This was announced during the launch of the Malta Skills Championships 2026, an initiative led by the National Skills Council (NSC), which will bring together young students under the age of 25 in competitions across 24 vocational disciplines. The competitions will be held at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) on 11 and 12 November and at the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS) on 17 November.
Malta’s participation in WorldSkills Europe was formally ratified during the organisation’s General Assembly in Helsinki last June. Malta is the 35th member among 36 European member countries and will be officially represented by the National Skills Council. The Permanent Secretary for Education and Sport, Mr Matthew Vella, said that skills development remains an important element in ensuring that education prepares young people for the needs of a constantly evolving world of work. He stated that skills should continue to be given a central place in Malta’s educational and economic vision and emphasised the importance of further strengthening vocational opportunities and the link between learning and practice. “Investing in skills is an investment in our country’s future. We are continuing to work towards an education system that prepares our young people for a constantly changing world of work and gives them the ability to adapt and even shape the future through innovation, digitalisation and the green transition”.
The Executive Chairman of the National Skills Council, Dr Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, said that Malta’s membership in WorldSkills Europe will enable the country to further strengthen its presence within a European network dedicated to excellence in vocational skills. This European platform will give Maltese vocational skills greater visibility and recognition, while also offering opportunities for knowledge exchange and skills development at an international level for both students and educators. “This membership will give us the opportunity to share knowledge and good practices with other countries, benchmark skills standards and further develop collaboration between education, training and industry. The Malta Skills Championships are a concrete step in this process, creating a national platform where skills can be showcased and recognised, while paving the way for Malta’s participation in EuroSkills Düsseldorf 2027”.
The Malta Skills Championships will serve as the starting point for selecting the four competitors who will represent Malta at EuroSkills 2027 in Germany in Web Development, Graphic Design, Cooking and Hotel Reception. Those selected will receive training and preparation with the support of educators and industry experts ahead of the European competition.
Dr Pullicino Orlando went on to explain that the Malta Skills Championships also form part of a broader effort to change perceptions of vocational education and training. “Vocational skills today are not limited to traditional professions. We want to give young people, parents and the public a more realistic and up-to-date picture of the opportunities that vocational pathways can lead to.”
This initiative is being carried out in collaboration with MCAST and ITS, as well as the Directorate for STEM and VET Programmes, The Malta Chamber and the Chamber of SMEs.
During the Malta Skills Championships, the MCAST and ITS campuses will be open to schools, parents, industry representatives and the public. Visitors will have the opportunity to follow the competitions, view projects and technologies related to vocational skills, tour the facilities and learn more about vocational pathways.