The Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (Mcast) recently launched the prospectus of courses it will be offering at its nine institutes in Malta and its Gozo centre during the 2008-09 academic year.
A copy may be collected from any local council or the Information and Support Centre at the Mcast main campus, Corradino Hill, Paola (Tel: 2398 7100 - e-mail: information@mcast.edu.mt). For a digital copy, students can also visit the MCAST website www.mcast.edu.mt .
The prospectus includes 106 full-time courses, a wide range of short courses, including some sponsored by the European Social Fund specifically targeted at mature students, and for the first time, degree programmes.
Next week, the college is holding a series of information talks for prospective students as well as their parents, as follows:
• Building and Construction Engineering courses - tomorrow at 9.30 a.m. and on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Institute of Building and Construction Engineering, New Street in Main Street, Naxxar;
• Information and Communication Technology courses - tomorrow at 6 p.m. at the Institute of ICT carpark, Mcast main campus;
• Maritime Institute courses - on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the institute, Villa Portelli, Patist Borda Street, Kalkara;
• Gozo Centre courses - on Wednesday at 9.30 a.m. at the Xagħra Centre,132, Racecourse Street, Xagħra, Gozo;
• Community Services courses - on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Institute of Community Services carpark, Mcast main campus;
• Art and Design courses - on Thursday at 9 a.m. at Students' House on the Mcast main campus;
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering courses - on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Students' House;
• Business and Commerce courses - on Friday at 9.30 a.m. at Students' House;
• Agribusiness courses - on Friday at 6.30 p.m. at the Institute of Agribusiness, Luqa Road, Qormi;
• Mechanical Engineering courses - on Friday at 6.30 p.m. at Students' House.
The college offers a student counselling and guidance service at Students' House. To set an appointment, call 2398 7100, 2398 7133/4 or e-mail: counsellors@mcast.edu.mt. Between July 14 and 18 from 8.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. the counselling services will be offered without prior appointment.
Applications will be received at the respective institutes between 8.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. on the following days:
• On July 21 for applicants with surnames starting A to B;
• On July 22 for applicants with surnames starting C to F;
• On July 23 for applicants with surnames starting G to P;
• On July 24 for applicants with surnames starting Q to Z.
Applicants who for some reason cannot present their application on the above dates may do so on July 25 between 8.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m.
Applicants may ask another person to present their application as long as it is signed by the applicant and all the necessary documents are attached. The person presenting the application must also present his/her ID card.
This year, students applying for Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) in Art and Design, Business and Commerce, Information and Communication Technology and Electrical and Electronics Engineering will be able to further their studies to degree level on successfully completion of their diploma.
Next year, students studying within the other institutes will be offered a similar opportunity. These degree programmes provide students an alternative route to university education.
Mcast has continued to expand and offer a wider variety of programmes with various entry points into the vocational educational framework and exit points in the world of work.
The college is offering the following new courses for the 2008-09 academic year:
• The Mcast-Btec HND in Interactive Media has been designed to prepare students interested to pursue careers in interactive media such as web design, TV and video editing, multimedia design and 3D animation.
• The Mcast-Btec HND in Fine Arts encourages students to experiment and develop skills across a broad range of fine art media and methodology.
• The Mcast Aircraft Maintenance Technician course equips students with the necessary theoretical and practical underpinning knowledge and experience at technician level leading to Part-66 CAT B1.1 examinations. Apprentices following this course obtain theoretical and practical experience on aircraft structures, power plant, mechanical and electrical systems.
• The Mcast 'O' level revision course is intended for students who have already followed a course of study leading to the Secondary Education Examination Certificate and have sat for the examinations of the Matriculation and Secondary Education Certificate Examination Board. Mcast is thus providing the opportunity to students who did not manage to obtain the desired grades to undertake a revision programme with a view to obtaining the necessary entry requirements for further study at Mcast or elsewhere.
• The Mcast-Btec National Diploma in Civil Engineering provides in-depth knowledge and experience of both general and specialised areas of building and construction, including on-the-job training. The course will enable the successful students to carry out duties, at a professional and technical level, normally required in an architect's office or firm engaged in the building and construction business.
• The Gozo Centre is also offering an Mcast Foundation Certificate in Computing as from October.