The Foundation for Human Resources Development awarded the Louis Naudi Award for academic excellence to Tania Abela. Ms Abela obtained a distinction in her dissertation and had the highest overall average in the assignments amongst the Masters graduates invited and who followed the Master Degree from the Centre for Labour Market Studies of the University of Leicester.
This year’s graduation saw 33 individuals graduating in one of the programmes in HR offered by the University of Leicester, out of which 14 were Masters and 5 BSc graduates. A further 23 students were awarded certificates for successfully completing the FHRD HR Competency Certificate programme, and 10 students who followed the first intake of Level 5 – Train the Trainer,thus totaling over 85 certified HR presentations on the night!
The certificates were presented by Ivan Refalo President of the Foundation and Daniela Rudloff from the CLMS University of Leicester.
During the presentation Mr Refalo said that The Foundation for Human Resources Development has for the last 14 years been working in close collaboration with the University of Leicester and more specifically the Centre for Labour Market Studies in the area of HRM and HRD. The experience was an excellent one and this partnership served industry in Malta well as these graduates are now in positions of senior management across all the economic sectors of the economy. This partnership worked so well that in 2012 the University extended it agency agreement with FHRD to cover the whole School of Management and now FHRD can offer not only Human Resource Management and Human Resource Development programmes but also MBAs, Masters in Management, Masters in Finance, Masters in Marketing and Diploma in Management. Mr. Refalo stated also that FHRD is making history as they are awarding a level 5 award in the Train-the-Trainer programme. This is a first for FHRD but surely not the last because the Foundation has launched and shall deliver a number of level 5 programmes which have already been accredited by the Malta Qualifications Council, these include:
· High Impact Recruitment & Selection Techniques
· Performance Management and Employee Engagement
· Industrial Relations and Employment Law
· Pragmatic Leadership
· Coaching
Dr Rudloff said that the relationship between the University of Leicester and FHRD goes back many years and this was instrumental in providing Malta with HR professionals at different levels. This collaboration has served the country well and it is a pleasure to see FHRD consolidating its position in the learning and training sector in Malta and the University of Leicester is proud to be part of this development.
Josette White, MSc Human Resources Management and Development, graduate and Ms Claudette Portelli, Level 4 Certificate in HR Competency graduate, both commended FHRD for their services and assistance in helping the students obtaining their qualification. Being working mothers, they both emphasized the fact that FHRD services and staff helped them achieve their goals while maintaining a balance between their family, work and studies.
During the ceremony FHRD awarded Marilyn Silvio for her outstanding performance in the 2012-2013 cohort of the Level 4 HR Competency Certificate.
The CEO of the Foundation Joe Gerada said that FHRD was making history as this was the first time that the Foundtion was awarding graduates in Level 5 in Training the Trainer programme. He said that FHRD is committed to offer the local students a wide selection of HR programmes both academic and vocational in order to give better access to quality learning and training. Mr. Gerada also mentioned that knowledge and competence go hand in hand and employers seek competence that will give them the competitive edge and sustainability.
The ceremony was held at SmartCityMalta which is designed to act as international live-work-play business township concept, with localized practices.
Commenting about SmartCity Malta’s participation in the awards ceremony, Abdullatif Al Mulla, CEO of SmartCity said “We are delighted to be holding this ceremony at our premises and to honour the well-deserved accomplishments of these outstanding students.”
“SmartCity Malta’s vision is to create foreign direct investment and knowledge sectors jobs for the people of Malta as well as to make a significant contribution towards increasing the share of knowledge industries towards Malta’s GDP. We are therefore fully committed to supporting such educational incentives, which promote not just educational institutes but also the knowledge-based industry as a whole,” Mr Al Mulla added.