2025

University of Malta organises inaugural Global Health Summit

On 31 July and 1 August 2025, Malta hosted the first Global Health Summit, organised by the University of Malta’s Department of Public Health in collaboration with the University of Central Florida’s College of Medicine. The theme was “Harnessing Data and Multilateral Collaborations to Advance Population Health.”

The summit brought together international experts to discuss data-driven strategies, multilateral cooperation, public health policy challenges, and systems strengthening. The programme included keynote addresses by Maltese public health experts, panel discussions, and sessions on research priorities and funding opportunities.

Three Ghanaian students, supported by Overseas Development Assistance and hosted in Malta through the NGO HopeXchange Malta Foundation, presented their experiences. HopeXchange Malta Foundation is a Malta-based organisation working to improve access to healthcare in underserved communities, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Discussions also covered themes such as migrant health, infectious disease management, digital innovation, and the importance of sustained investment in resilient health systems.

New ITS Collective Agreement

In June 2025, the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS) has signed a new collective agreement with the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) for its academic staff. The agreement includes salary increases, accelerated career progression, new allowances, and the introduction of Professorship for eligible academic grades. It aims to enhance employment conditions, support professional development, and provide a stronger teaching and learning environment, while also contributing to the student experience.

MCAST Youth Hub

In May 2025, a newly refurbished Youth Hub was opened at the MCAST main campus in Paola, providing students with a modern space for personal, social, and educational development. The facility, located in Students’ House, includes seating zones, games, workstations, and a new office for the MCAST Students’ Council (KSM).

The Youth Hub will also house Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, which has been active at MCAST since 2013. The agency provides non-formal education services through activities such as games, thematic discussions, workshops, and life skills sessions. It also collaborates with KSM through leadership training, joint events, and capacity-building initiatives. The Hub will additionally host Youth Info outreach on topics such as mental health and democratic participation.

New MCAST Collective Agreement

In April 2025, the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) reached an agreement with the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) on a new collective agreement and subsequent investment of over €45 million. The agreement includes substantial salary increases, improved working conditions, accelerated career progression, and new allowances for educators and staff.

The agreement also introduces, for the first time, the title of Professor for eligible academic grades. Beyond employment conditions, the agreement places emphasis on enhancing classroom quality and student welfare. MCAST students who continue their studies beyond the compulsory age are entitled to an annual grant of €500 for up to three years, totalling €1,500. Finally, the government confirmed the reopening of the MCAST Institute for the Trades in the next vocational year.

Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology signs three MoUs

January 2025, Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) signed three memoranda of understanding in a bid to improve its services. The first was with Women in Aviation Malta (WiAM), the purpose of which is to inspire and support more young women in Malta to pursue careers in aviation. This initiative addresses gender imbalances and seeks to unlock untapped potential in the aviation sector. 

The second MoU was signed with the Chamber of Engineers. This shall strengthen engineering collaboration, by fostering closer ties between the two institutions, promoting advancements in engineering education and practice. 

The third MoU MCAST signed was with the Research and School Internal Review Directorate within MEYR. Through this agreement, MEYR pledges to provide a €100,000 grant to support MCAST in launching a scheme for a Research Fellowship Programme on the topics of Smart Manufacturing, Sustainable use of Resources for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, Future Digital Technologies, as well as Health and Well-being. 

Launch of Veterinary Course at MCAST

As of September 2024, MCAST’s Agribusiness Centre secured a strategic partnership with the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, to begin offering a course in veterinary studies. This veterinary degree is a five-year course that integrates theoretical and practical learning. This initiative includes considerations for acquiring a government-run animal hospital to enhance campus facilities, aiming to provide comprehensive education and practical experience in veterinary studies. 

New Qualifications launched by the Institute for Education (IfE)

In September 2024, the Institute for Education (IfE) expanded its portfolio of full qualifications by introducing two new postgraduate degree qualifications for professionals working in the field of education and those aspiring to become warranted educational psychologists.

 The Master of Science in Addressing Adolescents with Divergent Behaviour (MQF 7, 90 ECTS) was designed specifically for professionals working with young people exhibiting such behaviour. Through a multidisciplinary approach, the programme emphasizes the development of practical strategies for prevention, intervention, advocacy, and support for this vulnerable population within various settings, including schools, community organizations, and juvenile justice systems. The programme includes two field placements within the Centre of Residential Restorative Services (CoRRs) and Learning Support Centres.

