Partners

The College, a unique institution on the Maltese Islands, is made up of 6 Institutes, mainly:

• Institute of Information and Communication Technology
• Institute of Business Management and Commerce
• Institute of Engineering and Transport
• Institute for the Creative Arts
• Institute of Community Services
• Institute of Applied Sciences

MCAST also offers accredited course through a number of international awarding bodies. MCAST firmly believes in Inclusion and offers various initiatives and opportunities to support learners with learning difficulties/disabilities, immigrants and persons with social problems to benefit from free and supported VET. The full-time student population now stands at 6,700 students. During each academic year MCAST also provides short courses for approximately 5,000 part-time adult students.

The Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology was officially inaugurated in September 2001. MCAST was established by bringing together a number of separate institutes and creating new ones. MCAST opened its International Office in November 2002. This office coordinates all Erasmus+ KA1 and KA2 activities for the College and is located within the Main Campus in Paola.

The centre designs and develops innovative tools, methodologies, products and services that respond to current social and economic challenges and enable to anticipate and drive the changes needed to achieve future goals and objectives in society. INFODEF supports the modernization of educational systems and the pedagogical innovativeness of public and private educational institutions at national and European levels. Has large expertise developing innovative teaching and learning methodologies, tools and resources and has extensibility work on the definition of (EQF and ECVET based) Training Curriculums and Learning Outcomes, the design of new tools for the identification, assessment and validation of (basic, key, transversal and professional) competencies, the development of innovative ICT-based tools, the design of methodologies to support Work-Based-Learning programmes and practices, new instruments for the recognition and validation of non-formal and informal learning, innovative teaching methods, entrepreneurship education, especial education and the evaluation and quality assessment of educational programmes. One of the main areas of expertise of INFODEF is the design of innovative methodologies and tools to support the activity of the professional that work with specific target groups, such as young people, migrants, low-skilled adults, people with disabilities, offenders and other unprivileged groups.

INFODEF is partner of the cluster AEICE www.aeice.org, a grouping of companies, research & development centres, Universities and Public Administrations that fosters the social and economic development of the territory through collaboration, innovation, internationalisation, training and communication in various fields: construction 4.0, heritage, manufacturing industry and equipment, building refurbishment, circular economy, ECCN and friendly environments.

INFODEF has participated or coordinated 55 European projects in the field of innovation applied to youth, education and training, funded by the Lifelong Learning, Erasmus+ or Horizon 2020 programmes of the European Commission.

Rinova is a prime contractor with the ESFA, validated by their Register of Approved Training Organisations and is registered on the UK Register of Learning Providers (reg. no. 10035859). As a social enterprise, Rinova is a member of the Employee Ownership Association. It directly employs some 30 staff and associate trainers and advisers, and also coordinates a Consortium (see www.rinova.co.uk/rinova-consortium) of London-based learning, skills and enterprise organisations (Further Education Colleges, Local Authorities, NGOs and non-profit organisations, independent and private providers, enterprise agencies) that are supporting young people and adults into employment, education and new business creation. This role includes the quality assurance and evaluation of major partnerships projects financed by the UK ESFA and under the quality assurance remit of OFSTED, the national body for the regulation of quality in education. In the last five years these programmes, with a combined value of 10 million Euros have, or are in the process of delivering skills and learning provision for over 5,000 learners in London in a range of major work-baswed learning initiatives and has completed programmes relevant to this application such as Talent Match London – an innovative UK Big Lottery Funded 5-year, €12m programme of arts, creativity and enterprise-based learning, designed by young adults aged 18-25; New pilot Traineeship and Apprenticeship initiatives for those aged 16-18 and 19+ in tourism, hospitality, the arts, creative industries, fashion and design; The ‘aspire2.be’ €2.5m pan-London pre-apprenticeship programme, with ten partners delivering support to over 800 young people NEET, supporting young apprentices in the creative industries.

