Statute for the University of Malta Semiconductors Competence Centre

L.N. 30 of 2026

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Statute for the University of Malta Semiconductors Competence Centre

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred upon him by articles 74(5) and 75(6)

of the Education Act, the Chancellor of the University of Malta has promulgated the

following Statute made by the Council of the University of Malta in virtue of the

powers conferred upon it by articles 72(h), 75(2) and 77(c) of the said Act

Citation

This statute may be cited as the Statute for the University of Malta

Semiconductors Competence Centre.

Applicability

This Statute shall be applicable from 1 January 2025.

Interpretation

In this Statute, unless the context otherwise requires

“the Board” shall mean the Board of the University of Malta Semiconductors

Competence Centre;

“the Centre” shall mean the University of Malta Semiconductors Competence

Centre; and

“the MCC” shall mean the Malta Competence Centre in Semiconductors.

Establishment

The University Semiconductors Competence Centre is hereby established

as an institution of the University of Malta.

Objectives and Functions

The aims of the Centre shall be

(a) to officially partner with the Malta Competence Centre in Semiconductors

(MCC) on behalf of the University of Malta, and manage the related activities and

developments;

(b) to support the growth and development of fabless chip design activity in

Malta;

(c) to offer support in the University’s areas of specialisations in the field

of semiconductors to stakeholders, including start-ups and SMEs, both locally and

abroad;

(d) to address skill shortages in the area of fabless chip design, by providing

lectures and practical training in, among others

(i) integrated circuit design, simulation and layout

(ii) multiphysics numerical simulation for MEMS prototyping

(iii) system-level modelling of MEMS/MOEMS

(iv) 3D virtual fabrication prototyping for semiconductors and MEMS

(v) multiphysics numerical simulation for packaging of semiconductors

(vi) heterogeneous integration.

(e) to support interested stakeholders in developing semiconductor solutions

through a Design and Test Training Laboratory at the University;

(f) to facilitate access to the European design platform and to pilot lines,

through the MCC;

(g) to provide access to industry, from start-ups to large-scale enterprises, to

relevant specialised laboratory equipment at the University;

(h) to provide support to SMEs and medium-sized companies in writing

research proposals in the field of semiconductors;

(i) to facilitate access of local stakeholders to the European Network of

Competence Centres in Semiconductors;

(j) to support the MCC in awareness raising, promoting services, promoting

success stories in the area of chip design.

Governance

The Centre shall be governed by a Board that will consist of the following

(i) Chair: Rector or Pro-Rector for Research and Knowledge Transfer as his

delegate;

(ii) Vice-Chair: Director of the Centre;

(iii) Chair of the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation;

(iv) a representative from the academic staff of the Board of the Faculty of

Information and Communication Technology;

(v) a person appointed by the Council of the University;

(vi) a person appointed by the Senate of the University;

(vii) a Malta Enterprise representative.

The Registrar or his/her delegate shall act as Secretary to the Board.

All members of the Board, other than those appointed ex officio and

the representative of the academic staff shall be appointed for a period of one year,

renewable for up to four years. A retiring member will be eligible for re-appointment.

The functions of the Board shall be

(a) to govern the affairs of the Centre, subject to the provisions of these statutes

and of such regulations, policies or directions as may from time to time be approved

by the Council and the Senate;

(b) to decide the policy of the Centre, to supervise its activities and

administration, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the Board

(i) approve business plans and annual estimates of revenue and expenditure of

the Centre for consideration and approval by the Council;

(ii) with the written concurrence of the Rector, to enter into agreements with

third parties for funding of the Centre or of particular activities;

(iii) to publish an annual report;

(iv) to enrol the Centre in associations or institutions sharing similar aims and

interests;

(v) to require from the Centre the production of reports on academic matters,

including the curricula of the conversion and training courses (micro-

credentials) for upskilling, qualifications for admission to these courses,

examinations (where applicable), and certificates of attendance or qualification

as approved by Senate;

(vi) to recommend to the Council the creation or removal of academic and

administrative posts in the Centre.

Appointment of Director and Staff

Subject to the availability of external funding, the Centre shall have a

Director and Staff

(a) the Director of the Centre shall be appointed according to the procedure for

the appointment of Directors of Institutes, Centres and Schools as approved by the

Council of the University, for a duration of one year, with the possibility of renewal

annually subject to established performance criteria, the needs of the Centre and the

needs of the University, for a total period not exceeding four (4) years; and

(b) the staff of the Centre shall be appointed by the University for definite

periods of contract, according to relevant practice.

Duties of the Director

The duties of the Vice-Chair/Director shall include

(a) general responsibility for the running of the Centre in terms of the aims

listed in 5(a) to (j) outlined above;

(b) as stipulated in the Manual of Conduct and Procedures of the Collective

Agreement for Academic Staff of the University of Malta and Academic Staff of the

Junior College; and

(c) any other duties which shall be assigned to the Director from time to time,

provided that such duties shall be congruent with the objectives and functions of the

Centre.

The Treasurer

The Director of Finance of the University shall be the Treasurer of the

Centre.

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