 The Master of Psychology in Child and Educational Psychology (MQF 7, 120 ECTS) was developed as a four-year part-time programme in close collaboration with School Psychological Services and is officially recognised by the Malta Psychology Profession Board. Throughout this programme, participants will develop their professional knowledge and competencies in several psychological assessments, their interpretations and therapeutic intervention skills. Through supervised placements, participants will be supported to apply, practice and consolidate theories and techniques learnt throughout the programme.

IfE Signs Agreement with Foundation for Educational Services (FES) 

The Institute for Education (IfE) continued its collaboration with the Foundation for Educational Services (FES) in delivering induction training to Playworkers and Child Support Workers. In 2024, there were ten cycles of training given to 324 Playworkers and 105 Child Support Workers. 

2024

National Strategic Action Plan for Further and Higher Education 2022-2030

The National Strategic Action Plan for Further and Higher Education 2022-2030 was launched on July 17 2024. This Strategic Action Plan outlines Malta’s priorities for further and higher education with a view to develop a "dynamic resilient knowledge ecosystem" by 2030, addressing both current and future challenges in the education sector. This strategy, which was developed through consultation with key stakeholders, institutions, post-secondary schools, and other interested parties, promises an "innovative, inclusive, and quality-driven" further and higher education sector.

The strategic plan places student wellbeing at its core and focuses on delivering a high-quality education system that enhances employment opportunities. It integrates Malta's context, identity, cultural heritage, and language across all objectives and targets. The goal is to maintain high-quality education that is accessible to all students, regardless of socioeconomic background, and responsive to their needs throughout their lives.

A key principle of the strategy is ensuring strong coordination among all stakeholders, with clear roles and responsibilities. The strategy encompasses seven main pillars, each providing recommended measures and targeted outcomes in priority areas:
•    Strengthening Policy Design and Governance
•    Quality Assurance and Transparency
•    Internationalisation and Mobility
•    Educational Attainment, Retention, and Completion
•    Relevance of Teaching, Learning, and Research
•    Widening Participation and Adult Learning
•    Exploring Emerging Opportunities.

Launch of Professional Doctorate in Educational Leadership

The University of Malta’s Faculty of Education launched the Professional Doctorate in Educational Leadership (EdD), which will commence in September 2024. This is the first professional Doctorate in Education offered in Malta. This program offers mid-career educators the opportunity to engage in a learning journey within a community of learners, fostering change and development within their respective organizations. The EdD, a Level 8 program, integrates theory, research, and practice.
The EdD program is unique in that its focus is on participants' day-to-day practices, helping them realize that even the most mundane decisions are rooted in theoretical perspectives. 

The professional doctorate aims to ensure that the broader theoretical perspectives explored in the program inform everyday dilemmas as well as the larger philosophical demands of leadership at all levels. This approach aims to foster effective educational leadership, which, while highly contextualized, is increasingly recognized as a crucial factor determining the success of educational organizations.

New allowance for parents of post-secondary students

As of June 7 2024, parents (including foster parents) of children aged 16-19 who continue their studies after secondary school shall receive a yearly allowance of €500 for up to three years. The initiative aims to strengthen and broaden Malta’s post-secondary educational achievement by encouraging parents to support their children's education, thereby equipping them with the tools for upward social mobility.

IfE Collective Agreement

In May 2024 a Collective Agreement for the Institute for Education (IfE) was concluded.

The IfE provides part-time courses, from Awards to Master's degree programmes, for those already in the teaching profession or aspiring educators who want to specialise in a particular area, take on managerial roles or further their professional development. As of April 2024, 360 students were reading for a qualification.

This agreement aims to enhance working conditions and financial terms. Additionally, the agreement ensures job security for employees and acknowledges the IFE as a premier educational institution.

MCAST and MCVS sign collective agreement

In May 2024, The Malta College of Arts, Science, and Technology (MCAST) and The Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS) signed a collaborative agreement, aiming to strengthen the cooperation, networking, and the sharing of knowledge between the two institutions. This agreement will enable MCAST and MCVS to work together to develop programs for volunteers and voluntary organisations, and cooperate in developing training guides and resources on the engagement and management of volunteers.

MCAST and MCVS will work in tandem to support active volunteering on the College Campus by establishing a physical presence of MCVS in collaboration with the Volunteer Support Team, MCVS, and the MCAST Events and Corporate Social Responsibility Department.

MCAST and the Malta Crafts Foundation sign a MOU to strengthen collaboration for the sustainability of the local artisan sector

The Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) and the Malta Crafts Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), in May 2024, pledging collaboration to enhance the awareness of traditional artisan trades and to strengthen education provision in innovative craftsmanship.

Furthermore, both entities will work together to identify apprenticeship and work placement opportunities in the sector, ensuring a practical and hands-on approach to learning.

2023

There was no major measure in this domain this year.