MCAST launches short courses

MCAST, the Malta College of Arts, Science and Techno-logy, is launching over 100 short courses by its six institutes, the MCAST Gozo Centre and its Sports Department.

Around 1,000 people had participated in MCAST's successful first issue of short courses last September, which ranged from interior design to TV and radio production, welding to building a Website, and public relations to basic electronics.

The college is committed to making vocational education increasingly accessible to adults of all ages, and short courses are now firmly established on MCAST's scholastic calendar. Which is why MCAST recently recruited Kevin Bonnici as its manager for part-time and ad hoc courses.

Mr Bonnici, 31, comes to MCAST after a five-and-a-half-year stint as operations manager at Chiswick House School. He holds a Diploma in Industrial Electronics from the former Fellenberg Training Centre, a first degree in Education and a Diploma in Management from the University of Malta, where he is now reading for an MBA.

He explains that co-ordinating such a far-reaching schedule of short courses is a tall order "since we have to constantly gauge the needs of the market and of competitors in this field."

"All programmes at MCAST are led by lecturers who are experts in their field, therefore ensuring that MCAST provides the right training responsive to the needs of the individual and the economy," Mr Bonnici, who also holds a teaching warrant, pointed out.

"MCAST is particularly proud of its state-of-the-art ICT training facilities: we have around 300 PCs so students do not have to share terminals," he added.

Some of the new courses launched today by MCAST's institutes include Basic Road Design and Construction, Software Development using C++, First Aid (in collaboration with St John Ambulance), and Sports Psychology for Officials.

These will be offered with other courses which have proved popular, including Interior Design and European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL). Many courses will be held in the evening (between 5.30 and 8 p.m.).

Certificates of attendance will be awarded to participants attending over 80 per cent of the course's sessions. Assessment is at lecturers' discretion: some courses require tests, others projects or continuous assessment.

Prospective participants may refer to information sheets that are available for each course for further details. Registration will be accepted at MCAST Main Campus, Corradino Hill, Paola, and MCAST Gozo Centre from tomorrow to Friday between 9 a.m. and noon and 2 and 4 p.m. There are extended hours on Wednesday (5 to 7 p.m.) and Friday (2 to 5 p.m.).

Application forms cut out from the insert in The Sunday Times today can also be mailed. However, applications will be processed on a first come first served basis.

For further information, contact MCAST's Information and Support Centre on tel: 2180-6440 or 2180-1590/1.