The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the newly established Malta Chamber of Construction Management (MCCM) to support the professionalisation of construction in the country.
The MoU commits the parties for the next three years to cooperate on education and training, and "to raise the profile and recognition of professional management in construction and projects for the benefit of the industry, its clients and society at large."
It sees the CIOB providing discounts for MCCM members on selected courses run by the CIOB Academy; working with MCCM to develop the standards for a Certified Construction Manager; and facilitating MCCM members in their progression towards MCIOB and FCIOB status following the required legislation changes in Malta and the required CIOB mapping process.
Formed this year, the MCCM aims to promote high standards in quality, ethics and innovation.
"There is no doubt that in Malta there are a good number of construction managers of various levels, with years of experience," MCCM president Jesmond Chetcuti MCIOB said at a press conference Wednesday, 4 August. "However, not all of them, for some reason or another, have the academic background to complement their experience."
He said this was being addressed through collaborations with local and foreign educational institutions, adding that the MoU "seeks to send a strong message that the Chamber is looking at quality and not quantity."
"I want to thank Jesmond and the Minister, the Honourable Ian Borg, who made time to meet with me during my visit last year and talk about the priorities for the construction sector in Malta and how CIOB could help," said CIOB chief executive Caroline Gumble. "And now so much progress has been made. Those conversations about professionalism, about quality, about how the experience and skills of construction managers can be recognised and supported feel like they’ve come to life."
"It is vital that we don’t shrink away from some of the challenges that being a construction professional can pose," she added. "As professionals, we have undertaken to think about the challenges and take responsibility to do whatever we can, as individuals, to ensure the quality of the built environment.
"That is why ethical standards – the foundation of trust – are such an important part of CIOB’s mission. For those of you who are already CIOB members, and those of you who I hope will become members, we set and maintain the standards in our code of conduct, principles such as acting with integrity, honesty and trustworthiness, treating others with respect at all times, and being accountable for our decisions and actions."
Video: Juwill Productions
Image: CIOB chief executive Caroline Gumble speaking at the launch of the MoU on Wednesday, 4 August 2021 (Courtesy of the CIOB)
