Dr Claude Farrugia, FOI Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Sector Group co-ordinator, as well as Cecilia Vella, FOI executive responsible for this sector group, held a meeting on March 23 with John Sciberras, director of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (IEEE) of the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST).

The main focus of this meeting was for both parties to introduce their respective involvement within the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector based in Malta. Mr Sciberras was interested in becoming aware of the requirements this sector has for the installation and maintenance of equipment, as well as developments in the skills of electrical/electronic/mechanical technicians required by this sector.

During this introductory meeting, it was proposed that all participants of the FOI Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Sector Group would visit the Institute and discuss their respective needs in this area of operations. During such a visit, the sector group would be introduced to the Institute and the courses conducted, as well as the technology of the equipment used for the current course programmes.

Moreover, it is also being proposed that similar visits would be organised between the FOI and IEEE in future for FOI members operating in other manufacturing and services sectors to ensure that the institute is able to adapt its courses in the direction of the technology trends required by Malta-based industry.