Thursday, July 2, 2009, by Martin Debattista
ICT and engineering students showcase their talent
This year's ICT and engineering students' exhibition at the University of Malta is set against a background of
interesting and rapid developments within the faculties of ICT and engineering, both investing heavily in research
facilities and programmes of research and study.
One hundred and thirty-eight final year student projects are being showcased at the Faculty of Engineering and
Faculty of Information and Communication Technology exhibitions being held tomorrow between 5 p.m. and 8
p.m. The engineering projects exhibition is also open on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
On an annual basis, students in their final year of studies put up an exhibition of their projects. The exhibitions
have been held since 1998 and are open to the public. They provide visitors with the opportunity to gain firsthand
experience of the various student projects and state-of-the-art laboratories pertaining to different departments at
the Faculty of Engineering. The experience will help prospective students make a more informed career choice in
ICT and engineering.
This year, the ICT projects exhibition will include a number of highly innovative projects in all ICT areas. Making a
first-appearance is Ġiġ, an advanced 14-inch tall humanoid robot built by students in the Faculty's Special Project
Lab as part of an artificial intelligence course. Ġiġ was built using 15 servo-motors and a special robotics
controller. He will be performing all sorts of tricks during the exhibition. The Faculty of ICT is looking forward to an
exciting future. Ahead are a very busy three years which involve the construction and completion of a new, ecofriendly, state-of-the-art ICT building.
This will house all five ICT departments, offices for academic staff and graduate students, lecture rooms, and a
number of modern laboratories with the latest ICT equipment.
The faculty is also phasing out the old four-year IT honours degree and replacing it with a number of so-called 3
plus 2 degree programmes. Students will first read for a three-year degree in an ICT area and then, if they so
choose, a two-year Masters post-graduate degree in ICT. One advantage of a three-year honours degree is that
students can start working a year earlier. The system is being adopted throughout Europe.
On the other hand, the Faculty of Engineering will be benefitting from over €7.3 million in EU funding from the
European Regional Development Fund to set up new state-of-the-art laboratories in the various departments of
the faculty.
Two of the faculty's departments, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering and Metallurgy and Materials
Engineering, are jointly participating in a major project to develop an interdisciplinary material testing and rapid
prototyping research and development facility. Rapid prototyping is a technology whereby a physical model is
made from a computer drawing automatically in a considerable faster time. The setting up of this laboratory will
improve Malta's research and development potential. The development of new products and the enhancement of
existing products through the rapid design and development of innovative products will become possible.
Energy and the efficient use of energy are hot topics. The project being led by the Department of Industrial Power
Conversion aims to set up the infrastructure required for an electrical energy and efficiency laboratory through the
provision of state-of-the-art equipment concerned with renewable energy sources and the best conventional
means of generation; conversion, storage and control of energy and its grid-connection.
The setting up of a Mechanical Engineering Computer Modelling and Simulation Laboratory is the project that
was successfully funded to support teaching and research at the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Computer modelling techniques provide in-depth analyses, assisting engineers to develop more structurally and
process efficient mechanical components. The lab will also be equipped with software that models combustion in
engines and behaviour characteristics of marine vessels.
Control systems are found everywhere, from washing machines to sophisticated aircraft. Some of the ERDF
funds will be used to modernise the infrastructure of the Control Systems Engineering Laboratory in the Faculty
of Engineering through the provision of state-of-the-art equipment.
Another project being led by the Department of Systems and Control Engineering focuses on establishing a
Biomedical Engineering Laboratory. The lab will include equipment such as ultrasound, EEG equipment for
measuring the electrical signals from the brain, thermal imaging, and robotics for rehabilitation of disabled people.
This will facilitate the interaction between engineering and medical professionals.
An Information seminar for prospective students of the Faculty of Engineering will be held tomorrow at 4 p.m. at
Sir Temi Zammit Hall on campus. For more information one may visit www.eng.um.edu.mt/exhibition2009.