Jesmond Friggieri’s academic background and experience attests to a constant quest to learn. He has personally been involved in various training initiatives over the last twenty-five years, and is currently Principal of the Malta Leadership Institute.

The Institute received its accreditation more than five years ago, since 2018, and offers various programmes, ranging from diplomas to Masters degrees. The courses mostly on offer can be classed under three areas of study – business, education and health. Higher level courses in these areas include MBAs, Master of Education in Inclusive Education, Master of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Applied Nutrition and Dietetics.

The courses are all home-grown in Malta and attract students both locally and abroad. The Malta Leadership Institute collaborates with various universities around the European Union and also offers Erasmus+ opportunities to its students, allowing for various exchanges and studies in foreign universities. The take up of Erasmus+ exchanges is growing in popularity, providing participating students with further exposure to other methods of learning.

Mr Friggieri is a strong proponent of having theory applied in practice, and expounds on the Institute’s aim to have “a mix of theory and the application of that theory.” The courses on offer are geared to prepare students for the job market. Indeed, the Institute tends to attract experienced students who already have the drive to put theory into practice, in turn making for quite a dynamic student environment.

Recalling the remark of a lecturer from his own student years, he illustrates the concept by noting that “theory is like the frame of a painting.” More experienced students tend to understand this only too well, as the focus is on the content and grounding theory into everyday life.

The Malta Leadership Institute is very student-focused. Providing online courses throughout the year, including in the summer months, Mr Friggieri stresses on the point that students enrolling with the Institute know exactly what to expect from the learning institution and the level of commitment that they need to undertake. These include fixed schedules all through the course and the precise duration that this will entail. The fixed schedules have been found to be of great benefit, as they allow for better time management. Intakes are organised at regular intervals across the year, with details on how to apply found on the Institute’s website.

The Institute is not just about online courses. A Conference on Nutrition, has already been lined up for next year, scheduled to take place on 24th July 2024. Last year the Institute organised a conference on Education and the Role of the LSE (Learning Support Educator). The Institute also offers training and team-building events to staff members of various enterprises and organisations, both in the private and public sector. Training for businesses is tailor-made according to their requirements, taking into account the goals set by the enterprise.

While it goes without saying that the lecturing staff are all qualified in their fields, Mr Friggieri reveals that a visiting lecturer from The Netherlands is also expected to complement the academic staff at the Institute. On that note, highlighting international collaboration, the Principal also points to an arrangement with a Lithuanian university providing blended learning.

Attesting to the variety of programmes on offer, Mr Friggieri notes that a course on mental health matters specifically aimed at professionals in the beauty and hairdressing fields has also just been concluded. The Malta Leadership Institute also publishes The Synapse magazine, mainly targeted for doctors, pharmacists and dentists in Malta. In a similar vein, it organises webinars for doctors. Mr Friggieri has indicated that this service is being revamped to cater for all medical professionals.

Research is also part and parcel of the Institute’s operations. In collaboration with other foreign universities, it has recently conducted research on places of work, with the findings expected to be eventually published.

Malta has a wide variety of educational institutions. In such a landscape, the Malta Leadership Institute is well positioned with its programme offerings leading to a number of educational outcomes and academic degrees. In turn, as Mr Friggieri notes, it is contributing towards the establishment of an educational hub on the islands.

With great satisfaction, Mr Friggieri recalls that students with first degrees from MLI have been accepted by the likes of the University of Edinburgh and the University of Kent to continue with their studies. He notes that the good level of collaboration with other European universities attests to the value-added that the Institute provides to its students as well as its standing as an educational institution.

Summing up the ethos of the Malta Leadership Institute, Mr Friggieri underlines that he wants the Institute’s “students to be leaders in their field, and to have a ripple effect on their place of work.” With such a focus on applying theory, one can clearly envisage this taking place, as the knowledge gained is translated into better practices.

Reflecting his approach, throughout its endeavours the Malta Leadership Institute seeks to positively contribute to Maltese society and in a wider context to society in general. And as the Institute’s student population and alumni continues to grow, with such a strong focus on quality and practical application embedded in its culture, all of this augurs well to further positive results ahead.