Cap. 638 Art. 6Purpose of the College.   Cap. 576. 6 [        Cap. 576. 8 [

(1) The main objective of the College shall be that of an

Education Institution which enables students to reach their potential. The College shall endeavour to ensure that education is accessible and available to all students, without discrimination, and to develop VPET curricula and establish vocational education, facilities and programmes of education and training, and of work and practical experience which the College may deem necessary to provide all with the opportunity to qualify in the vocational sectors taking into account the socio-economic situation of Malta.

(2) The College shall, in a general manner, ensure connectivity between the College, the community and the industry, in a manner which mirrors the requisites of the industry in the content and running of its educational programmes within and outside the College:

Provided that the College shall provide programmes of studies in VPET leading to qualifications at all levels of the MQF relevant to industry.

(3) The College shall organise programmes of study including but not limited to all the levels of the Malta Qualifications Framework.

(4) The College, as a VET provider, shall comply with the provisions of the Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship Act, or any other subsequent and, or relevant legislation.

(5) The College shall endeavour and strive to achieve and maintain the quality of its vocational and professional programmes and apprenticeships at all levels of the MQF by establishing its own internal quality assurance system and a validation system based on external quality assurance as required by the relevant competent national authority and as established by the relevant legislation.

(6) The College shall ensure, in such areas as may be possible and according to the possibilities of the College, access to each person regardless of academic qualifications, and shall have special programmes to assist any person to achieve the required education, so CAP.638. TECHNOLOGY

that such person may continue and terminate successfully such level according to established standards, and with this aim the College shall accredit prior learning.

(7) The College shall provide study programmes of vocational and professional education and training to help persons acquire

Awards and Qualifications according to their needs through different modes of delivery, including all forms of work-based learning and apprenticeship as prescribed by the Work-Based Learning and

Apprenticeship Act.

(8) The College shall:

(a) embed all forms of work-based learning, particularly apprenticeships, in vocational and professional education and training programmes at MQF Level 4 and in higher education qualifications;

(b) offer Awards and Qualifications at all levels of the Malta Qualifications Framework;

(c) promote Malta’s vision as a hub of cultural, industrial, commercial and services activity for other regions of the world and in particular for the Euro-Mediterranean region;

(d) ensure that applied and impact-based research as well as community-based curricula be at the core of all student learning experiences, including in curriculum design and in the development of study programmes;

(e) educate its students in being able to appreciate and welcome the challenges and opportunities which the accelerated process of the global economy is bringing along with it as a result of the advances being made in the areas of communication, culture, information technology, and science;

(f) promote as part of its holistic education different modes of work based learning;

(g) promote an entrepreneurship culture through its different programmes of study and by offering practical on-the-job experience;

(h) cultivate a culture of open-mindedness, propriety, good governance, creativity, and innovation in the pursuit of excellence, and flexibility and space to do things differently, sustained by commitment, dedication, and integrity at College, at the students’ future place of work, and in the exercise of the College’s students’ and personnel’s profession, taking into account the students’ well-being;

(i) foster among students a commitment towards occupational health and safety at the place of work;

(j) respond at a relevant time and in a relevant manner to the needs of the labour market, by networking and effective partnership at all levels of educational and training experience with the educational, economic, industrial, cultural and services sectors;

(k) foster the mindset, skills, and values conducive to agile employability and lifelong learning and retraining of its students;

(l) ensure the implementation of the principles of inclusive education by providing an equitable access to all persons in full respect of diversity;

(m) attribute the necessary importance to research sustainable innovation and development in the areas of applied arts, social sciences, engineering, science, and technology;

(n) develop programmes of study based on the concept of lifelong learning;

(o) ensure that the quality and standards of study programmes and of certificates awarded are recognised at both national and international levels;

(p) be guided by the national policies and strategies as adopted from time to time by Government;

(q) participate in bilateral and regional exchange programmes and particularly in the educational and training programmes, such as those of the European Union in which Malta participates from time to time;

(r) develop flexible learning strategies through the application of portfolio qualifications and the use of innovative technologies and methodologies.

(9) The College shall collaborate and communicate with the other National and International Educational Institutions, public and private institutions and organisations, the national employment agency, civil society, trade union organisations, chambers of commerce, business, trade, recognised trade unions who represent employees of the College and Industry associations, and the other national competent authorities which participate in the social and economic development of Malta.

(10) The College shall establish associate academies and institutes as the Board of Governors may deem appropriate. CAP.638. TECHNOLOGY