When Malta became independent on 21 September 1964, the country entered a new chapter.
This Independence Day, we look at an important part of Malta’s development: how its further and higher education system has evolved, and how quality assurance has become central to ensuring learners can trust the education they receive.
There was a great deal to build. Malta needed to strengthen its institutions, develop its economy and create opportunities for its people. Education was an important part of that process.
Over the years, Malta’s education system has changed considerably. More people have had the opportunity to continue their studies after compulsory education, new types of courses and programmes have emerged, and education has become increasingly connected to the needs of the economy and society.
As the sector grew, however, so did the need to make sure that the education being offered met appropriate standards.
This raised an important question: how can learners, employers and society have confidence in the quality of the education and qualifications being provided?
That is where quality assurance comes in.
Building a country through education
In the years following Independence, Malta was developing the foundations of a modern country. As the economy developed and new industries and professions emerged, the need grew for people with different skills and areas of expertise.
Further and higher education gradually became more accessible and more diverse. With that growth came the need for clearer systems around qualifications, standards and the quality of education being provided.
Quality was becoming more than something for individual institutions to consider. It was also becoming a national responsibility.
The foundations of a national approach
Malta’s current quality-assurance system was developed over a number of years.
In 2005, the Malta Qualifications Council (MQC) was established. Its work included developing the National Qualifications Framework and supporting the recognition and understanding of qualifications in the context of lifelong learning.
A year later, in 2006, the National Commission for Higher Education (NCHE) was established as a consultative and advisory body to Government on matters relating to further and higher education.
These developments came at a time when Malta was becoming increasingly connected to the European education system. Qualifications needed to be clearer, transparent, and easier to understand and compare.
The Malta Qualifications Framework, introduced in 2007, was another important part of this development. It provided a structure for qualifications and learning outcomes and helped improve qualification transparency.
At the same time, quality assurance was becoming increasingly important.
From quality as an idea to quality as a system
The development of a more structured approach to quality assurance continued during the following years.
In 2007, the NCHE worked on recommendations relating to licensing, accreditation, and quality assurance in Malta’s further and higher education sector. This work helped move the sector towards a more structured national approach.
One key idea behind this approach was that quality could not depend entirely on external checks. Institutions themselves also needed to take responsibility for the quality of the education they provided.
That remains an important principle today.
Quality assurance is not simply about checking whether an institution has met a particular requirement. It is also about asking whether things are working well, where improvements could be made and how institutions can continue to provide a positive experience for learners.
In 2010, the Malta Qualifications Council and the National Commission for Higher Education were administratively merged and operated as NCHE-MQC.
Then, in 2012, the National Commission for Further and Higher Education (NCFHE) was established, bringing together the functions of the organisations that had previously worked in this area.
Malta’s quality-assurance system continued to develop.
In July 2015, the National Quality Assurance Framework for Further and Higher Education was officially launched. The Framework provided guidance on both internal and external quality assurance and placed greater emphasis on developing a culture of quality and continuous improvement within institutions.
This shift in emphasis was important.
Quality assurance was not only about finding things that needed correction. It was also about helping institutions recognise what they were doing well and identify where they could improve.
A growing sector, an increased responsibility
As Malta’s further and higher education sector continued to grow, so did the need for effective quality assurance.
More providers, more programmes, and more choices were available to learners. International students also became an increasingly important part of Malta’s education sector.
More choice brings a greater need for confidence.
A student choosing a programme needs to know that the institution meets the required standards. An employer needs to trust the qualifications presented by a potential employee. International partners need to understand and trust Malta’s qualifications.
Quality assurance helps provide that confidence. It creates common expectations across a diverse sector while still allowing individual institutions to develop their own approaches to teaching, learning and student support.
The establishment of MFHEA
In 2021, Malta’s quality-assurance journey entered another stage with the establishment of the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA).
MFHEA was officially launched on 8 January 2021, following the revised Education Act coming into force at the beginning of that year. The Authority built on the work of the organisations that came before it and brought together responsibilities including licensing, accreditation and quality assurance, as well as the recognition of qualifications and professions.
Today, quality assurance is an established part of Malta’s further and higher education system.
It is worth remembering, however, that the system we have today was not created all at once.
It developed over many years, as Malta’s education sector changed and as the country became more closely connected with developments in European education.
Why quality education matters to an independent nation
So, what does all of this have to do with Independence Day? Quite a lot. An independent country needs people who can contribute to its development. It needs institutions people can trust, and an education system that can respond to new challenges while maintaining standards. It also needs to give people opportunities to learn and develop throughout their lives.
Quality education plays an important role in all of this. It can help people build careers and reach their potential. It can help employers understand the value of qualifications. And it can help society prepare for economic, technological and social changes.
This is why quality assurance is about more than regulation. At its core, it is about trust.
Trust that a qualification represents genuine learning.
Trust that an education provider is meeting the standards expected of it.
And trust that learners are getting an education that can help them move forward.
Independence is also about building for the future
Independence Day gives us a chance to reflect on how far Malta has come and to think about what comes next.
The development of quality assurance in further and higher education is only one part of Malta’s wider story. But it shows how the country has continued to develop institutions, strengthen standards and invest in its people.
Independence involves more than just the freedom to determine our future; it also requires the people, knowledge, and institutions necessary to realize that future.
Education plays a central role in this. When people have access to education they can trust, they have a stronger foundation to build their careers, contribute to their communities, and take part in Malta’s future.
From an independent Malta in 1964 to the quality-assured education system we have today, the story is ultimately about people and about ensuring that future generations have the knowledge, skills and opportunities they need to take Malta forward.
If you want to learn more, please visit: www.mfhea.mt