Rinova is active in the European dimension of its work: since 2015 has been one of the few UK ‘nodes’ for the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme (Mobilitas 6, 7 and 8). It is a member of Metropolisnet, an EEIG with organizations from major cities in Europe that tackles urban deprivation. It has participated in some 40 transnational partnerships since its formation – although the practice is based upon the experience of the key staff at Rinova which, in terms of European collaboration, dates back to programmes such as ADAPT, EMPLOYMENT, FORCE and HORIZON In the 1990s.

The problems encountered in the organizations go back to the team of PECPCV thanks to its proximity to its members and dialogue with its stakeholders. These issues are as many topics to be addressed and treated in the activities. In order to respond to requests and needs for expertise, the team adapts to the degree of maturity of organizations in eco-design and also to their sector of activity. The profiles are therefore both generalist for a global understanding of the environmental and economic issues and specialists.

PECPCV has developed, over the past ten years, multiple communication tools to adapt its speech to its interlocutors. It relies on different media as website, magazine (www.mygreenmag.info), technical guide (Ecoconcept), feedback (Eco-initiative) to disseminate the benefits of performance through lifecycle to businesses and other organization.

Recognized for its neutrality and its ability to act on a national and international scale, PECPCV is committed to stimulating networks of existing players working on eco-design and performance through the life cycle. It promotes exchanges on their issues by bringing them together around the same table. It trains these actors and transmits them a methodological content of accompaniment of 1st level with the companies of their own networks.

With its technical expertise, PECPCV is alongside mature companies to help them integrate performance through the life cycle in their strategy: operationalize their life cycle management, check and promote good practices.

PEPCV has been working since its inception to develop operational methodological content. With its partnerships, it is the technical expert on ecodesign piloting experimental working groups and promoting innovation on complex or delicate subjects. With the desire to produce an accessible and practical methodological content.

Our non-profit organization is a training center for companies. Our pedagogical approach is centered on success of eco-design. We consider that regardless of the level of knowledge and the size of the company it is possible to act. For example, we have developed a method and training for professional designers in partnership with the designer cluster of Saint Etienne. We also work a lot for business, design and engineering schools. We offer classes on half-day to five-day sessions. We have participated in the educational content of the bachelor Ecodesign of the Landes Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Thus, our pedagogy mixes several approaches in order to learn the concepts, without prejudices, around the thought cycle of life:

• A logical structuring with pedagogical contribution progressively as the advancement of Training;
• The questioning, because to think about a question asked is to open up to welcome the answer, and so retain it;
• The illustrations, because some have a visual memory, more than auditory;
• Feedback, because a story real and lived transmits more content than theory;
• The application of tools, makes it easier to visit account, and start to project the application that can be made in its own company;
• The key success factors, through an analysis of causes of success and failure of a project eco-design allows for a better understanding of success factors. (Economic success and methodological success by reducing impacts);
• A rhythm, between theory and practice for avoid loss of information.

The expertise of the Eco-design Pole is now recognized nationally and internationally within an organization such as ADEME, the Ministry of the Environment, AFNOR, ISO and the UN-environment.

DIMITRA is accredited for offering both Initial and Continuing VET courses and Consulting Services by the National Organisation for the Certification of Qualifications and Vocational Guidance (EOPPEP) and the Greek Ministry of Education while it has been distinguished for its excellence many times. By utilizing its international experience and state-of-the-art training methodologies and technological innovation, DIMITRA offers its educational services and support to unemployed/employed from the public or private sector/ NGOs/ immigrants/etc, in a wide range of topics:

• Information & Communication Technologies
• Business Administration & Business Start-up,
• Entrepreneurship & Social Entrepreneurship
• Tourism, Creative sector, Culture & Media
• Technical Professions & Green Sector
• Language courses, Intercultural Mediation & Civic competences
• Human Rights education & social inclusion
• Soft Skills & Personal development
• Training of Trainers (Certified examination centre)

DIMITRA places particular emphasis on the development of various innovative educational tools, many of which have gained distinctions and have been transferred internationally, such as Training Methodologies and Toolkits, Educational games, Training DVDs, etc.

