“We are great believers in continuous personal development, and hence strive to offer the best tools in the business, to achieve this goal,” says Christine Caruana, Head of Programmes and Malta Business School. “Through our internationally accredited courses in a myriad of subjects, we can offer business the opportunity to obtain the edge in the field.”

Malta Business School offers a series of off-the-shelve and tailored courses for businesses wanting to hone the skillsets of their teams in an increasingly competitive corporate environment.

Ms Caruana is a former educator herself, having taught in the public sector for several years, so her dedication to education is no surprise. She joined the mother company 16 years ago to head the then-fledgling educational arm of the organisation, and never looked back since.

“In the past 15 years, we have grown from strength to strength, obtaining several international accreditations, as we developed our portfolio of courses to the needs of the various sectors we service,” she continues.

Possibly one of the more popular courses the academy offers is the Henley Executive MBA, of which Ms Caruana herself is an alumnus.

“The Henley Executive MBA is one of the best recognised certifications at this level for people who want to grow further in their professional paths. The Henley brand guarantees for a world-class product which is offered by local professionals who are at the top of their game. In fact, our educators are all practising professionals themselves who go beyond providing a thorough understanding of the theoretical side of things – they can effectively translate the academic into practical real-world application from past experience,” she explains.

“It is paramount for us to note that students will not be studying in a vacuum, as they are encouraged to apply theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios. This unique blend of practice and theory ensures that students gain practical insights alongside academic knowledge, making their learning experience both comprehensive and relevant.”

Moreover, the Henley MBA is uniquely designed to cater for the busy schedules of persons who are already caught up with their own professional lives.

“The format is structured in a way that makes it possible for professionals to attend the course without it interfering excessively into their schedules,” notes Ms Caruana. In fact, each unit within the course is launched during an intensive collaborative two-day workshop which introduces the module in question. From then on, the students are tasked with an assignment which puts to practice the particular aspect of the course discussed during the workshop.

“Very often the hands-on nature of the assignment-based course would already start to reap benefits in the professional lives of our students, since it offers an unrivalled opportunity for learning. In many cases, in fact, students choose topics and challenges from their own corporate world to address as part of their studies. Undoubtedly, this results in improving their methods and systems, reaping immediate fruit from their MBA.”

Ms Caruana herself recalls her own journey reading for her Henley Executive MBA and how she took the company’s own sales process as a case-study.

“During my first assignment, I analysed the entire sales process for our organisation, going into the minutest of details, such as where requests for information come from, where they are received, how they are dealt with, by whom, how long it takes us to reply, how many result in a sale, and several other processes. This allowed me to really understand what the system was meant to be doing, and hence address the deficiencies in favour of a more sustainable and efficient system.”

Asked how hard it is to make changes to a process when people are involved, Ms Caruana is positive. “Sometimes it is the smallest of changes that will make a large difference down the line. It is a matter of bringing everyone on board and on the same system for the same goal.”

The Henley Executive MBA is unique as it boasts a triple accreditation, namely AMBA, AACSB, and EQUIS, making it the only MBA programme in Malta with such recognition. Ranked 6th in the UK, in the FT Executive MBA 2023 rankings, this programme is highly regarded for its rigorous academic standards and practical relevance. The course is designed for individuals with substantial managerial experience, though not necessarily holding a managerial title, as the academy understands that in certain cases, people would in fact be holding managerial responsibilities without them being granted the title. This allows for a diverse mix of professionals to enrich the learning environment through shared experiences.

Furthermore, once they graduate from the MBA, alumni join an exclusive cohort of professionals, through Henley Live. The networking platform offers unparalleled opportunities for sharing ideas and growing connections within a community of like-minded high-powered individuals from all over the globe.

“This network facilitates ongoing learning, collaboration, and growth, extending the value of the MBA far beyond the classroom,” Ms Caruana concludes.

For more information about the Henley Executive MBA and other programmes offered at Malta Business School, visit Malta Business School.