The University yesterday inaugurated a €8 million state-of-the-art ICT Services building, while a new €17 million Faculty of Information and Communication Technology just needs new furniture to start hosting hundreds of students on specialised ICT degrees.

“This is a dream coming true,” one of the ICT lecturers told The Times as Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi unveiled a commemorative plaque of the new ICT services building.

“We are currently operating from four different buildings and the new faculty will not only be the most modern we have on this campus but will have the latest techno­logy on the market,” he said.

The projects form part of the €50 million capital injection made by the University in the past five years, mostly through EU funds.

Rector Juanito Camilleri – an IT expert and a prime campaigner for added funds for the University – said this investment would not have materialised if EU funds had not been made available by the Government.

He said the investments were essential to the future development of Malta’s University and has made its top educational institution sustainable.

Apart from offering top-quality degrees to Maltese students, the University was now attracting more students from abroad, he said.

Prime Minister Gonzi said this invest-ment was already producing the desired results, as more foreign universities were becoming interested in collaborating with Malta’s campus.

“In April, the University will be signing a memorandum of understanding with China so that more Chinese students will come to follow courses in Malta.”

Dr Gonzi said the Government truly believes in education and is investing millions every year so that the University can continue to expand and prosper.

“Our vision is that Malta will become a regional centre of excellence in education and the massive investment at our University is channelled in this direction.”

IT Services building at a glance:

• 4,000 m2 of floor space
• IT facilities for students and staff with disabilities
• Wireless network throughout the building
• Open access learning spaces
• Five computer training rooms
• Four videoconferencing halls/rooms
• University main data centre

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