International collaboration and hands-on Engineering during Carousel Week

First-year Electrical Engineering students at the University of Malta recently took part in Carousel Week, an international exchange activity organised as part of the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP). The initiative brought together 15 students from the University of Malta, seven students from Université de Lorraine (France), and eight students from the University of Catania (Italy) for a week of collaborative learning, project work, and cultural exchange.

Carousel Week is designed to expose students early in their studies to the international and multidisciplinary nature of engineering. Working in mixed teams composed of students from the participating universities, the students collaborated on a hands-on engineering project that challenged them to design and implement an automated plant-watering system.

The project work was carried out under the supervision of Dr Brian Zammit and Dr Paul Zammit, with assistance from Mr Kevin Montaldo, Mr Steven Caruana, Mr Reuben Debono, and Mr Carsten Karl Grech. As part of the project, students developed user interfaces, worked with Arduino microcontrollers, and explored how software interfaces with hardware components to control sensors and actuators. Through this process, students gained practical experience in integrating programming, electronics, and system design while working collaboratively across different academic backgrounds and cultures.

In addition to the project work, the programme included several industrial visits, giving students insight into how engineering concepts are applied in real-world environments. During a visit to Methode Electronics, students were introduced to the company’s work in automotive electronics manufacturing and gained an appreciation of large-scale production processes.

At Mater Dei Hospital, engineers guided the students through aspects of the electrical distribution and management systems that support the hospital’s critical infrastructure, highlighting how reliability and redundancy are ensured in a healthcare environment. The students were also introduced to the hospital’s Building Management System (BMS), which monitors and controls various building services to maintain safe and efficient operation.

The programme also included a visit to Farsons Brewery, where students explored the engineering processes behind large-scale beverage production, including automation and process control in an industrial setting.

Beyond the technical programme, Carousel Week also provided opportunities for students to experience Malta’s cultural heritage and to build connections with peers from different countries. These interactions help develop the communication and teamwork skills that are essential for engineers working in an increasingly global profession.

The week concluded with student presentations, where each team showcased their automated watering systems and reflected on the design choices and challenges encountered during the project. These presentations highlighted not only the technical solutions developed by the teams but also the value of collaboration across cultures and disciplines.

In the same week, 10 Maltese students participated in a parallel exchange activity at Université de Lorraine, experiencing a similar programme of collaborative engineering activities.

The organisers are grateful for the support provided by the engineering teams at Methode Electronics, Mater Dei Hospital, ESI, and Farsons Brewery for hosting the visits and sharing their expertise with the students. Appreciation is also extended to the International Offices at the University of Malta, Université de Lorraine, and the University of Catania for their assistance in organising these Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programmes.

Carousel Week continues to strengthen international collaboration in engineering education while providing students with an engaging introduction to practical engineering, industry, and teamwork.