I am very proud and excited to share our latest research endeavor at MCAST: the SELBI project. SELBI stands for Supporting Early chiLdhood education in Blue skills with generative artificial Intelligence. A Xjenza Malta Research Excellence Programme funded project.

As an academic and researcher, I am always looking for ways where emerging technologies can intersect with education to solve real-world problems. In this project, I have the absolute pleasure of teaming up with an incredible group of multidisciplinary MCAST academics: Dr. Shirley Ann Gauci, Dr. Francis Delicata, Dr. Heathcliff Schembri, Ms. Kimberly Terribile, and Mr. Alan Gatt. Together, we are combining our expertise in early childhood education, marine biology, artificial intelligence, and research to revolutionize how we teach our youngest learners.

Why Blue Skills Matter?

The “blue economy” generates $1.5 trillion globally every year and is expected to double by 2030. Locally, Malta’s strategic Mediterranean location means that maritime industries contribute to roughly 15% of our GDP. However, there is a growing shortage of maritime skills. We realized that bridging this gap requires action at the foundational level: education and training starting from a very young age.

This brings us to our primary research question: What is the existing knowledge of early childhood educators on blue skills, and how can they be supported via Generative AI to foster these skills in young children?

The Tech & The Mission

With generous funding and support from Xjenza Malta, SELBI aims to seamlessly integrate “blue skills”—essential knowledge for sustainable maritime practices—into Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC).

From an IT and data perspective, the technological core of this project is fascinating. We developed a web-based artificial intelligence platform powered by Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). This platform empowered ECEC educators by providing them with tailored, highly accurate resources and training to confidently nurture blue skills in children.

Over the course of the project, our team has focused on:

1. Assessing the current blue skills knowledge among ECEC educators.
2. Creating a validated resource repository in collaboration with subject matter experts.
3. Developing the web-based AI platform to support educators dynamically.
4. Providing hands-on training sessions for educators to utilize the platform.
5. Testing and validating the platform for broader, long-term implementation.

Looking Ahead

The funding of this project covered achievements till Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4, meaning in lab experimentation, which comes to an end in April 2026. We aim to pursue this project further through different funding. Our ultimate goal is to bridge the gap in maritime skills while aligning with global sustainability goals. I truly believe that integrating AI into early childhood education will not only contribute to Malta’s innovation ecosystem but also inspire the next generation to protect and sustainably interact with our marine environment.

We will be sharing more updates, milestones, and technical insights as the project develops. In the meantime, you can learn more about our work and follow our journey by visiting our official project website: https://selbi.education.

Dissemination Event

A dissemination and closure event in which we share the findings and achievements of this project is scheduled on the 5th May 2026 at the ARIC Conference Room, MCAST.