eForesee

RE: eForesee malta-ict: Scenarios for Malta in ICT

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  • Subject: RE: eForesee malta-ict: Scenarios for Malta in ICT
  • From: "Ray Muscat"
  • Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 13:03:38 +0200

Agreed Joe.
Ray
-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Woods [] 
Sent: 28 August 2002 10:08
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: eForesee malta-ict: Scenarios for Malta in ICT
Good Morning to All,
I agree with Ray's rationalisation process..although I would
place Technology Culture on top as being the main driver and call
it Science & Technology Culture. A national S&T culture influencing
not just the main players and decision makers but also the general community
will create a demand and a pull for science & technology services, knowledge
and products...upto now we only have a push effect...
S&T if properly inculcated in modern governance will create the enabling
environment
for sustainable development to grow and spread uplifting the quality of life
of
ALL the community.
regards
Joe Woods
CREATECH
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2002 1:15 PM
Subject: RE: eForesee malta-ict: Scenarios for Malta in ICT
Dear All,
As with any brainstorming session, this discussion is essential. However, I
think that we need to have some structure. May I suggest the following
categories and elements, which perhaps would assist us to focus on the
important issues and be aware of the inter-relations of such issues. Of
course, we could add more categories and elements; however, I think that the
former should be restricted as much as possible. Also, we could make use of
the CORDIS Innovation Scoreboard structure.
a) Technology Generators - academic institutions, research institutes, large
businesses (FDIs), attraction of FDIs to Malta, imported technology and/or
technology transfer and/or formal ICT networks, partnerships with foreign
companies, spin-offs, ICT clustering, etc;
b) Human Capital - the workers, innovators and implementers. Education and
training of ICT at all levels (primary, secondary, vocational, academic,
specialisation) and encouragement of young students and/or mature students
and/or qualified people in industry to learn and/or adopt ICT technologies
as a career or a business enabler. Also, the encouraging of people to
develop ICT ideas into marketable products and services;
c) Value-added Support - the identification and possibly the creation of the
 catalysts to support ICT initiatives, and how we could bridge any form of
academic research to industry and vice versa. These could include teaching
institutions, specialized courses, counsellors, support services and
networking, foreign partners, virtual networks, specialized business
assistance;
d) Technology Culture - to set an ICT future as an enabler for a knowledge
driven economy. ICT should be geared to slowly shift our society to a
technology and science oriented one. The acceptance by our community of the
importance and effectiveness of ICT in our everyday life;
e) Funding - the availability of the different stages of financing for the
identified initiatives as well as for specific business opportunities;
f) Infra-structure - the provision of an environment which is conducive to
ICT growth at all levels of our society. The hard-wiring of our systems,
particularly those that link the country to the world need to be built on a
more serious footing. Horizontal and vertical liberalization of all the ICT
sectors, so as to enable true competitiveness of the sector.
Ray
-----Original Message-----
From: Juan Borg Manduca []
Sent: 27 August 2002 11:28
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: eForesee malta-ict: Scenarios for Malta in ICT
----- Original Message -----
From: "Antoine Gambin" 
To: 
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2002 5:28 AM
Subject: Re: eForesee malta-ict: Scenarios for Malta in ICT
> On Mon, 26 Aug 2002 11:50:35 +0200 "Ray Muscat" wrote:
>
> > Juan,
> >
> > I like your contribution. Indeed, our current education system is
> > failing. Instead of trying to nurture the innovative and inquisitive
> > elements of our children, the system is filtering the few
> > academically gifted students from the many practical (and possibly
> > those that do think out of the box) students. The system is preparing
> > students to University, which is itself not entrepreneurial, leading
> > to graduates that are indeed very low on creativity. On the other
> > hand, given the opportunity (such as Young Enterprise), our
> > youngsters prove to all that they can indeed be creative.
> >
> > Ray Muscat
> > KBIC
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Juan Borg Manduca []
> > Sent: 22 August 2002 14:17
> > To: [email protected]
> > Subject: Re: eForesee malta-ict: Scenarios for Malta in ICT
> >
> > I'd like to add to this suggestion (see email from Leonard Bezzina
> > below) because it particularly interests me.
> >
> > Since I have been involved in formative assessments for some time
> > now, an area worth pursuing is how to develop a system which will
> > evolve the present system of education (exam based) into one which
> > will take into consideration the special needs of 'individual' students.
> >
> > In fact, the National Minimum Curriculum makes reference to
> > introducing formative assessments as part of a school's delivery
> > mechanism.
> >
> > In many cases, exams are actually detrimental to our children, and
> > instead of achieving the desired target of 'educating' our children,
> > are actually harming them by focusing on getting the students
> > 'through' exams.
