Bank of Valletta has recognised 139 employees who successfully completed a range of internal learning and development programmes during its annual graduation ceremony, marking what the institution described as a milestone year for training and upskilling.

The ceremony brought together graduates from programmes spanning credit, investments, data, leadership and personal development, reflecting the bank’s continued focus on strengthening internal capabilities and supporting workforce development.

During the event, BOV Chairperson Gordon Cordina highlighted the importance of learning within the organisation. “Graduation Night is a reminder of what gives strength and purpose to our bank. Our people’s commitment to lead, nurture and promote learning and development is one of the bank’s core strengths. Tonight, we see BOV at its best,” he said.

The bank reported a significant increase in training activity over the past year, delivering 610 courses and reaching 62,644 participants. In total, employees accumulated 101,152 hours of learning through a combination of classroom sessions, e-learning modules and external courses.

Among this year’s graduates, 76 per cent were female, reflecting strong participation by women across the Bank’s development programmes.

The ceremony also marked the first cohort to complete two newly introduced accredited programmes: the Award in Data for Banking (MQF Level 5) and the Award in Applied Business Banking (MQF Level 4). These additions expand BOV’s portfolio of accredited learning pathways, which already includes programmes in areas such as regulatory compliance, anti-financial crime and customer service.

Chief People & Culture Officer Ray Debattista said the initiative reflects a broader effort to build a culture centred on continuous development. “These achievements demonstrate the kind of learning culture that the bank is building. This also reflects the bank’s objective to keep moving forward by growing skills, capability and confidence,” he noted.

Closing the event, CEO Kenneth Farrugia encouraged graduates to apply their learning in practice. “Tonight is not the end of a journey. It’s a starting point. Take what you’ve learned, apply it boldly, and keep building on it. Continuous learning is one of the strongest drivers of BOV’s future, and your progress is part of that story,” he said.

BOV, which is licensed as a Further and Higher Education Institute by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority, is expected to continue expanding its training programmes throughout 2026, as participation in internal learning initiatives continues to grow.