2025

Non-formal Learning Opportunities for Adults in Malta & Gozo Funding Scheme

The Directorate for Lifelong Learning and Employability (DLE), through the EU Agenda for Adult Learning in Malta 2024/25 Project, launched the Non-Formal Learning Opportunities for Adults in Malta & Gozo Funding Scheme 2025, awarding nearly €20,000 to 20 organisations. Through this fund, these organisations will deliver community-based sessions that enrich cultural life, promote health, foster inclusion, and support skill development. With flexible and inclusive formats, the programmes aim to break down barriers and make lifelong learning accessible to all.

Two New Lifelong Learning Courses

In January 2024, the Directorate for Lifelong Learning and Employability (DLE) within the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Malta Crafts Foundation for DLE to deliver courses on artisan skills that are under threat of dying out locally. Through this MoU, DLE began providing the first course of on the traditional Maltese art of hand-painted lettering and sign writing (“Tberfil”) in February 2025. 

In February 2025, DLE also began offering the course ‘Python Foundations – a Practical Introduction for Beginners’, which introduces participants to a widely used programming language. 

2024

MCAST inaugurates new Educational Centre on Campus

The new Centre follows an agreement, signed in 2021, between MCAST Jiangsu Vocational College of Medicine (JSMC) and will operate under MCAST’s Institute of Community Services (ICS). Two modules have been developed by JSMC and will be delivered by JSMC lecturers. These modules will be made available at MCAST and will be included as part of MCAST’s provision of part-time courses commencing in the first quarter of 2024.

2023

National Strategy for Lifelong Learning 2023-2030

In November 2023, The Directorate for Lifelong Learning and Employability (DLE) within the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation (MEYR) launched the National Strategy for Lifelong Learning 2023-2030. The National Strategy outlines a comprehensive approach to enhancing the lives of adults through education and training. It recognizes the critical role of lifelong learning in today's dynamic world. 

The Strategy focuses on three key pillars, encompassing 50 actions and 16 measures:

1. Pillar I: Empowering low-skilled and low-qualified adults with improved educational opportunities.

2. Pillar II: Diversifying learning methods and opportunities through community, work-based, and non-formal approaches.

3. Pillar III: Ensuring the quality of lifelong learning courses through a paradigm shift in stakeholder collaboration.

To ensure effective implementation, the strategy employs a three-layer monitoring and evaluation system, emphasizing the collective effort of stakeholders to promote lifelong learning for all. The allocation of sufficient human and financial resources, combined with a holistic approach, is expected to pave the way for a more inclusive and prosperous society. 

Building upon previous iterations, this new strategy specifically aims to safeguard the well-being of underserved citizens vulnerable to social exclusion. It aims to support Malta in achieving its ambitious goals: 

• 57.6% of 25-64 year-olds participating in lifelong education courses, encompassing both formal and non-formal education within the community. 

• 86.4% of 20-64 year-olds being employed. 

• A 3.1% decrease in the number of 20-64 year-olds at risk of poverty by 2030. 

New initiatives targeting NEETs

In Q3 and Q4 of 2023, Jobsplus, the National Employment Agency, launched several initiatives targeted at people aged 18-29 who are not engaged in Employment, Education, or Training (NEETs). 

Jobsplus initiated the two new courses: Award in Digital Jobs Training and Award in Green Skills – The Four Challenges Experience. Each course leads to 5 ECTS pegged at Level 3 of the Malta Qualifications Framework (equivalent to EQF3), following accreditation by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA). These courses are provided free of charge.

The ALMA (Aim, Learn, Master, Achieve) project was launched, with a view to offer NEETS a comprehensive approach that aims to develop participants personally and professionally. Participants will be given non-formal training and mentoring, emphasizing soft skills, independence skills, and life skills, for a three-month period, followed by a two-month work placement in a European Union Member State. ALMA is one of the European Commission initiatives for the European Year of Youth 2022 and a key instrument in implementing the Reinforced Youth Guarantee. This project is led by Jobsplus and supported by the Ministry responsible for education and the Chamber of SMEs.

The atWork4NEETs project aims to identify and exchange good practices to improve the current policy tools to facilitate NEETs’ access to meaningful opportunities to improve their skills and find suitable jobs. The first phase of this project will conduct research (surveys, interviews) and workshops and meetings wherein good practices will be shared among the involved parties. The second phase will include a stakeholder discussion on possible solutions to enhance NEET employability. Recommendations for improving support given to NEETs will be made. Therefore, this project has implications for knowledge and practice. Atwork4NEETs is co-funded by Interreg Europe and was launched in July. Jobsplus is the lead partner of the project, and other partners include Anci Toscana, Ministries and Employment Service Agencies from Croatia, Romania, Slovenia, Luxembourg and Lithuania and Associated Authority Region of Tuscany.

Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology Act

In July, the Malta College of Arts, Science, and Technology Act (ACT No. XXXII of 2023 of the Laws of Malta) was enacted. The new Act invests the College with a body corporate having a distinct legal personality. It thus gives MCAST more autonomy as a centre of excellence in vocational education and training. The Act shall come into force on such date as the Minister responsible for education may, by notice in the Gazette, establish. Nevertheless, different dates may also be so established for different provisions and different purposes of the Act to come into force.

Publication of MFHEA Guidelines for Quality Assurance for Courses that include a Work-Based Learning Content

In July the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority published the Quality Guidelines on Work-Based Learning (WBL) to support local higher education institutions in ensuring that courses that include a work-based learning component, being extensive or limited, genuinely prepare prospective learners well for their long-term professional future.

MCAST joins the European University Alliance

In February, the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) joined a consortium of universities to create EU4Dual, the first Dual Study European University Alliance. EU4Dual brings together  academia and industry to collaborate in offering higher education programmes with a strong element of work-based learning. Through this collaboration, MCAST will offer two joint Master’s degree programmes and one dual doctorate programme. With a focus on the future of work, the green economy and healthy living, the objectives of the Alliance for the next four years are to:

-    Establish a cooperation mechanism to collaborate across borders on teaching, research and industry outreach around major societal challenges;

-    Launch a joint micro-credential portal, offering continuing career development and new skills created by our industry partners linked to our challenges and us;

-    Launch an ecosystem of joint research projects at micro, meso and macro-level supporting the development of societal challenges; and 

-    Create an unparalleled transnational work-based learning programme with strong support from local and global businesses.

The EU4DUAL, which is co-funded by the European Union ERASMUS+ programme,  brings together nine European multi-disciplinary universities or universities of applied sciences from Austria, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain and Malta. The project also includes over 35 industry partners from participating countries. The European Dual Studies University (EU4DUAL) alliance received €14.4 million euro. MCAST will receive € 1,035,212 euro in funding from the European Universities Initiative while the total funding including in-kind contribution by MCAST is €1,365,239 euro.

MCAST launches the STREAM Project

In February, the Malta College of Arts, Science, and Technology (MCAST) launched the STREAM Project, within the framework of the National Research and Innovation Strategy, to enhance access to and sharing of space-based data. Researchers using and exploiting satellite data, scientists, academics, students, and other foreign collaborators will benefit from the project. The project execution will be led by the scientific and technical inputs from the oceanography section at the Institute of Engineering and Transport (IET) within the College. The STREAM project is funded by the Space Research Fund, operated by the Malta Council for Science and Technology, intended to bring satellite earth observations closer to users by providing data on demand with access through dedicated downstream services over smartphones and iPads.