> >
> > The major problem with today's system is that it does the exact
> > opposite of what such a system is supposed to do ie instead of the
> > system being made to fit the student, the student is being forced to
> > fit the system.
> >
> > I would categorise students into three main groups, a) bookworm, b)
> > learning by observation, c) learning by 'hands-on'.
> >
> > The present system caters for only the bookworm (as we all know), and
> > all other students end up falling through the net, and in most cases
> > being branded as failures. This branding of students occurs at as
> > early an age as 5-6 years.
> >
> > The advent of ICT presents us with a unique opportunity to design a
> > case study, eg take the syllabus of one particular subject in one
> > particular year and present the same syallabus in three different
> > formats to suit all groups of students (ie one format will address
> > the bookworm and may not differ considerably from today's
> > presentation method, but the other two would of course ensure that
> > the student learns by using techniques customised to that particular
> > group). The use of computers will be the fulcrum of delivery of
> > curriculum.
> >
> > Of course, proper tests are to be designed in order to be able to
> > categorise students properly.
> >
> > In this manner, one could use this case study on a group of students
> > from a particular school (willing to participate), and results
> > (statistics) could then be used and compared in order to gauge
> > success (or failure) of the project.
> >
> > These are just my thoughts..........
> >
> > Juan
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Leonard Bezzina <>
> > To: [email protected]
> > Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2002 1:18 PM
> > Subject: Re: eForesee malta-ict: Scenarios for Malta in ICT
> >
> > Dear Jennifer,
> > I would like to suggest the following scenario:
> > Malta would become a centre of excellence in ICT in education
> > (practice and theory). This implies a situation where all teachers
> > are making the best possible use of ICT in order to enhance teaching
> > and learning in all areas of the curriculum and at all levels of our
> > education system (primary, secondary, post-secondary and tertiary).
> > This vision includes making most of the communication capabilities of
> > current and future technology in order to promote learning at a
> > distance and at all times of the day (e-learning) and at facilitating
> > communication between parents/guardians and the school. It also
> > implies a situation where Malta develops innovative ways of making
> > use of ICT in our classrooms. Once such a vision is in place we can
> > become a Mediteranean centre of excellence in teacher education in
> > this area. We can then offer appropriate University level courses
> > mainly through distance learning.
> >
> > Leonard Bezzina
> > Jennifer Cassingena Harper wrote:
> > Dear Colleagues, We would like to initiate an on-line discussion
> > on alternative futures for Malta in ICT. We would like you to send us
> > up to ten different scenario themes for Malta in ICT. These can be
> > scenario themes focused on:
> > * specific niche areas (e.g. Malta as an e-learning hub)
> > * or ICT-enabled initiatives (e.g. on-line gambling)
> > * or telecomms-related initiatives
> > * or any other ideas in general !!
> > Ideally, this exercise should not involve too much time - maximum
> > 30 minutes - just jot down what comes immediately to mind. So send us
> > your feedback if possible by Thursday 22 August.Looking forward to
> > hearing from you, Jennifer
> > ___________Dr. Jennifer
> > Cassingena Harper
> > Head, Policy Unit,
> > Malta Council for Science and Technology
> > Villa Bighi, Bighi, Kalkara CSP 11, Malta
> > email: [email protected] http://www.mcst.org.mt
> > direct dial-in: +356 23602125
> > tel. +356 21 660340 (fax) +356 21 660341
> > ___________
> >
> >
> > +++++++++++++++
> > Dr Leonard Bezzina
> > Department of Mathematics, Science and Technical Education
> > Faculty of Education
> > University of Malta
> > Msida MSD 06
> > Malta
> > E-mail address: [email protected]
> > Telephone number: 3290 2404
> > +++++++++++++++
> >
>
> I agree with what Ray is saying about the fact that the system works at
> preparing students for University but isn't the role of institutions like
> ITS and MCAST that of creating alternative avenues towards a rewarding
> career ? I am under the impression that the ITS is doing a good job in
> preparing students with hands on experience. MCAST maybe has not been
> around enough for us to start watching the benefits of its existence.
> Maybe Mr Borg Manduca can illuminate us as to what kind of reaction the
> students and maybe the industries are having to this important role MCAST
> will be playing in the future.
>
> If I remember correctly, in the expert panel meeting of the 23rd of
> August it was said the industry should have a say in what the University
> should be producing so that we do not end up with a massive surplus in
> the traditional professions and a shortage in what the industry of the
> future really needs. There is a delicate balance that has to be struck
> here. I am sure we all remember that a couple of decades ago the numerus
> clausus for entry into University was justified by this very reason and
> other factions were saying it was not just that people who want to follow
> various disciplines are refused the opportunity to do so.
