MCAST is the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology and is the largest vocational institution in Malta, officially inaugurated in September 2001. Our Mission Statement clearly emphases the international dimension of the education and training to be provided to all our students: “To provide universally accessible vocational and professional education and training with an international dimension, responsive to the needs of the individual and the economy”. The main role of the College is to provide vocational education and training to Maltese young people in order to satisfy the requirements of the local industry. The College, a unique institution on the Maltese Islands, is made up of 6 Institutes, mainly:
• Institute of Information and Communication Technology,
• Institute of Business Management and Commerce
• Institute of Engineering and Transport
• Institute for the Creative Arts
• Institute of Community Services
• Institute of Applied Sciences
MCAST is the Lead Partner for CoachEd6.
Dr Renzo Kerr Cumbo – Project Coordinator
Dr Renzo Kerr Cumbo – Senior Lecturer at MCAST is an ex-Malta National Team Handball player, who has moved into Handball coaching and then football coaching at young age. He is a qualified football physical trainer and a UEFA A coach with coaching experience in all age groups, including senior coaching across all the Maltese divisions. Renzo is a BEd (Hons) graduate with specialisation in Physical Education, with an MSc in Sports Coaching from Loughoborough University, and a PhD from the University of Sheffield. In his doctoral studies he investigated the process of coaching through principles of play, and the way coaches generate tactical content knowledge to supplement their coaching. Renzo is currently a Senior Sports Lecturer at MCAST, where he lectures on the BSc (Hons) in Sport, Exercise and Health, in the MSc in Exercise and Sports Science and on the Master in Vocational Education Applied Research 4.0.
Renzo has spearheaded the application process of CoachEd6, and is now coordinating the project and its partners.
Mr. Ivan Woods - Academic Expert
Mr. Ivan Woods – Is a senior Lecturer at the Malta College of Arts, Science, and Technology (MCAST) and is an ex-Malta National Football team player. He also spent almost 20 years playing in the Maltese Premier division playing for Valletta F.C., Pieta Hotspurs F.C., Sliema Wanderers F.C., and Floriana F.C. along the way. Upon retiring, he immediately went into coaching having the opportunity to coach all levels from under 10s to first-team football. Ivan is a qualified football physical trainer and a UEFA A license coach. Currently, he is reading for the UEFA Pro license. Apart from his lecturing duties at MCAST, Ivan is also the Head of Grassroots football with the Malta Football Association where which looks to improve the level of football in Malta by strengthening the setup and provision of the footballing experience during the crucial developmental stages of young players. Ivan is a Bed (Hons) graduate in Physical Education with an MSc in Performance Coaching from Stirling University, Scotland.
Mr. Herman Bugeja - Academic Expert
Mr. Herman Bugeja – is a Lecturer at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST). Herman is also a qualified UEFA ‘A’ coach and a qualified football physical trainer with over 15 years of experience in coaching both in youth and senior football. He is currently the Head of the Development Phase and Head Coach of the U17 and U19 Football Teams at Pieta’ Hotspurs FC and is currently finishing his UEFA A Elite coaching licence.
Herman is a B. Ed (Hons) graduate with an MSc in Sports Coaching from the University of Birmingham in the UK.
Charlene Attard - Field Expert
Charlene Attard–PE Teacher at a secondary school is a former national sprinter and Olympian. She is now the MOC Director responsible for the Maltese Olympic Academy. Charlene is a B.Sc(Business and Computing), PGCE (Computing) and MA (PE and Sports Studies). She is a qualified athletics and swimming coach. Charlene is currently reading for the IOC certificate Drugs in Sport.
Charlene is also the Education Officer with NADOMalta, a Director with SportMalta and commission member with International School Sport Federation.
Ms Cherise Zammit – Learner
Cherise is currently in her second year undertaking a BSc (Hons) in Sport, Exercise and Health at MCAST. She is a qualified gym instructor with a diploma in sports at MCAST. Cherise has been into football for the past 7 years, being part different clubs and also part of the U19s national team and development team of Malta. She’s currently playing for the women’s Raiders Gharghur FC team.
Cherise is one of the Maltese CoachEd6 learners. She will be providing feedbac during the unit development stage.
James Scicluna – Learner
James was born and lived sports allthrough his life. Ever since he was a child, he always remembers himself with a ball at his feet. He is currently (2020) a 22 year old, playing for Pieta Hotspurs in the Maltese National League. James formed part of the U19s National Maltese team and is now forming part with the Malta U21s National Football team. James has so far obtained coaching experience by coaching young football players including the U5s, U6s, U8s, U10s and U13s. Moreover, James has also worked as a futsal coach with the U7s and U9s.
James is currently in his final year, reading for a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Sport, Exercise and Health at MCAST Malta. In his dissertation James is focusing on the attacking phase of Manchester City and is mainly focusing on their recovery of ball possession.
James will be providing CoachEd6 with the learner’s insights during the development of coaching units at MQF/EQF 6.
Gary Bugeja – Learner
Gary has coached football at youth level from U6 to assisting U15 in various local clubs. Gary also coached with various sports within the SportMalta training programme. Moreover, Gary is also into fitness coaching, especially in movement, and sport-specific exercises having worked with DAP and Vitera Health and Fitness.
CoachEd6 thanks Gary for his involvement in providing feedback during the unit development process of this coaching education programme.
Nicole Zammit– Learner
Nicole Zammit is a 19-year-old student at Mcast currently in her 2nd year reading for a BSc (Hons.) in Exercise, Health and Sport. She is also qualified as a fitness instructor following an advanced diploma acquired through Mcast. As of right now, Nicole is playing with Kirkop United. Previously she has played for Birkirkara FC, which has led her to 2 experiences in the champions league. Nicole has also had experiences with the U19s women’s national team as she has played against many teams such as; Finland, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Estonia and more. She has also a passion for pain rehabilitation and is eager to increase her studies abroad.
Nicole considers this role in the CoachEd6 project as an important learning experience for her. We consider Nicole and her input as important for the development of sports coaching units.