L-Università ta' Malta

Lying at the cross-roads of the Mediterranean, UM has been, over its 400-year history, the hub for international academic exchange on the island. UM is the leading higher education institution in Malta and its structures are in line with the Bologna Process and the European Higher Education area.

At UM we carry out academic research and provide a vibrant higher education setting in the arts, sciences and the humanities as required for Malta’s economic, social and cultural development. Our courses are designed to produce highly-qualified professionals in multiple disciplines. Our alumni community is growing exponentially: well over 3,500 students graduate in various disciplines annually.

We are committed to high standards of research and teaching and every member of staff at UM plays an important role and contributes to an outstanding student experience.

Today UM is composed of fourteen faculties, a number of interdisciplinary institutes and centres, three schools and a junior college. Besides the main campus, situated at Msida, there are three other campuses: Valletta, Marsaxlokk, Gozo.

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Members of the team

Joseph Zammit

Dr Ing. Joseph Zammit is a Senior Lecturer in Industrial Engineering at the University of Malta, specializing in bridging academic research with industrial applications. Before transitioning to academia, he spent 15 years in the industry, gaining extensive experience in engineering, project management, and operations. His research interests focus on digital manufacturing, industrial automation, and the integration of emerging technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI) in industrial applications. He is particularly interested in developing immersive training environments and optimizing manufacturing processes through smart and sustainable solutions. He has extensive experience in securing and managing local and EU-funded projects. He is the project leader of IMRTEL (REP-2023-024), MIT-QALO (REP-2024-049), and Erasmus+ TRAINEE (2024-1-MT01-KA220-HED-000246701). Additionally, he has contributed as a project member to several European initiatives, including Erasmus+ ICARUS, BLISS, and LEONARDO.

Emmanuel Francalanza

Prof. Ing. Emmanuel Francalanza is a member of the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering and carries out research in the field of digital manufacturing. His research is mainly focused on developing methods and tools to support industry in implementing "Industry 4.0" and "Industry 5.0" technologies. This research work involves the design and implementation of digital technologies, including Collaborative Robotics, Industrial Internet of Things, Digital Twins and Artificial Intelligence within industrial automation systems, transforming traditional manufacturing machines into cyber physical systems. Prof Ing. Francalanza has participated in various Erasmus+ projects including the ICARUS, BLISS and LEONARDO projects.

Andrea Bondin

Andrea Bondin is a mechanical engineer and research support officer specialising in mixed reality (MR) for engineering education. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Malta (2021) and is currently pursuing a Master's focused on MR applications in Industry 4.0/5.0 training. He previously worked as a manufacturing and design engineer at Methode Electronics Malta, where he developed automation systems and optimised production processes for automotive brands like Ferrari, BMW, and McLaren. His expertise includes CAD design, process optimisation, and predictive maintenance using Industry 4.0 technologies. Andrea has contributed to research through IEEE conference papers on MR-enhanced training and has developed virtual learning factories using Meta Quest 3 and Unity. His work bridges academia and industry, transforming advanced MR technologies into practical training tools for the future workforce

Jonathan C. Borg

Prof. Jonathan Borg has been conducting research for over 30 years on the impact of design across the entire product life cycle, with a focus on design methods and product development technologies such as CAD/CAM, 3D printing, CNC, AI and more recently Exoskeletons. His work, available in over 140 research publications, explores how these methodologies and digital technologies collectively drive innovation, efficiency, and flexibility in Industry 4.0/5.0 manufacturing environments. Currently, he applies his expertise to advancing the development of smart biomedical devices and related product-service systems (PSS). Over the years, he has supervised numerous engineering students at the Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD levels, many of whom now hold key positions in industry and academia. For the past 15 years, his expertise has been regularly sought by the European Commission's Research Executive Agency (REA) and the European Research Council (ERC). He has served as an independent evaluator, reviewer, and, in some cases, Panel Chair, contributing to the advancement of European research and innovation.