European, Global and intercultural dimension in curriculum development
The National Lifelong Learning Strategy 2023-2030 prioritises social empowerment and aims to uplift vulnerable populations through diverse lifelong learning (LLL) opportunities. It plays a vital role in achieving national targets, including increasing employment rates and adult participation in learning while reducing poverty and social exclusion. LLL is no longer optional but essential in a rapidly changing world, as its benefits extend beyond individuals to society, industry, and the nation. The strategy focuses on three pillars:
Pillar I: Enhance access for vulnerable adult groups, measure basic skills, and offer personalised learning with increased financial support.
Pillar II: Diversify learning options through community, work-based, and informal pathways, focusing on skill development, active citizenship, and recognition of prior learning.
Pillar III: Ensure quality provision by professionalising adult educators, monitoring courses, and providing independent guidance for informed decision-making.
The National Strategy for Lifelong Learning 2023-2030 prioritises social empowerment and promotes European, intercultural and global dimensions in lifelong learning (LLL) endeavours. It acknowledges the importance of addressing transnational challenges and opportunities, thereby contributing to the European and global agendas for sustainable development and social cohesion. Through initiatives such as collaborative research projects, joint educational programmes, and participation in international networks and partnerships, the strategy seeks to enhance cross-cultural understanding and promote global citizenship among learners and educators.
Lifelong Learning Courses
The Directorate for Lifelong Learning and Employability (DLE) offers a broad spectrum of courses for adults aged 15 and above, aligned with the National Lifelong Learning Strategy 2023-2030 and the National Education Strategy 2024-2030. The DLE delivers over 400 courses annually, with more than 7000 adult learners enrolled.
The programme offers a range of language courses at different levels. Participants can choose from twelve languages: Maltese, English, German, Spanish, Italian, French, Russian, Arabic, Greek, Turkish, Chinese, and Japanese. Over 3,400 individuals enrolled in these language courses during the 2023-2024 academic year.
Recognising the challenges faced by shift workers, the programme introduced new accredited online courses in English and Maltese at the MQF1 level in 2024. These courses combine live online sessions with pre-recorded materials. Participants are required to attend at least 40% of live classes and complete assigned tasks for both live and recorded content.
‘I Belong’ Programme
The Intercultural and Anti-Racism Unit within the Human Rights Directorate acts as the central support system for migrant integration efforts. The unit offers the 'I Belong' Programme, aligned with the Migrant Integration Strategy & Action Plan (Vision 2020), which prioritises language proficiency and cultural awareness to facilitate integration. Funded partially by the European Union's Asylum, Migration, and Integration Fund 2021-2027, the initiative aims to foster inclusive integration practices in Malta. The unit collaborates with MCAST and the University of Malta, to offer Maltese and English language courses, alongside cultural orientation sessions, in two stages.
Stage 1, termed the Pre-Integration Certificate, includes courses in Maltese language, English language, and cultural orientation, each spanning 20 hours. Completion of Stage 1 allows progression to Stage 2, the Integration Certificate, essential for Long-Term Residence Status. Stage 2 involves advanced language and cultural orientation courses.
Moreover, foundational courses in English, Maltese, and Digital Literacy are provided to support access to the primary programme. The application process entails submission, registration, a personalised integration plan, course attendance, and certification.
Blue Door Education
Blue Door Education, a voluntary organisation in Malta, has been providing free literacy, language, and life skills classes to adult refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants since 2013 under the mission of St. Andrew's Scots Church. It became a registered NGO in 2021. Education is viewed as a pathway to social advancement, with each acquired skill potentially leading to improved living conditions and opportunities for individuals. The organisation’s hands-on courses aim to assist refugees and asylum seekers referred by social workers in rebuilding their lives in their new environment. During the last school year, their services were used by more than 250 people.
Beyond education, the organisation emphasises community building, providing a supportive and inclusive environment for learners to connect, express themselves, and access local services. Additionally, practical assistance such as CV development, banking, transportation, and course enrolment is offered to facilitate the transition. Representatives from other organisations are also invited to provide information on educational opportunities and community events, further empowering learners to engage with their new surroundings.
Kopin
Since 2010, Kopin has been supporting asylum seekers and refugees in Malta, especially during the challenges intensified by the Covid-19 pandemic. In collaboration with Maltese partner organisations, Kopin offers emergency assistance services and educational support, with a special focus on children and young adults. Their services provided include providing basic needs, facilitating integration or inclusion support and offering information on social and educational services, as well as assisting with education and job-seeking.
Kopin's "Ibda L-Bidla" programme has been a significant initiative offering classroom activities and teacher training focused on migration, sustainable development, and inclusion. Over 1,000 students have participated, and nearly 400 teachers have been trained through the programme. These activities are aligned with various subjects and cover topics like discrimination, sustainable development goals, and multiculturalism, catering to different age groups. While the educational resources developed within the "Ibda L-Bidla" project are still available for free on Kopin's website, no school sessions were provided in the last year due to resource limitations.
Kopin continues to collaborate with the Institute for Education (IfE) to offer various modules covering themes such as migration, hate speech, multiculturalism, and racism. These modules allow educators to enhance their knowledge and skills at their own pace. Additionally, between 2022/2023, Kopin, in partnership with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) office in Malta, the Migrant Learners' Unit, and the Institute for Education, offered the accredited course "Rethinking School Practices for Diverse Classrooms." In 2024 Kopin provided training on global education materials and methodologies to teachers of European Studies.
Currently, Kopin serves as one of the national coordinators, alongside a representative of MEYR, for the Global Education Week initiative spearheaded by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe. Additionally, Kopin has two upcoming projects at the end of 2024 that will focus on global education and raising awareness on issues related to human rights, migration, sustainability, and gender equality, both in the formal and informal sectors.
Kopin's work is primarily supported by the European Union. The organization partners with various civil society organizations in Malta, including as a member of the Malta Refugee Council. Notable partnerships with organizations such as Integra Foundation, aditus, and Jesuit Refugee Service Malta enhance Kopin's service delivery, particularly in areas like refugee support and integration.
Kopin's advocacy efforts focus on lobbying for migrant rights, especially for Children on the Move, and actively participating in networks and campaigns for social justice. Funding support for these programmes also comes from the Global Whole Being Fund, PaperSeed Foundation, and generous contributions from individual and business donors.
Partnerships and Networks
The Directorate for Lifelong Learning in Malta coordinated the Check-In Take-off (CITO) project, a collaborative effort involving five organisations from three European countries, Malta, Ireland and Norway, with a strong record in adult education. This project, which ran from 2019 to 2022, focused on policy experimentation with regard to developing a user-friendly Skills-Checker tool for adults.
The CITO project aimed to empower adults by enabling them to self-assess their basic skills in literacy, numeracy, and digital literacy. This user-friendly Skills-Checker tool, which is still available, provided valuable insights for individuals, guiding them towards appropriate flexible learning opportunities and recognition of prior learning experiences. Additionally, CITO sought to raise awareness among stakeholders of the importance of addressing literacy, numeracy, and digital skills needs within adult education.