Two engineering board members resign, warn lower standards could lead to tragedy

Updated 7.44pm with further comments from MCAST

Two engineering board members resigned hours before the board began the process of processing MCAST warrant applications, warning that this would lower standards and could cause future tragedies.

Arthur Ciantar and Samuel Bonanno, who form part of the Malta Association of Professional Engineers (MAPE), announced their resignation on Monday at noon, hours before the board was scheduled to meet to begin processing applications.

One of the resigning board members questioned whether lessons were learned from the death of construction worker Jean Paul Sofia when the building he was in collapsed on him in December 2022.

In separate letters addressed to Infrastructure Minister Chris Bonett, both engineers wrote that this will lower the standard of the engineering profession as MCAST’s engineering courses remain unaccredited, unlike the University of Malta’s courses.

Accreditation must be carried out by an accreditation agency recognised by the European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education (ENAEE) – the organisation that defines common European standards.

Although MCAST’s courses are not accredited, the German accreditation agency ASIIN, which is recognised by ENAEE, evaluated the courses and found that they met European standards. But in its report, ASIIN clearly states that it carried out an evaluation, not an accreditation exercise.

Bonanno wrote that the engineering board had already applied the same logic when it informed the American University of Malta (AUM) in 2021 that its engineering programme needed accreditation for its graduates to be eligible for a warrant under Maltese law. 

He added that the board recently took a decision where it rejected the application of a foreign candidate because his qualifications were not accredited by a member of ENAEE.

"I do not wish to be complicit in any way, whether by being part of an act of discrimination or, worse still, because of these poor decisions that lower the standards of the Engineering warrant in Malta and make me complicit in some tragedy that may occur," he said.

'Lip service' after Sofia tragedy

In Ciantar’s resignation letter, he said that granting warrants to MCAST graduates would “throw the Maltese Engineering warrant into disrepute.

“Who should bear the responsibility in the event of any incident (even fatal)? The bearer of the warrant? The Engineering Profession Board Members who knowingly granted a warrant to a person from an institution that is not accredited? Or both? In this respect, did the administration only deliver “lip service” to the country following the tragic loss of Jean Paul Sofia?”

Ciantar warned that granting warrants to graduates who are not properly qualified and accredited could “lead to catastrophic consequences, potentially costing innocent lives."

“I must therefore state, with utmost clarity, that I cannot in good conscience be associated with such a course of action and the liabilities that will most definitely follow,” he said.

The union leader added that with this move, the board is also seeking to process applications from third-country nationals (TCN) to access the profession.

“The end result of this erroneous policy would be that the market conditions in which no less than 1,800 Maltese Engineers practice, will be sharply deteriorated, bringing further hardships on Maltese engineers and their families,” he said.

Chamber of Engineers welcomes board's decision

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Engineers welcomed the board’s decision to begin accepting eligible applicants for their warrant interview.

The chamber argued that after ASIIN’s evaluation report, the board, in agreement with the chamber, decided that MCAST graduates are eligible to be considered for the warrant.

Responding to MAPE’s concerns about TCNs receiving a warrant, the chamber pointed out that the Engineering Act “is non-discriminatory and does not distinguish between applicants based on their nationality."

The chamber also noted how UM graduates from the Mechanical engineering course that graduated before 2016, and Electrical engineering graduates that graduated before 2021, predate the external accreditation process.

However, despite that, graduates who graduated before these dates, and have not applied for the warrant, are able to do so.

“It is the expectation of the Chamber of Engineers that any changes to the requirements governing warrant eligibility are made through a proper consultation process,” it said.

University Dean: Various layers of accreditation

In comments to Times of Malta, the Dean of the University of Malta's Faculty of Engineering noted that its engineering degree programmes have enjoyed recognition by FEANI [now Engineers Europe] for several years. 

"Accreditation through UK professional bodies such as the Institution of Mechanical Engineers [MechE] and the Institution of Engineering and Technology [IET] was obtained more recently," Prof. Andrew Sammut said. "This, however, represents an additional layer of external accreditation rather than the first instance of international recognition of University of Malta engineering qualifications." 

A years-long feud

The long-standing feud between MAPE and the engineering profession board came to light again in October 2025, when the board approved a vote allowing MCAST graduates to be considered for warrants.

The union tried to block the decision by filing a prohibitory injunction shortly afterwards. In court, the board referred to ASIIN’s evaluation and pointed out that MCAST is a “self-accrediting” institution, just like the University of Malta.

In December, the court denied MAPE’s request, as the union was unable to prove that it would suffer any “disproportionate prejudice” if the request was rejected.

Arguments 'not justifiable' - MCAST

In a right of reply sent to Times of Malta, MCAST pointed out that the claim that its engineering courses remain unaccredited and that accreditation must be carried out through ENAEE "is incorrect". 

"In Malta, the legal authority for institution and programme accreditation is the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA). MCAST is a self-accrediting institution and approved to accredit its own programme," MCAST said.

It added that linking the warranting issue to the Jean Paul Sofia case is "insensitive and without basis". 

"It should be clear that MCAST remains at the forefront of promoting professional recognition, high standards and quality education. The court’s recent decision in favour of MCAST engineering graduates further underlines that the arguments presented by these two individuals are in no way justifiable."