>
> Private industry has a new responsibility to create opportunities for
> students who would like to follow a career which the industry requires.
> University will obviously not be the sole provider of opportunities to
> become a professional. The University population will not be as massive
> as it is today and there will be a shift to institutes like MCAST and
> other training institutions. These institutions will provide
> qualifications which encourage follow up by other qualifications or other
> follow-up-modules to keep the graduate up to date with the fast
> development in the field of ICT which is the focus of this panel. This
> will create a generation of individuals who work in private industry and
> who are in constant update. At the same time, although it might be slower
> in Malta's case due to geographical reasons, one must not omit the
> mobility factor wherein qualifications must be aimed at creating that
> additional opportunity for individuals. Today, a qualification in the
> field of ICT is not just a ticket to a job but to a career. There have
> been other contributions in this panel wherein one spoke of brain drain
> etc. In a field which has nothing to do with ICT, TEFL (Teaching English
> as a Foreign Language), up till some months ago teachers went for a short
> course prescribed by the Department of Education and one could obtain a
> temporary warrant and the story stopped there. Down the line there was
> one qualification in the field which enabled teachers to follow up this
> course outside University and that enabled teachers to practice the
> profession abroad. This new qualification (CELTA) was held once a year
> and was expensive. Now, different schools are running courses under the
> supervision of foreign boards for cheaper fees and with more frequency
> throughout the year.
>
> This is the way forward and new opportunities in ICT will involve
> lifelong update for professionals in the field and new opportunities at
> seeking opportunities elsewhere. These individuals who go are replaced by
> others who come into our industry with other backgrounds and ideas and
> Malta can benefit from this exchange.
>
> FREE!! Submit your website's URL to the largest search-engine for Maltese
web-sites on the Net AT NO COST!
> Simply go to http://searchmalta.com/submit/ and follow the instructions on
the site.
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> sender : Antoine Gambin 
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> This is the malta-ict mailing list of the EU financed eFORESEE
> project on regional foresight. Please go to the project website
> at http://eforesee.info to subscribe, unsubscribe or update
> your profile. Feel free to forward this message to colleagues or
> friends interested in any foresight related activities.
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
Antoine,
We are talking about two separate issues here.
The issue that I mentioned in my earlier contribution dealt with the system
of education irrespective of discipline, and commencing from ages as young
as 5 or 6.
Your point (para 1) relates to "alternative avenues" to University.
You are correct. MCAST is an alternative route (vocational) to University
(academic).
One is not 'better' than the other. They are simply different.
If I focus on the ICT Institute at MCAST (MCAST currently is made up of 6
Institutes), I can put forward a few sentences with regards to the work
currently being undertaken at ICT.
In the past, with regards to ICT, citizens wishing to pursue a career in IT
had one option, University. My view has always been that you do not always
require a Degree to take up programming, pc support, network adminstration,
web development etc etc. For a number of IT related jobs, a University
education is useful, and in some cases essential. However, in others, it is
not. The ICT Institute gives the students the skills required to be able to
take up a number of meaningful jobs within the ICT sector (and also IT
related jobs in IT departments within other Industries) by teaching them the
skills required in each case.
Therefore, simply put, what we are doing is trying to focus on those skills
that are required by Industry and we must be prepared to change/evolve our
syllabii to cater for continuous changes within the sector.
What we do NOT have at this point in time is a FORMAL mechanism for
analysing the requirements of Industry but there are a number of factors
that all together make up for the lack of formality (this lack of formality
is mainly due to the fact that we are still in our initial phase and have
just completed our first year of operation).
These factors include:
- my twenty years experience working in industry which has given me the
flexibility to simply call up major players to find out re skills etc
- our lecturers who have a very good mix of Education and Industry
backgrounds
- my continual involvement in the Chamber of Commerce
- my proposal for my Board of Studies to have a strong private sector
influence
Being skills based, ALL lectures are held in fully equipped classrooms with
all students having a pc to work on. All students are given an email
address, web server space, space on our server for projects etc, as well as
full use of an ADSL connection and a fully equipped study room with 40
computers open all day every day.
To answer your question about student and Industry feedback, student
feedback has been extremely positive. However, it is too early to gauge
Industry feedback since none of our students have as yet graduated.However,
it shall be Industry feedback which shall determine the success/failuire of
the Institute, as well as contribute significantly to any changes that we
must undertake.
I would be more than happy to furnish further information with regards to
qualifications (recognition), method of study (continuous assessment}etc.
Juan
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friends interested in any foresight related activities.
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