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Higher education student and staff mobility project
Start date: Jun 1, 2014, End date: May 31, 2016 PROJECT  FINISHED 

MCAST is promoting the Higher Education (HE) mobility project to reach a fundamental goal in its contribution to the national vocational education sector. MCAST provides VET education from EQF Levels 1 to 7. This project applies to students and staff at EQF Level 5 & 6. The aim of MCAST in this project was to give the students an international dimension to their vocational education programmes. Together with their local work experience this project gave these students an unforgettable and unequaled international experience that has boosted their working knowledge, their employability and their overall practical understanding of their field of studies. In addition a number of students had the opportunity to study during their mobility (SMS) giving them a unique vocational education experience in a foreign educational institution. Apart from this, the MCAST staff members who participated in the project had a unique opportunity to experience foreign HE vocational education institutions, reviewing their programmes of studies, their organisational mode of operation and returning back to MCAST with a wealth of ideas that could be investigated and, where relevant, implemented in Malta. The mobility of staff members under this programme was an important cross-fertilisation exercise that creates a mutually beneficial relationship between the sending and the host institutions. Even more importantly, the mobilities of staff members served as a CPD (Continuous Professional Development) exercise that is key for educational institutions to keep up to date with the technological and pedagogical developments and advancements. Such mobilities helped to address the actual training needs of the College, the technological challenges proposed by the industry, the skills of the lecturers; all this for the benefit to the current and future students at MCAST. The participation of MCAST in this project was in line with the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education 2014 - 2020 awarded to MCAST. The main aims of this student-focused project were: -To gather evidence through training and work experience to enhance the students' learning experience and contribute to their qualification; -To aid students in discovering the international dimension of their field of studies; -To enhance the skills learnt at the College and transfer them to the work place; -To experience new working methods not available locally; -To promote and enhance the use of English as a working language; The non-formal benefits of this project include enhanced team-working skills and decision-making skills. Being away from home and from Malta for a minimum of 2 months allowed the students to enhance their individuality, their independence and by living with others, they have learnt to be more tolerant, more accepting and be able to experience and understand different cultures. The placements were organised and coordinated according to the students’ field of studies. They were placed in organisations that could provide them with an alternative experience than the one they had in Malta. The country of choice was one that, while supporting the incoming students, offered them a challenge, a new experience and something to explore. Language preparation were necessary was given locally and the students and staff members were assisted in preparing themselves logistically, culturally and psychologically for their placements. Similarly, placements for staff members were focused on their areas of competence and subject. The MCAST International Office supported the staff members in a similar manner as it supported the students.

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