HP, the Malta Information Technology Agency (MITA), the University of Malta, and the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) this week signed the Memoranda of Understanding to create two educational centres in Malta in 2011. The aim of this strategic collaboration is to provide students studying ICT with access to the latest information technologies and knowledge databases.

The University of Malta has been selected to join the HP International Institute of Technology (HP IIT) programme. Within the framework of the HP IIT programme, the university will be provided with the newest HP technologies (both hardware and software) for the creation of a new research and education centre. HP experts and university professors will jointly develop new educational courses for students in the field of ICT as well as organise related research projects. Furthermore, Maltese undergraduate and postgraduate students will have the opportunity to participate in international internships at HP and HP Labs, as well as to in exchange programmes with other universities participating in the IIT programme. ‘Classic’ curricula will be enriched with new educational material and laboratory studies, and students will be exposed to cutting edge topics by researchers from HP Labs, who will be invited to deliver lectures at the university as part of the programme.

Another HP educational centre will also be opened at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST). This will be focused on providing more in-depth professional expertise in a number of mainstream IT and related technologies, and give very practical knowledge aimed at young IT professionals entering the IT sector. Courses on specific HP technologies will equip students particularly well for employment where these technologies are used. Some courses will be also available on a fee-paying basis.

After a successful trial phase in Russia, the HP International Institute of Technology (HP IIT) is now being rolled out to further higher educational institutions in Europe. At present there are centres functioning successfully in Bulgaria, Poland and the Ukraine, and the programme is developing further to the West, and now – in Malta. The HP IIT community consists of 21 leading universities in which HP research and education centres are being established, and unique IT education courses are being created. The Maltese centre will have access to educational courses developed by all other members, as cooperation among the participants of the programme is one of its most important goals.

“Technological innovation holds immense promise for addressing societal challenges,” says Herbert Rastbichler, HP vice president and managing director of Central and Eastern Europe. “Our efforts with the Malta Information Technology Agency demonstrate our pursuit of improving access to newest technologies and driving positive change for further employment opportunities and research work of the Maltese students.”

The centres will support the university and college in bringing real-time knowledge about newest technologies to students and provide them with access to latest information and practical preparation for continuing their career in the IT field.

“Collaboration with world leading companies in the ICT industry, such as HP, is very important for Malta, especially given its strategic direction on its way to the creation of an advanced knowledge society,” says Claudio Grech, chairman of MITA. “Strategic partnership with HP is an opportunity to leverage the advanced know-how and technologies of the world’s largest technology company, so as to contribute towards the further growth and evolution of the local information society and economy in line with the government’s National ICT Strategy”.

“We are delighted that the University of Malta has been chosen to house the HP International Institute of Technology,” says university rector Prof. Juanito Camilleri. “With the help of HP IIT, our students and professors will be able to learn about the latest trends in the industry. The link with HP is particularly important as it helps plug us into developments in the business world and enable us to adapt existing courses to reflect the changing demands of the economy.”

In addition to the provision of the necessary equipment for the centres, professors both at university and MCAST will be trained to deliver courses at their respective HP educational centres. They will be able to choose curricula most in demand by the Maltese economy. Also, they will have access to an online portal to exchange experiences with professors working in other universities.

“The mission of MCAST is to provide universally accessible vocational and professional education and training with an international dimension, responsive to the needs of the individual and the economy,” says Professor Maurice Grech, Principal and CEO of MCAST. “Collaboration with a world-wide IT leading company such as HP, working in over 170 countries, will help our students not only to get a state-of-the-art level of professional IT education, but most importantly to become requested and highly valuable IT specialists capable of implementing their knowledge in Malta’s dynamic business environment.”