NSS Malta for EPALE Project 2022-2024

NSS Malta will implement the project with a view to creating a better reach with all professionals involved in adult learning. 

NSS Malta will contribute by implementing the EU's priorities as outlined in the European Pillar of Social Rights: Adult education should reach all Europeans, regardless of their background. 

Through this project, NSS Malta will contribute to reaching this goal and engage more users on the EPALE Platform. NSS Malta will implement the EPALE Project in order to provide innovative material and engaging events in order to contribute to the EPALE platform and engage adult learners and educators. Events such as the EPALE Launch, the EPALE Awards, EPALE webinars and the EPALE contests will engage both stakeholders and the targeted audience.
These events will promote the EPALE brand and engage more users on the platform. EPALE webinars and EPALE Ambassadors will further contribute to reach the goals of this call in engaging more users. Quality content will be uploaded on the platform from NSS Malta to ensure contribution. These activities will be carried out by the NSS team comprising of six people.
In order to take a greener and digital approach, NSS Malta will use digital resources such as promotional videos instead of printed materials to attract more users to join and contribute to the platform.  

The three work packages for this cycle:

WP1: GENERAL IMPLEMENTATION OF EPALE

WP2: PROMOTION OF THE PLATFORM, RECRUITMENT, AND ENGAGEMENT OF USERS

WP3: CONTRIBUTION TO THE CONTENT OF EPALE

Tom Borg is the Project Manager for EU Projects at the Directorate for Lifelong Learning. He has an academic background in Music and Philosophy.

Daniel Gafa`is a Project officer for EU Projects at the Directorate for Lifelong Learning. He has an academic background in Sociology.

Jean Pierre Vaillancourt Cassar is a Project Officer for EU Projects at the Directorate of Lifelong Learning. Jean Pierre has experience as an educator and has participated in various European projects. He has also worked within the classical music industry for over 14 years.

Adult Education in Malta

According to Eurostat data, 2022, 12.8% of Maltese citizens aged 25-64 participated in a form of education and training (Eurostat, 2023c). Malta's Lifelong Learning Strategy 2023-2030 recognises that there is a need to make a significant effort in the immediate future to have at least 57.6% of all adults aged 25-64 to participate in learning every year. This is in line with the targets set by the European Pillar of Social Rights, which states that by 2030, 60% of all adults should be participating in some form of training every year.

The Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation (MEYR) and The Directorate for Lifelong Learning and Employability are currently working on the Lifelong Learning strategy 2023-2030. The National Strategy for Lifelong Learning 2023-2030 has a social mission at its core and aims to improve the lives of those most vulnerable through a diverse range of Lifelong Learning opportunities.

This National Strategy for Lifelong Learning 2023-2030 aims to:

• Facilitate access to adult learning. 
• Contribute to the goal set by the European Pillar of Social Rights to reach the target of 60% of all European adults participating in training every year by 2030. 
• Create synergy between multiple stakeholders. 
• Push for a national conversation about adult learning. 
• Continuously improve the quality of adult learning. 
• Support other entities within the Ministry for Education, such as the Unit for the Prevention of Early School Leavers, the National Literacy Agency, and the National Skills Council, whose remit overlaps with or complements that of the LL Unit, and to implement elements from their strategies. 
• Align course provision of the LL Unit with Malta’s changing skills needs and the economic vision of the Government of the day. 
• Improve the accessibility of LL to persons with disabilities. 
• Promote community learning
• Enhance informal and non-formal learning.

There are a number of stakeholders involved in adult learning in Malta these include:

Jobsplus focuses on enhancing employability by recommending policies and implementing initiatives aimed at empowering, assisting and training jobseekers. ETC facilitates their entry or re-entry into the active employment market, promoting workforce development through skills and competency development, and by assisting employers in their recruitment and training needs. Basic skills courses are also offered.

For more information visit: jobsplus@gov.mt

Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology (MCAST) provides Vocational Education and Training through ten Institutes, Pathway Programme and the Gozo Centre. The Pathway to Independent Living Programme provides an opportunity for applicants with mild to moderate intellectual disability in possession of the school leaving certificate to follow a structured programme of study focusing on the individual students’ needs. The Learning Support Unit (LSU) offers support to students who have no formal qualifications or who do not have the required levels of Maltese, English, Maths and IT basic skills. The Inclusive Education Unit (IEU) ensures that learners with particular needs including disabilities and/or learning difficulties are given the necessary support for their studies.

For more information visit: http://www.mcast.edu.mt

Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS) is an institution of higher education aimed at meeting the changing needs of the Hospitality and Tourism Industry. A number of courses (from level 1 to level 6) related to the hospitality industry are offered. Level 1 qualification covers Key Skills for Independent Living and Employment in the Hospitality Sector while Level 2 covers the ESTS Apprenticeship and a Foundation Certificate in Hospitality Trades.

For more information visit: http://www.its.edu.mt

The University of Malta has fourteen Faculties, sixteen Institutes and nine Centres of Studies including a Centre for Literacy and a School of Performing Arts. It also offers a postgraduate Master of Arts course in Adult Education. There are some 11,000 students including over 650 international students from 77 different countries following full-time or part-time degree and diploma courses.

For more information visit: http://www.um.edu.mt

The Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin (UHM) aims to unite workers into one strong homogeneous body, to enhance the dignity of the workers and to improve the conditions of work as well as their economic and social standing.

For more information visit: https://www.uhm.org.mt

The European Union Programs Agency (EUPA) is an agency that supports Maltese individuals and entities in availing themselves of funding under the various educational programs provided by the European Commission. As of 2014 EUPA is coordinating the implementation of the Erasmus+ funding program and of 2017, EUPA is also coordinating the implementation of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC).

For more information visit: https://www.eupa.org.mt

The Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD) is committed to rendering Maltese society an inclusive one, in a way that persons with disability reach their full potential in all aspects of life, enjoying a high quality of life thanks to equal opportunities. In fulfilling this mission, CRPD works in order to eliminate any form of direct or indirect social discrimination against persons with disability and their families, while providing them with the necessary assistance and support.

For more information visit: Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability - CRPD