This chapter provides information on national policies that promote mobility and internalisation in education. Political, economic, environmental and social developments taking place within the globalised world undoubtedly resonate on educational developments and policies. Malta’s strategic position within the European and Mediterranean regions necessitates that it is continuously alert to these historical changes. In the wider educational field, it is essential that Malta keeps abreast of developments. The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) encourages mobility through school exchanges with students from other colleges, sectors, towns and countries. It acknowledges that such activities prepare children for the social, cultural, and economic changes that they will experience during their lifetime. The NCF promotes multilingualism and awareness of different cultures and lifestyles since they broaden children’s understanding and appreciation of diversity. The learning of languages encourages children to develop awareness of foreign languages and become more open to other languages and cultures with a positive disposition towards mobility and new experiences. In particular, the foreign language teaching and learning at secondary level provides for the acquisition of further communication tools that are useful to appreciate cultural diversity and to facilitate interaction within the European and international contexts.
The NCF further suggests that learners need to develop intercultural competence and appreciate their heritage within the Mediterranean, European and global contexts. Children strengthen their ability to appreciate social, cultural, national and geographical realities by learning historical and geographical knowledge and developing attitudes and skills which promote intercultural understanding. The Mediterranean and European dimensions are of particular interest for children at this level. Participation in twinning and mobility projects in the EU such as e-Twinning and Comenius projects among schools at local and at international levels facilitate intercultural experiences.
One of the strategic pillars for policy developments within the Framework for the Education Strategy for Malta 2014-2024 focuses on the International Dimension. The following processes are recommended:
• Intensive strategy for the teaching of English across all social sectors
• International mobility of students and staff
• International openness to new systems and processes
• Harmonisation of qualification frameworks to European structures
• Harmonisation of assessment and examination methods
• International recognition of local qualifications
Within the National Vocational Education and Training Policy, it is recognised that Malta is developing a strategic approach to the internalisation of Initial / Continuing VET and promoting international mobility. VET providers have established links and partnerships with foreign counterparts. Mobility is promoted even through VET programmes, particularly in the tourism sector. VET providers have made use of mobility programmes for students and staff. Malta actively participated in projects related to EQF, ECVET, EQAVET and EUROPASS to promote mobility and implement European tools within the education system. The policy further suggests that the development of VET relationships with foreign colleges and institutes.
The Maltese higher educational system has also further been internationalised through active participation in the Bologna Process. Being the entity responsible of the implementation of the Bologna Process, the National Commission for Further and Higher Education has embarked on an Erasmus+ project ‘Promoting the Bologna Process in Malta 2014-2016’. This project will further address the persistently low higher education attainment when compared to the EU average while ensuring that graduate employability remains strong in Malta. The project also aims to exploit research on the social and economic conditions of student life in Malta and build the foundation for regular graduate surveys and research on skills supply and demand to assist students, career guidance professionals, higher education institutions, policy makers and employers in their work and decision-making.
The launch of this project took place in December 2014, during a conference highlighting findings from the national student surveys, linked to this project’s objectives and actions. The project consists of a number of initiatives aimed at promoting the implementation of the Bologna Process in Malta and addressing the challenges highlighted above. These include:
• short intelligence briefs on issues of importance for policy making,
• training sessions for staff at Further and Higher Education providers.
The http://eupa.org.mt/[ European Union Programmes Agency (EUPA)] is the National Agency responsible for the management of Erasmus+, the new EU programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport for 2014-2020, which started in January 2014. Through the Erasmus+ Programme, the EUPA aims to assist individuals, local non-government organisations, and public and private entities in obtaining funds for education, training and youth initiatives. This programme is divided into three Key Actions. Key Action 1 relates to individual mobility, Key Action 2 to Strategic Partnerships and Key Action 3 funds Policy Reform. Both Key Action 1 and Key Action 2 are responsible for 5 sectors: schools, higher education institutions, young people and youth workers, vocation and education training and adult education.