Professor Joachim James Calleja has been involved in vocational education and training since 2001. Professor Calleja is the longest serving Principal/CEO of the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology from 2018 to 2024. He was Director of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) in Thessaloniki from 2013 to 2018. Prior to CEDEFOP, he served as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Employment in his native Malta from 2011 to 2013. He is currently the President of EfVET and Head of the European Vocational Academy a work-based learning institution created by and for industry in Malta.

In 2005 he was entrusted with the setting up of the Malta Qualifications Council where he served as CEO until December 2010. He was an Associate Professor of the University of Malta and served as its Council member. He represented Malta on the EQF Advisory Group, on CEDEFOP’s Governing Board and on the Bologna Follow-Up Group. For six years (2015-2021) he was a Board member of the Hong Kong Council for the Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKAAVQ).

A prolific writer, Professor Calleja has published books and articles and has edited various publications. He is the co-author of the Malta Referencing Report of the Malta Qualifications Framework to the EQF and EHEA. A book Walk the Talk will be published in Summer 2025 by EfVET gatherings most of his articles written for the Organization’s Magazine. He has participated in international events in various countries in Europe, North America, South-East Asia, Australia, Canada, Africa, South Africa, the Middle East and in the Mediterranean region.