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From the way we connect, to how we learn and work, to the ways we navigate both the real and virtual worlds and even how we envision our future, ����������� and Communication Technology (ICT) has become the thread woven through every aspect of daily life.

As it has done over the past years, the University of Malta’s Faculty of ICT is once again celebrating this ever-growing impact through the work of its students, who continue to explore, innovate, and shape the world of tomorrow.

, very aptly themed Shaping Tomorrow, which took place between Friday 4 and Saturday 5 July at the Faculty Building in Tal-Qroqq, was an absolute celebration of this transformative power of technology.

Marking the opening of this two-day event were a series of Awards handed out to the best final year projects out of the 76 exhibited throughout the weekend. Mr Bradley Camilleri, Mr Matthew Mifsud and Mr Andrea Filiberto Lucas were awarded based on their merit, as selected by external examiners of the Faculty. The first project focused on automating client-side database upgrades through version control, the second explored code attestation techniques to detect monitor compromise, enhancing system security, while the third applied video and text processing to accurately extract names from news video graphics, improving content indexing in media workflows.

Dr Inġ. Bonnie Attard, President of the Chamber of Engineers, and Ms Ylenia Grima, final-year Bachelor of Science (Hons.) Computer Engineering student, both delivered speeches during the Award Ceremony, reminding the audience of the interdisciplinarity of ICT: a field that bridges engineering, science, creativity and problem-solving to address real-world challenges across virtually every sector.

Prof. Inġ. Simon G. Fabri, the University’s Pro-Rector for Research and Knowledge Transfer, spoke at the Opening of the Expo, saying “We are incredibly proud of how our students are not only mastering complex ICT concepts, but already applying them in ways that address real-world challenges. Their work reflects a strong sense of civic responsibility and a clear commitment to contributing meaningfully to society; values that lie at the heart of our University’s mission.”

The Faculty also opened the doors of its labs for free, fun, and interactive sessions designed for all the family, offering hands-on experiences that brought technology to life for visitors of all ages. The cutting-edge Microelectronics, Nanoelectronics and Microeletromechanical (MEMS) Testing Lab, where the tiniest technologies drive the biggest breakthroughs, showed visitors how these technologies are the beating heart of Artificial Intelligence. Children were able to meet Pepper, a semi-humanoid at the Faculty’s Pervasive Lab, and they were also able to step into the world of game development with Tiny Hero – a fast-paced game.

“Stimulating curiosity from an early age is essential to nurturing the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers. By engaging young minds with hands-on experiences and interactive learning, we inspire a lifelong passion for technology and creativity, laying the foundation for the future leaders of ICT and beyond”, said Dr Conrad Attard, Deputy Dean and main organiser of this event.

Another highlight of the Expo, which were also a first-time addition to the yearly format of activities, were the series of podcasts moderated by local presenters Keith Demicoli and Lara Azzopardi, and featuring the insights of a plethora of industry practitioners, some of whom are also former students of the Faculty.

The podcasts tackled the pertinent matters of how tech is shaping our health services, how accessibility and assistive technology are improving lives, and what opportunities and challenges it is presenting in the education realm. Together with a number of breakout sessions about network infrastructure security, enterprise applications, and postgraduate opportunities at UM, these were an offered valuable insight for those considering a future in ICT; whether they were just starting out and unsure which degree to pursue, or already working in the industry and looking to explore successful, real-world applications of technology.

“As Malta continues to rely heavily on the ICT sector as a key pillar of its economy and future development, the need for skilled, forward-thinking professionals has never been greater. Events like the ICT Expo remind us that nurturing this talent pipeline is not just important — it’s essential” – Prof. Carl James Debono, Dean of the Faculty of ICT.

More information about the Expo and its participants can be found online.

For the Faculty’s programmes visit the Undergraduate Page and the Postgraduate Page where you can Apply now.

Special thanks to the firms and organisations who supported this year’s Faculty of ICT Expo and Publication: the Malta ����������� Technology Agency, KPMG Microsoft Business Solutions, NOKIA, IEEE Computer Society, IEEE Malta Section, Alludo, APS Bank Ltd, Ascent, Bank of Valletta, Computime, CrabNebula, Deloitte, Epic, GO, Grassi Ventures Ltd, ICT Solutions, Lemonworx Ltd, the Malta Digital Innovation Authority, Nium, Tech.mt, Tipico, Exigy, EY, Leo Vegas, the Malta Communications Authority and PwC.