its first group of students and since then thousands of students, lecturers, staff, researchers and professionals have passed through this College and made their contribution to what MCAST is today. But a good College is not measured only by the number of graduates, the projects it carries out or the buildings it inaugurates. It is also measured by the experience we give to every person who enters these doors – whether they feel they have a place here, whether their voice is heard and whether they are given the opportunity to grow. After 25 years we have much to be grateful for, but the best way to honour what was built before us is by looking forward with determination, while always keeping the person at the centre of everything we do,” said Vella.
Minister Camilleri stated that vocational education plays an important role in preparing young people for a changing world of work, but also in their development as individuals. He said that education does not stop with the certificate, but should also build confidence, resilience, teamwork and the capacity to adapt to new realities.
Noah Camilleri, MCAST student and Secretary General of the MCAST Student Council, said, “As we begin a new academic year in a year in which MCAST is celebrating its 25th anniversary, we would like to wish all students a great year. We encourage every student to not only make the most of their studies, but also to be more active in the academic and student life of the College. The MCAST experience goes beyond what we learn in the classroom, and therefore we encourage students to participate, make their voices heard and make the most of this experience.”
Investment in MCAST has continued to grow in recent years. In April 2025, a new collective agreement was signed with an investment of over €45 million in the College’s staff and lecturers, while around €33 million was invested in the second phase of the MCAST Campus Masterplan , which includes new facilities and a more modern learning environment.
At the same time, MCAST is continuing to broaden the pathways available to students. In 2025, the Institute of Crafts was established, offering practical learning directly linked to the world of work, while in 2026 the first MCAST graduates were awarded the engineer’s warrant, a milestone that further strengthened the parity of esteem between different educational pathways.
The focus is now on the next phase. In the coming weeks, MCAST will launch its Vision 2030 , with a focus on digital innovation, industry-relevant programmes and more hands-on and innovative learning opportunities. An Artificial Intelligence strategy will also be launched, with the aim of integrating this technology responsibly and practically into the College’s teaching, research and operations.
The ceremony was also addressed by MCAST Principal and Chief Executive Stephen Vella and Chairman of the Board of Governors Horace Laudi. The programme, which placed the human experience of MCAST at the centre of the 25th anniversary, also included the participation of alumni of the College.
Photos: DOI/MES
