Two-day UM–MCAST hackathon sees nursing students use AI to tackle healthcare challenges

A two-day hackathon organised and hosted by the University of Malta (UM) and MCAST on 29 and 30 April 2026 brought together around 180 nursing students from both institutions to develop innovative AI-driven solutions addressing real-world healthcare challenges.

The first day of the event was held at MCAST, while the second day took place at the University of Malta’s Valletta Campus. Throughout the hackathon, students were guided and supported by academics and professionals from the University of Malta’s Faculty of Health Sciences, the Edward de Bono Institute, and the Faculty of ICT, together with MCAST’s Institute of Applied Sciences, Department of IT and AI, and Centre for Learning and Employability.

The initiative aimed to encourage interprofessional collaboration and promote the responsible use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Working in teams, students designed feasible and forward-looking solutions intended to improve patient care, healthcare delivery, and clinical efficiency. To support their work, participants engaged in a series of workshops, mentoring sessions, and collaborative activities before presenting their final ideas to a panel of judges.

Speaking about the event, Dr Adrienne Grech, from the Department of Nursing within the Faculty of Health Sciences, praised the students’ enthusiasm, creativity and commitment.

We are incredibly proud of the nursing students who participated in this event. These students have demonstrated that innovation is at the very core of modern nursing. Their passion for making a meaningful impact was clearly reflected in their pitches. We hope this experience continues to inspire them to help shape the future of healthcare through collaboration and creativity. 

The hackathon concluded not just with awards, but with a newfound sense of agency. Students did not just design applications or software; they developed the confidence and skills to lead technological advancements in healthcare.