Our Information Technology experts have developed an integrated e-learning system, designed for the accomplishment of an integrated training process, focusing on the “learning” process as the main asset of “e-learning.”

DIMITRA relying on its business and educational expertise and on highly qualified and experienced staff provides a wide range of business consulting services for both the private and public sector. DIMITRA developed “YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUPPORTING STRUCTURES” in Larissa, Athens & Thessaloniki for coaching and training business leaders and entrepreneurs, to develop and grow their business.

DIMITRA is actively engaged and holds a long standing relationship in assisting a large number of Private and Public Organizations, Local Authorities and NGOs by offering highquality multidisciplinary expertise in a wide range of business activities with a focus on human resources. In addition to subject and sector experience, our team brings in-depth understanding of education research methodologies offering Tailor-made Training Courses to help them deliver improved quality.

The Employment & Integration office has been offering career guidance through an experienced group of career counsellors and coaches with ethos, social sensitivity, efficiency and creative perception since 2000. Our clients are supported in assessing their personal characteristics and needs and get information on opportunities and requirements in the labour market and educational programmes.

DIMITRA is certified according to the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System standard by TÜV AUSTRIA to the following:

1. Vocational Education and Training;
2. Consulting services for the Promotion of Entrepreneurship & Human Resources development;
3. Design and management of European co-funded projects.

DIMITRA holds a multiannual active experience in the planning, organization and implementation of Programmes and Community Initiatives. Our work and innovative achievements have been recognized as Best Practice at a national and European level through many awards. DIMITRA, as a Coordinator or as a partner, has a strong track record of over 150 transnational projects and actions in the framework of numerous R&D, Social Integration and LLL Programs and Community Initiatives (HORIZON, E-LEARNING, RAPHAEL, LEONARDO DA VINCI, GRUNDTVIG, DAPHNE, EQUAL, MEDDOC, INTERREG, TERRITORIAL COOPERATION, ERASMUS+, etc). DIMITRA, besides the educational and vocational content development (incl. e-learning platforms), undertakes awareness, dissemination and communication activities for projects related to:

• Skills & Qualification,
• Entrepreneurship & Start-up
• Quality Assurance in VET,
• Sustainable development,
• Human Rights & Social Inclusion

Through materahub different subjects provide their expertise and ideas to valorise the local and regional community, which becomes the starting point and meeting place of national and international realities related to the HUB. For this reason, materahub provides spaces and resources, links and knowledge, training and talents, opportunities and investments to help people to turn ideas into reality. Materahub promotes know-how exchange and coworking activities, within its “officine”, with the aim to create and plan, through hubber’s work, creative yards in which give birth to new projects and the development of new skills and competences.

Materahub is promoting entrepreneurship and startup in the Creative Industries sector. In a historical and social context in which the only sectors that enjoy growth and prosperity are those of culture and social enterprise, the best way to look at the future is the development of an economy of culture: an alternative way for each community who wants to exploit its skills and distinguishing social, cultural and environmental factors. Thanks to the presence in the consortium of expert on Quality Management system, Communication and accountability, materahub is working on daily activity inspired by quality principle for process, procedures and results. The team is composed of 6 permanent staff and 10 others working according to the specific focus of projects and initiatives.

During the last 6 years, Materahub has:

• Supported more than 500 artists and cultural operators in Europe to develop their entrepreneurial skills and the sustainability of their cultural projects through the use of the Creative Project Canvas (www.creativeprojectcanvas.com) born from the EU project Break In The Desk (www.breakinthedesk.eu)
• Supported artists, SMEs and public organizations to develop a dialogue on fostering innovation through creative intervention
• Supported Italian Food chain with the spin-off Italian Food Experience https://www.italianfoodexperience.it/
• Managed capacity building program for CCIs in Internationalization (www.icciproject.com )
• Managed mentoring program for artists (www.artenprise.eu)
• Supported the Foundation Matera 2019 in the process of build-up and capacity building for the 31 project leaders that will develop the cultural program of the ECoC
• Promoted internationalization and active networking in Europe for the cultural organizations based in the South of Italy (#reteteatro41, Compagnia Teatrale L’Albero, Cresco in Basilicata)
• Worked for the District Puglia Creativa in the management of the Interreg MED CHIMERA focused on supporting Clusters for CCIs in the South of Europe
• Organized Creative Business Cup in Italy to select the best Italian creative entrepreneur to participate in the global final in Copenaghen (http://www.creativebusinesscupitalia.it/)
• Been active member of the following European neteworks promoting creativity and culture in different forms:

