The Faculty of ICT Expo, held on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 July 2024, was a resounding success, drawing an impressive and diverse crowd from all age groups.
Students, industry professionals, as well as curious community members filled the premises, eager to explore over 70 students’ final year projects, and by inference, some of the latest advancements in information and communication technology.
The FICT 2024 featured numerous reputable tech companies, each contributing to the event’s success by imparting valuable knowledge through engaging breakout sessions with students. These sessions provided a unique opportunity for attendees to learn directly from industry leaders about industry trends.
“This direct engagement fostered inspiration and encouraged many to consider pursuing a career in ICT, making the expo a pivotal experience for all involved”, said Dean of the Faculty of ICT, Prof. Ing. Carl J. Debono.
Additionally, the Dean’s Awards ceremony recognised the outstanding efforts of top ICT students, celebrating their achievements and inspiring their peers.
Present at the Awards Ceremony was Hon. Keith Azzopardi Tanti, Malta’s Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research & Innovation, who said that the importance of technology in all of our lives can never be overstated, and thus the invaluable work being conducted by all will always receive full support by the government.
An exciting element of this year's ICT Expo was the STEM sessions specifically designed for families. These sessions were a hit, captivating young minds with hands-on activities and interactive learning experiences. The highlight for many was the opportunity to engage with robots, which sparked immense curiosity and enthusiasm. Children eagerly participated in programming and operating the robots, showcasing their creativity and problem-solving skills.
The sessions not only provided a fun and educational experience but also aimed to inspire the next generation of innovators. The positive response and high level of engagement demonstrated the effectiveness of integrating STEM activities into the expo, emphasising the importance of early exposure to technology and engineering concepts.
The high turnout underscored a growing interest in technology and its applications, together with the Expo’s reputation as a premier event for innovation and learning, said Dr Conrad Attard, the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of ICT. “Overall, it also highlighted the University’s central role in fostering technological education and community engagement”, he continued.
Watch some highlights from the Expo below: