Communications Technology students showcase dynamic future

Today's modern technologies are opening up broad, challenging and interesting opportunities. Computers have affected everyone's way of living and play an important role in our daily lives. The investment to develop SmartCity Malta has generated a high level of interest in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and in Malta, which has become today's buzzword.

Besides computing there are various other specialised technological fields that should be of interest students and that they should consider for their future career. Communications technology, electronics, computer engineering and electrical/electronic engineering are a few of the specialised areas that complement the SmartCity development and other investments in telecommunications.

Annual projects exhibition

To showcase these fields, MCAST's Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering organises its annual projects exhibition at St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, Valletta.

Apart from being an exhibition aimed at the general public and local industry, it provides a means to motivate students in their specific area, encourages them to carry out research, design circuitry, experiment in various technological fields, and sometimes use technologies that are not even taught at the institute. The projects are a huge challenge and provide students with a stimulating learning opportunity.

Besides being a regular event on the institute's calendar, the exhibition gives industry the opportunity to analyse the diverse projects presented and provides benchmarks in a number of areas. One must praise all students for their commitment, effort and hard work put into the projects as well as the contribution and effort made by lecturing and administrative staff.

This year the final year student cohorts exceeded our expectations. The projects displayed addressed four major areas, namely: control, monitoring, instrumentation and telecommunications.

Control

Four robots were presented in the area of control, some of which can be further developed. The 'Tele-operated mobile robot' is able to go to places that are dangerous for humans. It is controlled by the user through a vision system, which is wireless and interfaced through the software via a capture card.

Another robot displayed was the 'Line follower robot', which follows a pre-defined path with various stations.

The other two robots consisted of an 'Autonomous vehicle' and a 'Bomb disposal robot'; apart from its steering ability the latter robot can also deliver a jet of water at high pressure. The robots were all based around a variety of micro-controllers, usually communicating with a personal computer.

Monitoring

The 'Greenhouse temperature control' was developed to monitor a constant temperature within a greenhouse. Heaters and automated ventilation were used to control low or high temperatures. The main goal of the 'Radio frequency identification system' was to create an inventory management system. This can be used to track, search and label books wirelessly in a library.

The 'Gas tank-capping machine' sponsored by the Enemalta gas division was designed to withstand the harsh industrial environment, and is a good example of simple yet effective automation. The system had to be explosion-proof and built according to ATEX regulations. The machine adjusts itself automatically to three different sizes of gas tanks.

The 'Automation of a bottling and corking system' designed for small wine producers carries out the necessary automation more effectively and efficiently. Both projects made use of programmable logic controllers (PLCs).

Instrumentation and telecommunications

A different project was the 'Automated audio test jig', which is used to test the functionality of audio amplifiers and reduces the need of instrumentation to carry out the test.

Various technologies make today's modern living more comfortable, such as the 'Home automation controlled through an Internet device'. This project provides a way of controlling practically any home appliance remotely through the Internet.

To complement this project, a 'Car entry, security and ignition system using fingerprint detection' was developed. Reliable human authentication schemes are of paramount importance to our society. The advances in biometrics assist in addressing the myriad problems associated with traditional human recognition methods.

The system offers an alternative system for the commonly used 'keys' in the car industry.

Fireworks are associated with 'Fire 1 systems' that are very expensive devices and sometimes beyond most band clubs' budget. The 'Wireless pyro-musical firing system' costs much less than the commercial products and it accurately synchronises a fire display with music while maintaining a high level of security for the user and the equipment.

An interesting project, namely 'Brain computer interface' detects signals from the scalp of a person's head by using scalp electrodes. The signals are amplified, filtered, digitised and displayed are plotted on graphs which are interpreted according to standard frequency charts. This was a good introduction into the medical electronics field. The 'TV transmitter' project consisted of the construction of a transmission system.

The exhibition's purpose

There is a much longer list of exhibited projects at different levels and using varied technologies. The institute uses this opportunity to give a better picture of the courses and their final outcome.

For the second consecutive year a project booklet was published. This gives an overview of the major final year projects submitted as part of the curriculum taught at different courses.

Although the event is important and exciting, in no way does it alienate us from what must be one of our students' objectives - that of finding an occupation and career that satisfies their aspirations and propels them towards further achievements.

In this respect our students have a distinct advantage since they are on an apprenticeship scheme in conjunction with the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC), and are in many cases automatically employed on graduation.

An interesting point to mention is that salaries are normally very competitive, and since job opportunities are regularly being created, this adds to the attractiveness of electrical and electronics engineering courses.

Links with industry

The technological changes taking place in industry necessitate radical revisions of the curriculum, and courses have to be continuously monitored and effectively updated and upgraded. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering provides the highest level of technical skills and competencies that will cater for the current and future needs of industry. The staff's excellence in technical competences and knowledge are a vital support to our students and country.

To keep abreast of what is happening in industry one needs to have the right level of external exposure, which requires good links with industry. Although the tight schedules of the various curricula do not make it easy, there are no obstacles to sending staff on a regular basis to industry. This experience enriches their portfolio, develops their attitudes, knowledge and skills and also helps them to deliver their knowledge to students.

The links and good relationships with industry are a key factor in meeting the needs of labour demand and to keep abreast with technological changes. The Maltese community stands to gain from the synergy between education and training institutions, state-owned organisations and the private sector.

A number of leading communication companies are at the forefront of collaborating with MCAST. They benefit from its resources and take full advantage of the apprenticeship schemes offered in the institute's various courses. Today the college is flexible in these schemes and works hand-in-hand with industry to satisfy its changing requirements.

It used to be a common trend for companies requesting a completely trained worker without giving the college formal support. However, due to the rapid changes in technologies, today companies take a totally different attitude and consider their input in training students as an integral part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR). Malta's leading communication companies are keen to implement CSR measures by voluntarily taking initiatives to improve the quality of life for employees and their families, as well as for the local community and society.

Apprenticeship schemes

The apprenticeship schemes are an effective tool in vocational educational training. These schemes offer industry a good opportunity to develop technicians in a variety of specialisations. The ETC co- ordinates the schemes well and a student has to enter into an agreement stipulating the rights and obligations of all parties involved during the apprenticeship period.

Students mature a lot from on-the-job-training. Positive experience includes model identification, informal and formal learning, individual coaching and mentoring. The latter plays a valuable tool in attaining the benefits of learning within an organisation. Large companies train engineers and technicians to act as job coaches during the apprenticeship, thus assisting in integrating the theoretical and practical aspects of the course.

Career opportunities

Today one cannot ignore the great career opportunities in telecommunications technologies. Telecommunication is based on the fundamental principle of connecting people together in order to communicate. The developments made in telecommunications technologies deal with new ways to open channels of communication through different devices and mediums.

The telecommunications sector has taken advantage of the convergence of technologies, and employs software and network applications within its infrastructure network control. Thus, the traditional telephone that proved to be so important to connect businessmen worldwide has now been greatly improved, and has been joined by the likes of Internet on mobile phones with their respective broadband at 3G communication, and other technological marvels that regularly appear.

Communications Technology diploma

The institute's Communications Technology diploma course provides students with a vocational education and training in all aspects of telecommunications, with emphasis on selected units needed for the local and international market.

Successful candidates will be equipped with the skills and knowledge needed for a wide range of jobs in the expanding telecommunications industry, ranging from designing infrastructure and services for the new 3G mobile networks to working on expanding the Internet with new technologies and protocols.

The principles and applications of telecommunications, particularly in the way the technology has moved towards full integration of services, increases the need of technical employees who have the special skills needed to build and deploy robust systems.

Finally, it is also worth mentioning that the development of high-definition TV (HDTV) and various types of set-top boxes is creating the need for other specially trained professionals who are already in short supply within this rapidly expanding sector.

John Sciberras, is director of MCAST, Institute of Electrical and Electronic engineering.