The has published its latest Biennial Report covering 2021-2022. During this period, the CLS celebrated its 40th anniversary. The latest edition of the Biennial Report includes seven articles on the impact of the CLS on different aspects of the Maltese labour market. Below is a summary of each of these articles.
Prof. Edward Zammit’s article is a reproduction of his speech given at an event celebrating the 40th anniversary of the CLS, Prof. Zammit reflects on how research had concluded that an autonomous support structure was needed to promote workers’ participation in the workplace in Malta, including an ongoing research programme and an education and training strategy.
As a result, it was decided to establish the Centre for the Development of Workers’ Participation at the University of Malta, better known today as the CLS. Prof. Zammit reflects on the important role that trade unions played in establishing the CLS, and that much of the Centre’s early work focused on worker participation at the Malta Drydocks. In addition, the first diploma offered by the CLS, the Diploma in Labour Studies, was aimed at workers who had not previously studied at a university.
Many of the early CLS students went on to become union activists as well as leaders in the public and private sectors. The article notes that over time, the CLS developed courses in industrial relations, occupational health and safety, career guidance, gender studies, and human resources. Internationally, the Centre became actively involved in the work of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound), years before Malta’s application for EU membership. The article also notes how the work of the CLS may have helped reduce the culture of hostility between the trade unions and employers. Looking to the future, the article notes that ‘the value of solidarity which is the basis not only of unionisation but also of democracy is being eroded and replaced by individualism and hedonism.’ And that ‘It is important for us to realise that we are all in the same boat and that we can only overcome the obstacles ahead of us if we all pull the same rope.’
An article by points out that the CLS was a pioneer in the field of worker education, having offered its first programmes in 1982. The article highlights that aside from the four programmes now offered by the CLS – the Diploma in Gender, Work and Society; the Degree in Work and Human Resources; the Degree in Occupational Health and Safety; and the Postgraduate Diploma in Career Guidance – sustained study of the world of work and its workers does not feature at all or only obliquely in most of the 700+ programmes of study offered at UM. The article discusses the benefits of studying the world of work and outlines how the Centre initially offered certificates, but then, in view of the demand to democratise access to tertiary education, these morphed into diplomas and then into degrees. The article notes that while the CLS took the lead in educating workers, other organisations soon followed. It also notes that perceptions of education continue to change and that the European Commission now promotes micro-credentials. The article concludes by highlighting that much of Malta’s workforce is made up of workers who struggle to find time for and to access worker education, including the self-employed and workers in precarious employment, including foreign workers. It notes that Malta does not have provisions for worker education and training as a basic right at law, and that while worker education has come a long way in the last forty years, it still has a long way to go.
An article by addresses the issue of adult political education, which is seen as a deliberate and planned attempt to provide regular and sequenced programs explicitly aimed at challenging individuals’ political beliefs and ideas. The article notes that the CLS sought to attract the broadest possible categories of workers or their representatives and that via its programs, the CLS challenged the beliefs held by individuals. The article notes that the CLS was not the only player in adult political education, noting the role of the Catholic Church and the two mainstream Maltese political parties, the Partit Nazzjonalista (Nationalist Party) and the Partit Laburista (Labour Party) which established their own institutions for worker and adult education.
An article by examines the rationale behind the lifelong career guidance and development programme and its impact. The article notes that career guidance in Malta does not benefit from legal professional status, resulting in individuals with varying qualifications, knowledge and skills working in the field. Subsequently, the quality of services offered has not always been acceptable. Since 2006, the CLS, in conjunction with the Faculty of Education, began offering a postgraduate diploma, which was upgraded in 2014 to a master’s degree in lifelong career guidance and development. These courses aimed to promote and develop career guidance in Malta by raising its professional standards. The programme did not focus only on young students or initial career choices but embraced a more holistic perspective of lifelong career development. The article points to the positive impact the course had on the career outcomes of graduates. An online survey of graduates found that almost the entire sample was in full-time employment and that the present job of nearly three-quarters of the sample met their expectations; only 10% were actively seeking alternative employment. The study also revealed that many graduates continued their education, and emphasised the positive impact of the course on their personal and professional development. The article concludes that government support is needed to establish a comprehensive and holistic approach to career guidance in Malta. This can lead to better-informed career choices, reduced skills mismatches, increased productivity, and enhanced social and economic mobility for individuals in Malta.
In a second article on the development and impact of the bachelor in work and human resources programme at the CLS, Prof. Manwel Debono examines how the course was instigated by the need to strengthen the field of human resources in Malta. The article notes that HR jobs are not legally regulated, and the interests of practitioners are not represented by an independent professional association. Nevertheless, employers are increasingly recognising the benefits of having a dedicated HR function. The CLS course, offered in collaboration with the filled a gap, as a course dedicated to HR was not previously offered at the UM. The article describes the holistic course programme and the rationale behind it. Career outcomes of graduates are also detailed. Amongst the key findings, almost all graduates were in full-time employment, held senior positions and earned above-average wages. The majority reported holding a job related to HR and that their current job met their expectations. The study also found that numerous graduates credited the programme with advancing their careers, increasing their professionalism and also providing them the opportunity and motivation to continue their education.
An article by focuses on the Diploma in Gender, Work and Society, offered by the CLS in collaboration with the . Since its inception, the course has attracted about 200 students. The article reports on the findings of a tracer study conducted in early 2023 of the last four cohorts of graduates. The study revealed that the course largely attracted mature women who were in paid employment. When assessing the impact of the course on past students, the study revealed that it had a positive impact on their personal and professional development, with many citing benefits in both areas. Graduates’ increased awareness of gender issues also helped them in their parental roles and in their relationships with others. The course clearly served as a springboard and motivated many of the graduates to continue studying. The past students made several suggestions on how to improve the course. The article concludes that the course needs to attract more men and younger women and needs to be restructured to reflect the push for online learning in a post- COVID-19 environment.
An article by and Dr Francis La Ferla looks at the contribution of the CLS to the development of occupational health and safety in Malta. Over the past 25 years, the CLS has offered two influential programmes in this field: the Diploma in Social Studies (Occupational Health and Safety) and the subsequent Bachelor in Occupational Health and Safety (Hons). The article first traces the development of the diploma and highlights the positive impact it has had on graduates. A tracer study of graduates found that the vast majority were employed in senior positions, whilst almost half held positions related to health and safety. Despite the positive results, changes including an international push for professionalisation and the changing world of work led the CLS to develop a bachelor’s degree in the area. The article discusses the development of this degree and the positive impact graduates have had, including their commitment to advancing the profile of the profession. The article also describes some of the other contributions the CLS has made to the field, including contributions to research and the organising of outreach events. Looking ahead, the article notes that regulations do not define who can work as an occupational health and safety practitioner in Malta, and argues that regulation is needed, while the minimum qualification for competence should be a university degree.
The full biennial report, which includes each of these articles, as well as a description of the CLS’ work during 2021-2022 can be found .
