Chamber of Engineers (CoE) representatives presented the “Engineering Education in Malta: Paving the Way for Future Industry” report to the University of Malta Rector Professor Alfred J Vella at the UM Msida Campus on 17 October, according to a press statement sent to Business Malta.
The report, funded through the Voluntary Organisations Project Scheme, outlines the reasons observed behind the gradual decline of students opting for engineering career paths, the recommendations prompted by this study and the way forward, which the CoE is adopting.
This is a Europe-wide issue and not only one encountered in Malta, as reported by the CoE through their contacts at European Federation of National Engineering Associations (FEANI) that unites national engineering associations from 33 European Higher Education Area (EHEA) countries, the university press statement says.
“UM has been closely observing this issue and has welcomed this research study that can help formulate a strategy to improve the uptake of STEM subjects during early education,” said Professor Vella during the meeting. He also emphasised that various initiatives are being carried out by UM to promote STEM subjects: science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“The Chamber of Engineers will be promoting the profession among the younger generations and will continue to strategically address challenges which the profession is facing,” said CoE President Daniel Micallef.
Andrew Sammut, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, and Professor Carl James Debono, Dean of the Faculty of ICT, also attended the meeting and discussed the initiatives taken up by their respective faculties: technology clubs, outreach programmes with students, educators and guidance teachers, and public relations initiatives to showcase the STEM professions.
At the meeting, the Chamber of Engineers was represented by Daniel Micallef, CoE President; Malcolm Zammit, CoE Secretary General; and CoE Education sub-committee members Marc Anthony Azzopardi and Brian Zammit.
Representatives of the CoE said that the report is one step in the journey ahead and the chamber intends to commission further work that aims to promote the engineering profession among all the generations.