Advenio eAcademy proud celebrated the achievements of its graduates at the 2022 Graduation ceremony held on the 4th of March 2022 at Castello Dei Baroni in Wardija. The event provided the ideal opportunity for students to meet and amongst Faculty, family and friends celebrate the successful completion of the 2020 course intakes.
In his introduction address to the gathering, Mr. Stephen P. D’Alessandro, Executive Director welcomed the members of Faculty, students their family and friends to the event. He confirmed that the 2022 graduation event would see degrees and awards conferred on successful candidates of the online L5 Undergraduate Higher Diploma and L7 Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship and the related short courses. He spoke briefly on the importance of entrepreneurs and SMEs to the European economies and how the programmes offered by Advenio eAcademy independently or in collaboration with its European partners focused on providing entrepreneurs and SME managers with the skills and competences to be successful in their roles.
The Level 5 Undergraduate Higher Diploma in SME Management programme was launched in 2019 as an accredited programme to reach out to entrepreneurs that wanted a hands-on approach to improved practices of SME operations. The 2020 intake saw students from the hospitality and tourism sector take up the challenge to complete the demanding programme.
He confirmed the role of Advenio eAcademy as the lead partner in the consortium originally established in 2017 as part of the Erasmus+ MHEI-ME – Multiple Higher Educational Institutions – Masters in Entrepreneurship Programme. The 2022 graduation would see the celebration of the second intake of students on that programme. This intensive online programme is awarded by Advenio eAcademy in collaboration with five European partner universities – Hungarian University of Agriculture & Life Sciences formerly Szent Istvan University, Hungary; University of Zilina, Slovakia; University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy; and University of Ioannina, Greece.
Both programmes were delivered wholly online and were accredited by the Malta Further & Higher Education Authority (MFHEA). Mr. D’Alessandro expressed his thanks to the partner HEIs and the members of Faculty who made this programmes such a unique experience. In closing his address, he congratulated the graduates for their dedication and commitment to successfully complete the programmes wishing them success in their entrepreneurial careers.
Prof Gyorgy Neszmelyi, as Academic Director of Advenio eAcademy spoke about the commitment of the students to follow and successfully complete the programme. He commented on the international perspective provided not only through the course content design, but most importantly through the interaction and communications between the international Faculty and student group. He mentioned regarding the Alumni Association and the importance of the new graduates maintaining contact between themselves and with AeA and the partner HEIs in the years ahead.
Ms. Anaswara Chandran, represented Advenio eAcademy Faculty on the Level 5 programme and courses. She spoke about the positive experience of the programme amongst Faculty and students. Members of Faculty were pleased with the efforts and commitment of students to deliver quality coursework and students provided excellent feedback on the courses and their relevance to their work. Ms. