CIC leads a systemic reboot

Malta’s future hinges on its ability to adapt, innovate and remain competitive. The coming decade is poised to be Europe’s most consequential period since the post-war era, as economic, geopolitical, and environmental challenges intensify in the wake of Trump’s imposition of global trade tariffs.

The question whether our education system is adequately equipping students for tomorrow’s workforce is complex and depends on the lens through which you evaluate it. Strengthening collaboration between parents, local communities and schools is a must today.

The Family-Community-School Link initiative offers after-school programmes, parental workshops and joint community projects that enhance student well-being and foster a culture of shared responsibility, where parents, children and educators work to expand development opportunities. Malta’s rapidly evolving technology sector is facing a critical skills’ shortage. Despite a strong education system, a growing mismatch exists between the competencies taught in schools and the dynamic needs of the tech industry, particularly in fields like AI, data science, cybersecurity, and green technologies. This brief article touches on policy measures used by foreign countries to reform their national curriculum, improve industry collaboration, and better prepare students for the digital economy.

Yet, new challenges that arose in the fourth industrial revolution has started a dilemma. This means employers often report a mismatch between the skills taught in schools and those needed in high-demand sectors like tech, AI, engineering and green energy.

Is this because of the archaic method of education emphasising rote learning and standardised testing over use of critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation? Many statistics show there is still a relatively low uptake in Stem (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields, which are crucial for future industries. Observers ask, how strong is the integration of real-world work experiences and soft skills training in the curriculum, especially at secondary level? It is good to mention vast improvements in educational facilities in the past decade.

Yet, unfortunately, we meet disparities in educational outcomes based on socioeconomic background, which may limit opportunities for some students to succeed in a rapidly evolving job market. Thanks to the much-hyped reform in the National Curriculum Framework and Education Strategy 2024-2030, one would expect and hope for a swift upgrade.

This is a crucial step towards building a skills-based society and preparing students for challenges of the future. It sets clear goals, through 36 measures and related 120 initiatives, all of which contribute towards the overall development of each person and the progress of the nation. Yet, while the education department is making strides toward modernising its education system, yet there is still work to be done in aligning it more closely with the demands of a rapidly changing workforce, especially in terms of critical thinking, tech literacy, and real-world readiness. In an ideal world, one would expect better results after investing millions annually in life-long education starting from attending free child-care centres and free lectures up to university level. Again, one expects the creation of an Education-Industry Council to provide ongoing feedback on curricula and skills’ development.

To remedy the skills’ mismatch between what schools teach and what high-demand sectors like tech, AI, engineering, and green energy require, a multi-pronged strategy is strongly needed involving curriculum reform, stronger industry partnerships, and investment in teacher development. Here are some actionable steps that are planned, including updating curricula to include AI, data science, coding, robotics, and renewable energy concepts starting from primary and secondary levels.

Thanks to political peace prevailing, perhaps this is the right time to launch national training programmes in digital pedagogy and emerging tech tools. Added to this offer is the opportunity for educators to be eligible for industry secondments to gain hands-on experience. Is it unrealistic to hope that secondary school students could be offered more specialisations in fields such as cybersecurity, sustainable engineering, and clean technology?

So far, attempts have been made to incorporate industry-sponsored challenges or capstone projects into school and university curricula. These are slowly emerging. Naturally, no reform shall succeed, once educators are not given time off to attend ongoing training in digital literacy, emerging technologies, and interdisciplinary teaching methods. It goes without saying how any startup ecosystem is essential for both local and foreign entrepreneurs. This is for a range of reasons: simple company incorporation, low costs for startups, an appealing tax regime, assisted factory programmes, fast remedies at our courts, skilled workers, and the possibility of developing indigenous tech sectors.

The ecosystem in the USA was developed at a fast pace in recent years, due to a series of government incentives and support, plus a safe and reliable business climate. Malta Enterprise was introduced by PKF to the services of CIC. This is a wise move as CIC acts as a worldwide US based innovator consisting of captains of industry. Founded 33 years ago in Kendall Square, Cambridge USA, it operates more than 100,000sq.m. of shared workspace, wet labs and event space spread in centres that opened in the US, Europe, and Asia. It convenes a worldwide community of approximately 650,000 innovators. Since its inception, over 10,000 companies have called CIC home, collectively raising more than $50 billion in venture capital funding.

Its innovation campus is typically a large, high-end facility at the heart of an innovation district. The campus acts as a centre of gravity, driving innovation and building community through curated activation and a trusted circle of foreign entrepreneurs. Their high-touch services aid disruptive thinking, instil an innovative mindset, develop strategy, and kindle robust activity among venture capital activists. This renowned accelerator will combine mentorship, work-based learning, and tech entrepreneurship to develop a new generation of workforce-ready talent and scalable startups.

PKF presented this quality accelerator to the leadership of Malta Enterprise, and it is hoped that under an energetic administration, this institution will do its part to discuss terms. It would not replace formal education but complement it by filling the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical, in-demand skills. If properly integrated, it could become a key driver of our future knowledge economy and a solution to both the skills’ gap and brain drain.