The main theme discussed during our annual forum was ‘The link between Education and Industry’. This forum was open to heads of all educational institutions in Malta. This forum particularly focused on the issues and concerns faced by Educational Institutions in relation to links with industry and the following issues were highlighted:
- The overall comment was that the educational institutions are working very well with industry and that despite the many requests made for placements or workplace visits, etc. From the different educational institutions, industry do their utmost to accommodate such requests. The need to strengthen the importance of employment entities viewing such involvement as corporate social responsibility was highlighted. Also mentioned was the need for the government to acknowledge such involvement by providing incentives and/or recognition to entities who regularly participate in such events.
- Mutual learning by both educational institutions and the employment sectors through such links was highlighted. Learners benefit from seeing the link between the learning being undertaken at school/post-secondary/tertiary institution and the world of work.
- A number of challenges were highlighted – namely the overcrowding curriculum; the need to appreciate the value of workplace learning in combination with classroom learning; the lack of staff available to accompany/supervise learners on workplace visits/exposures, the importance of the employment sector providing quality experiences to learners besides others.
