A University of Malta student has received a Reference Award from International Ambassador of Knowledge and world-renowned creativity author, Professor Edward de Bono. Ms Marlene Agius, who recently completed a Master in Creativity and Innovation at the Edward de Bono Institute for the Design and Development of Thinking, received this award in recognition of her dissertation entitled Creativity, Well-Being and Leadership: Evaluating Inter-Relationships in the Workplace. This study investigated how leadership influences employee creativity and well-being in healthcare organisations. It concluded that employee creativity and well-being are positively related, and that they are further enhanced when leaders adopt transformational leadership behaviours.

Ms Agius was nominated along with several other students by Dr Leonie Baldacchino, director of the Edward de Bono Institute, who received a Mentor Award from Dr Stojan Sorcan, acting director general of the Slovenian Higher Education Directorate, for her role in guiding and supporting young people in their studies at the University. "We are very proud that one of our students has been selected to receive Professor de Bono's prestigious Reference Award," said Dr Baldacchino. "I hope that this will raise employers' awareness of the importance of creativity in the workplace and that it will encourage more students to enhance their employability by developing their creative thinking skills."

The Edward de Bono Institute is accepting applications for the following courses: Diploma in Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (part-time evening); Master in Creativity and Innovation (full-/part-time); PhD in Creativity, Innovation, Entrepreneurship or Foresight (full/part-time).

Visit www.um.edu.mt/create or email [email protected] for more information.