1. CARP – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe for Prehistoric Art Trails (http://prehistour.eu/)
2. European Creative Hubs Network http://creativehubs.eu/
3. N.I.C.E – Network for Innovation in Culture and Creativity in Europe (http://www.e-c-c-e.de/en/nice-network.html)
4. ECBN – European Creative Business Network (http://ecbnetwork.eu/)

The company generally works with organisations addressing the needs of those on the margins of society for whom traditional education and second chance education has failed. FIPL provides a wide range of community development courses to local residents to support greater community involvement and enhanced social inclusion to target growing isolation and achieve the integration of migrant communities with the host communities and their counterparts in other migrant communities.

Specific training programmes are provided in the following areas:

• media production training for young male and female early-school leavers to build key competences;
• digital skills training for young men and women who are currently under-employed or outside the workforce and seeking a return to work;
• social media training and customer support training to low-skilled workers to aid worker retention and business growth;
• entrepreneurship training for young people in the creative industry sector;

In addition to these formal trainings and supports it also provides; art classes for all age groups; diet and nutrition support to mothers and senior citizens; reflexology training for mothers with new-born babies; oral history training; and a series of weekly events like a book club, a poetry club, a historical society, etc.
In addition to these formal trainings and supports it also provides; art classes for all age groups; diet and nutrition support to mothers and senior citizens; reflexology training for mothers with new-born babies; oral history training; and a series of weekly events like a book club, a poetry club, a historical society, etc.

FIPL places a particular emphasis on developing self-directed learning pathways to encourage the educational development of “Free Agent Learners”. FIPL harnesses the latest technologies in its service offering affording target group members the opportunity to develop their key competences in accessible blended learning environments.

The company employs 5 full-time and 3 part-time staff with considerable project management, curriculum development, multimedia production, research and administrative experience. It supplements the skills available by drawing on the expertise of a large cohort of part-time workers spanning a wide range of research, pedagogic, technical and media production categories.

We intrinsically understand the educational priorities of local, national and European stakeholders, philanthropic organisations, and nonprofits. Our highly nuanced and specialised support is strengthened by close working relationships we possess with key people in the field. Our agile approach allows for timely, often immediate, assistance to our clients, and our online and presence support brings a localised context to our customised services.

Designed to improve quality, drive outcomes, and increase accountability in a collaborative educational contexts, InnoQuality Systems’s education services make real improvements and quantifiable results. Our resumé of successful projects spans from community-based organisations to national initiatives to European projects.

InnoQuality Systems’s program evaluations provide real-time input on implementation and key insights regarding outcomes. From our deep understanding of the education challenges faced globally at national levels we provide our collaborators and clients with state-of-the-art methodologies enabling them to turn research into practice, driving improved efficacy and sustainability of educational programs nationwide.

InnoQuality Systems has designed an innovative Curriculum Management Software (CMS), recognising the importance of managing the curriculum efficiently and ensuring its place is at the centre of the academic institution. InnoQuality Systems Software provides web based curriculum management solutions that ensure Educational Institutions can better manage the development, editing, approval, capture, publication and delivery of all aspects of module and programme development.

InnoQuality Systems also provide considerable expertise in the field of language acquisition, literacy and educational technologies. This trinity of knowledge fields afford INQS the ability to offer contributions from an informed position, which is directed towards an investigation of and the increased integration of technological components into all possible learning environments. Our innovations provide increased educational opportunities for the most marginalised within society and give empowerment via realistic and necessary outputs.