On the 5^th of January 2026, the Chamber of Engineers has been made aware that the Board tal-Inġiniera (the regulatory body of the engineering profession) passed a motion by majority vote to move forward with the evaluation of warrant applications from engineering graduates from the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST). Following this motion, the Board is expected to receive eligible applicants for their warrant interview.

This logical next step follows the rejection of the Warrant of Prohibitory Injunction (Mandat ta’ Inibizzjoni) which the trade union MAPE filed against the Board tal-Inġiniera. The MCAST study programmes in scope underwent an Evaluation Process by ASIIN between 2020 and 2022 where recommendations put forward by ASIIN to ensure equivalency with the UM degrees were implemented by MCAST. The results and the evaluation reports pertaining to the process, together with recommendations made by the Chamber, are publicly available on the Chamber’s website and described further here. Following the successful conclusion of the evaluation process, the Bord tal-Inġiniera, in agreement with key stakeholders, including the Chamber of Engineers, recognised that graduates from the MCAST PWQC and graduates from MCAST B.Eng.(Hons.) programmes are eligible to be considered for their warrant to practice in the profession of Inġinier, in accordance with Article 3(2) in the Inġiniera Act (CAP321).

The Chamber is duty bound to present clarifications regarding concerns made about the eligibility of the warrant by non‑EU nationals (also known as Third Country Nationals). The Inġiniera Act (Cap. 321) is non-discriminatory and does not distinguish between applicants based on their nationality. Eligibility criteria to qualify for the warrant are defined in Article 3(2) of Cap. 321. The Chamber urges its members and all those concerned not to engage in speculation on these legal provisions.

The Chamber furthermore highlights that applicants from cohorts following the Mechanical Engineering undergraduate programme and the Electrical and Electronic Engineering undergraduate programme at the University of Malta graduated prior to 2016 and 2021 respectively, i.e. predating the external accreditation processes, remain eligible for their warrant interview under the current stipulations of CAP 321. Similarly, applicants from the Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Computer Engineering) in possession of a Master of Science within the engineering field also remain eligible. The eligibility requirements are highlighted within the guidelines issued by the Board tal-Inġiniera. It is the expectation of the Chamber of Engineers that any changes to the requirements governing warrant eligibility are made through a proper consultation process. This includes specifically but not limited to changes to include external accreditation being a requirement for undergraduate courses to be eligible to be considered for a warrant. Consultation with stakeholders in the profession in this matter is paramount so the impact on the profession especially with regards to existing graduates who have not obtained their warrant is appropriately assessed and mitigated.

The Chamber of Engineers reaffirms its commitment to the agreement established with the Board and MCAST following the thorough ASIIN Evaluation Process between 2021 and 2022 described above and advocates against further unnecessary delays. The Chamber reiterates its support for all prospective and practising Inġiniera whose education is grounded in institutions that uphold the professional, ethical, and societal standards required by the engineering community and by the law.

As the professional association representing the engineering community in Malta as described in Article 18(1) of Cap. 321, the Chamber of Engineers remains committed to providing clear, accurate and factual updates on the developments affecting the engineering profession to its members, the members of the engineering profession, prospective Inġiniera and the general public.