NCFHE Seminar: Recognition of Qualifications – Relevance to Employers

GRTU was represented by Ms Carmen Borg at a seminar organised by the National Commission for Further and Higher Education (NCFHE) regarding the recognition of qualifications with particular attention to its relevance to employers.

The opening address was delivered by NCFHE CEO Ms Edel Cassar, whereas two plenary sessions were held. The speakers were MQRIC Head Ms May Anne Ciappara, Research & Policy Manager Ms Christine Scholz and NCFHE Officers Ms Angelique Grech and Ms Shirley Micallef.

Recognition of qualifications is not only a benefit to the individuals having obtained them, but also very central to employers in understanding the qualifications of their current and potential employees and the skills that they represent. Malta’s education system is captured within the Malta Qualifications Framework which is pegged to the European Qualifications Framework and the Qualifications Framework for the European Higher Education Area. This allows Maltese qualifications to be recognised and transferable into other national systems. The Malta Qualifications Recognition Information Centre (MQRIC) offers a wide range of services including the evaluation of diplomas and qualifications as well as the collation and dissemination of information related to professional and vocational qualifications. This is of particular interest in cases of employees with foreign qualifications or for the mobility of foreign employees to work in Malta. A major concern expressed was the delays in the evaluation of qualifications. This was mainly caused by qualifications from third countries which would need to be verified by the relevant national authorities.

There is also a wide range of qualifications which are automatically recognised and would not need to undergo recognition procedures at MQRIC. These include qualifications from public institutions which have self-accrediting status such as the University of Malta, the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST), and the Institute for Tourism Studies (ITS). There are also institutions and programmes in Malta as well as overseas which can be found on the MQRIC website (http://bit.ly/1x9QNI8) that are recognised.

The MQRIC offices are open to the public on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am till noon and 2pm till 4pm. MQRIC can be reached on +356 2598 1493.