MCAST Academics Designing AI Prototype To Enhance Undergraduate Dissertation Research

Oct 24 2024

The Undergraduate students, especially those working on their final year dissertations, face a challenging task. They need to demonstrate a deep understanding of concepts and knowledge in their field of study.

As the body of research grows ever larger, it becomes increasingly difficult for students to connect all relevant knowledge to their specific research problems. Studies have shown that using information maps, which can include literature reviews, videos, diagrams, and other sources, can significantly enhance the learning process. However, creating and maintaining these maps can be difficult for new researchers, taking up valuable time and requiring constant effort to keep them updated.

The STAR project, led by the MCAST, aims to address these challenges by designing an AI application that can automatically generate a scrapbook of research information. This application, which can be moderated by a supervisor and categorized based on different learning styles, aims to make the dissertation process easier for students. The project also seeks to explore how well this AI tool is accepted by both students and supervisors.

The team is currently training an AI model on various published material to eventually test the application with a sample of students and supervisors. This initial testing will help determine how relevant and useful the automatically generated information is. For students, particularly those conducting research dissertations, the AI application could be a game-changer. If successful, the AI application can also help students and supervisors explore alternative sources and methods of representation, making it easier to understand and map information.

For example, the tool could identify webinars and other audio resources that might be more accessible for some students than traditional written papers, while also offering to supervisors the potential to track which sources students interact with. From a broader perspective, this project pushes the boundaries of AI by exploring how generative AI can support educational processes.

The insights gained from this project could lead to further advancements in the field of AI, demonstrating its potential to autonomously generate useful, relevant information for academic purposes.

Project STAR financed by the Xjenza Malta, for and on behalf of the Foundation for Science and Technology, through the FUSION: R&I Research Excellence Programme under grant agreement number R&I-2023-043 (STAR).

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Up To 60,000 Students Enrolled In Primary And Secondary Schools

Oct 24 2024

The National Statistics Office has released data on the total number of students enrolled in primary and secondary schools in Malta during the 2022-2023 academic year.

In 2022, the total number of students enrolled in pre-primary, primary, and secondary education reached 59,491, marking a 1.9% increase compared to the previous year. Of these students, a slight majority were male, with 51.9% of the total enrollment being boys.

The age distribution of the students shows that 45.8% were between 5 and 10 years old, while 37.6% were aged 11 to 15. These figures reflect the key demographic groups within Malta’s education system at the primary and secondary levels.

The report also highlighted the types of schools attended by the students. A significant 59.4% of students were enrolled in state-run schools, making them the most common choice. Church schools accounted for 26.9% of total enrollment, while 13.7% of students attended independent or private institutions.

Geographically, the majority of schools are concentrated in the Northern Harbour District, followed closely by the Southern Harbour District. Additionally, nearly 70% of students attend schools within the same district where they live, suggesting a strong preference for proximity in school choice.

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Possible Rain Showers This Sunday

Oct 24 2024

According to the Meteorological Office weather report, Sunday could see some possible rain showers hitting the islands.

The ramp up towards the last day of the week (or the first, depending on how you see it) is set to be early cloudy all the way through.

So really, a bit of precipitation could hit at any point. So you might as well go for that picnic anyway and see where the weather takes you.

Temperatures are set to feel like 25 degrees Celsius, with lows of around 20 degrees Celsius.

Any plans for the weekend?

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Wholesome Rehearsal For Mass For Retired Oncology Staff

Oct 24 2024

Puttinu Cares shared a wholesome video of the preparations for a mass being held in thanks for oncology staff who worked for a long time and retired this year.

‘Here we see the managers singing joyfully and creating a happy environment. We wish all the best to all the staff!’

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