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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 APRIL 2024 6 COMMERCIAL First edition of the EU4Dual Conference held at MCAST THE Malta College of Arts, Sci- ence, and Technology (MCAST) hosted the 1st edition of the Eu- ropean Dual Higher Education Conference (EU4Dual) on cam- pus in Paola. Several project meetings and a conference took place on campus from 8 April to 11 April 2024. The European Dual Stud- ies University (EU4Dual) is co-funded by the Erasmus+ European Universities Alli- ance Programme. It is a trans- national alliance between nine higher education (HE) institu- tions across Europe, namely, MCAST, Mondragon Univer- sity in Spain, FH Joanneum University of Applied Sciences in Austria, Ecole Superieure des Technologies Industrielles Avancees in France, Kosza- lin Technological University in Poland, Duale Hochschule Baden-Wurttemberg in Germa- ny, PAR University College in Croatia, Savonia University of Applied Sciences in Finland and John von Neumann Universi- ty in Hungary. The conference was inaugurated with keynote addresses from a distinguished panel of speakers, including MCAST Principal and CEO Professor Joachim James Calle- ja, former Minister Evarist Bar- tolo, Academic Vice-Rector and Coordinator at EU4Dual Prof Jon Altuna, and World Association for Co-operative & Work-integrated Education (WACE) Dr Norah McRae, in- dustry representative Dr Mark- us Tomaschitzeach, each bring- ing their unique perspectives to the event. The conference's main objective was to delve into the ever-evolving landscape of work and educational policies, offering a platform for vision- ary discussions and practical solutions. Two main themes were discussed during the con- ference: the 'Future of Work', where issues such as technolog- ical disruptions, remote work- ing dynamics, and skills needed for industry 5.0 were discussed, and 'Dual Higher Education', with discussions fo- cusing on policy tasks that help shape the future of education. To date, EU4Dual has been governed by a council compris- ing the rectors of the nine-mem- ber universities. The Governing board announced the handing over of governance to a new entity made up of joint repre- sentatives of the institutions, industry, regions, and students. Of the 60 European Univer- sities in Europe, EU4Dual is breaking new ground - being the first to be governed direct- ly by stakeholders. Mr Michael Seifert, CEO of Seifert Systems in Malta, has been elected the Chairperson of the Governing Board, while Prof. Dr Vicente Atxa, rector of Mondragon University, takes the position of co-chairperson. Key international guest speak- ers on the second day of the conference included Dr Oonagh McGirr, the Strategic Leader for International Tertiary Ed- ucation at FRSA Educational Foundation; Dr John Edwards, the Secretary General of the Eu- ropean Association of Institu- tions in Higher Education (EU- RASHE); and the Executive and Global Strategy Council Mem- ber of the World Association for Cooperative and Work-In- tegrated Education (WACE). Several local and international academic thought leaders, edu- cators, researchers, and indus- try professionals participated in work package meetings organ- ised during the initiative. These presentations enabled partic- ipants to delve into practical strategies, emerging trends, and collaborative approaches, fos- tering a transformative impact on dual education. The alliance announced that Mondragon University in the Basque Region in Spain and Ecole Superieure des Technol- ogies Industrielles Avancees in France will jointly lead the next conference. Paving the way to a greener and sustainable future TO ignite a shift towards sus- tainability in our everyday routines, and reduce the use of plastic containers utilised for bottling water, the Ministry for the Environment, Energy, and Regeneration of the Grand Har- bour has taken proactive steps. For the second year running, the "Be Water Smart" is an im- portant initiative aimed at curb- ing the rampant use of plastic water containers. With a bold investment of €500,000 this innovative water purification scheme empowers households to embrace eco-friendly habits by adopting water filtration and domestic reverse osmosis sys- tems. These schemes are now being administered by the Regulator for Energy and Water Services (REWS) which is offering grants to support your journey towards sustainability and water effi- ciency. In fact, when buying water purifying equipment like re- verse osmosis systems or water filtration systems, you can save up to €300 thanks to the Water Guard, the RO Wave, and the RO recycling grants. With these grants, making the switch to sustainable water solutions has never been more rewarding. The scheme offers three types of grants, to cater for the differ- ent systems: 1. Water Guard: Water filtra- tion system: Water filtra- tion system means an ultra- filtration or microfiltration system, where the filtration equipment itself results in zero water wastage during the filtration process. This excludes jug filters. The grant will cover 40% on the purchase price and instal- lation of Water Filtration System equipment subject to a maximum grant of €100. 2. RO Wave: Reverse Osmosis System: 'Reverse Osmosis System' means a reverse os- mosis system where the re- ject water generated by the system during the filtration process is not diverted back to the residential water storage for re-use. The grant will cover 15.25% on the purchase price and installation of Reverse Os- mosis equipment subject to a maximum grant of €100. 3. RO Recycle: Reverse Os- mosis System with reject water return: 'Reverse Osmosis System with reject water return' means a re- verse osmosis system where the reject water generated by the system during the filtration process is divert- ed back to the residential water storage for re-use. The grant will cover 40% on the purchase price and installation of Reverse Osmosis with reject water return subject to a maxi- mum grant of €300. Water filtration systems, in- cluding reverse osmosis sys- tems, are more than just filtered water and it offers numerous benefits both for you and your home. But it's more than just con- venience - it's an investment in your savings. Moreover, you will be contributing in making a positive difference for the en- vironment. In fact, you will be decreasing your dependency on single-use plastic bottles and in doing so you will also be re- ducing the possibility of having further plastic pollution. Ready to make a meaningful difference for our planet right from your own home? Join us in our mis- sion to cultivate a greener, more sustainable future by embrac- ing small yet powerful changes in your daily routine. Together, let's shape a brighter tomorrow for generations to come! For more information, pro- spective applicants may send an e-mail on servizz@gov.mt or call on 153.