The platform gives access to an extended library of courses and to a knowledge base, including specialised technical training as well as soft skills, APS Bank says.

The bank expects the new platform to start running in the coming weeks and will provide access to training 24/7. It will also include the bank’s in-house course content and related documentation.

“The bank is committed to providing a blend of training resources, including the best online training facilities, to support the ongoing development of its staff,” said Ray Bonnici, Head of Human Capital.  

The post APS Bank to launch internal eLearning platform first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The ReNature course aims to provide participants with an understanding of ecosystem services and green infrastructure, give an overview of the leading green infrastructure elements in urban areas in the Maltese islands, and to identify methods that may be used for an assessment of the ecosystem services provided by green infrastructure, the press statement says.

This will be the first such training course the MCAST organises. The course will be delivered by speakers from the ReNature consortium, and its research community.

The Horizon 2020 project ReNature (Promoting research excellence in nature-based solutions for innovation, economic growth and human well-being in Malta) aims to develop the capacity of MCAST and the national stakeholder community to become front runners in research and innovation for nature-based solutions that tackle environmental challenges faced by modern societies, the press statement says.

The post MCAST launches free biodiversity training course first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

Mr Schembri said that given the industry’s rapid-paced nature and accelerated growth, iGaming requires the continued sourcing of leading talent to remain at the top of its game. He supported his view by adding that the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) recently received 20 applications from online gaming companies requesting a Maltese licence.

The recently announced training programme offers a “great opportunity” for the youth to familiarise with the industry and “embark on a new career” path, parliamentary secretary Mr Schembri said, according to a press statement issued by the government’s Department of Information (DOI). He added that seeing Maltese students accelerating in a forward-thinking sector, where “creative thinking and unique talent” are both recognised and rewarded can cause “great satisfaction”.

The training provides students with a “comprehensive understanding” of the industry, and “has also been recognised and widely accepted by iGaming companies in Malta,” said Jaime Debono, Managing Director of iGaming Academy.

Conrad Vassallo, Institute Director of MCAST, said that the accredited iGaming training will complement the curriculum and can bridge the gap students might encounter when trying to become part of the workforce of the iGaming industry.

Anybody who passed the age of 18, is proficient in English and has a school-leaving certificate can register for the course, according to the official website of iGaming Academy.

The training consists of four units, each comprising 12 hours of education. The training programme spans a total of 8 weeks — with 48 hours of classroom training —, granting students a total of four MQF Level 4 credits on successful completion.

The post iGaming Academy launches MQF Level 4 training first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The Princeton Review — known for its education services and school rankings in dozens of categories — released its 10th annual ranking lists, which name the top 50 undergraduate and top 25 graduate schools.

The University of Malta in Msida was named the 17th best such institution, being listed among the top 25 graduate schools.

The Princeton Review chose the schools based on data it collected in its 2018 survey of administrators at 150 institutions that offer game design courses, majors, or degree programs. Surveyed schools were in the U.S., Canada and abroad. The survey requested information in four areas: academics, faculty, technology, and career prospects. It covered everything from the schools’ courses and facilities to their graduates’ starting salaries and professional achievements. In all, more than 40 data points were analysed to tally the rankings.

“The schools that made our lists this year have stellar programs for aspiring game designers and developers,” said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review’s Editor-in-Chief. “Their faculties are outstanding, and their facilities are awesome. Just as impressive: their alumni include many of the video game industry’s most prominent artists, designers, developers, and entrepreneurs,”

The Princeton Review’s full lists are available at the official website of the publication.

The post University of Malta ranks among top game design schools in 2019 first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

Beyond the Advanced Diploma in Fashion and Retail training offered by the MCAST Institute of Creative Arts, the educational institution believes formal education stands on weak legs related to retail careers. Nevertheless, the retail industry is one of the leading employers in Malta, MCAST notes.

In the framework of the recently signed cooperation, the two bodies will provide students with theoretical and practical training. Hudson Group employees will support the development of the current curriculum and will run lectures and workshops for the MCAST students in some retail-related fields, the press statement says. Apprenticeship possibilities will be offered for students on an annual basis, to expand their knowledge by providing work experience.

“The retail industry offers many interesting career opportunities with many exciting roles in areas such as brand management, retail store management, visual merchandising, planning and buying, and marketing among others. Being a major player in the retail and distribution industry in Malta and the Mediterranean region, we feel we are an ideal partner to support MCAST in its mission to bridge the skills gap and prepare their students for employment in the industry” says Alfie Borg, Hudson Group CEO.

Hudson Group is an international retailer and distributor primarily involved in the sport and fashion wear sectors, headquartered in Malta, present through offices in Italy, Spain, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. “Though Hudson Holdings was founded in 2006, the group’s roots reach as far back as 1987 when the first pair of Nike was sold in Malta,” Hudson says.

In Malta, Hudson Group represents sports brands such as Nike, Converse, Timberland, Crocs, Eastpak, New Era plus franchisees of GoSport from France. They own franchise concepts, such as Urban Jungle and House of Sport, across Malta, as well as operate the stores of New Look, River Island, United Colors of Benetton, 3INA and Kiabi. Internationally, the group currently has a direct retail presence in European and African countries as well as a distribution base covering over 30 territories.

The post MCAST teams up with Hudson in retail training first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

In the framework of the programme, children, sixth form students as well as University students of arts and literature in Malta and in Cyprus, will be participating in a set of creative workshops, to explore diverse human issues, challenging the norm, and finally producing their own works of art.

Workshops for sixth form students were launched on the 27th February and are being conducted by Professor Vince Briffa, one of the three artists of the Malta Pavilion, the BOV says in the press statement.

“We will move from seeing the act of drawing as the only means to produce the image of an object to one that becomes part of a thinking process, generating knowledge in the course of making images, oscillating between text and image,” says Mr Briffa.

“Bank of Valletta is always at the forefront of supporting Arts, Culture and Education, especially where this involves youths.  What better way than to invest in the future of our country?” says Claudette Pace from Bank of Valletta.

The Venice Art Biennale is one of the largest exhibitions of contemporary art in the world, and Malta will once again be participating with its own Pavilion during the 58th edition of this international art exhibition.

The post Arts Council Malta organises educational outreach programme first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.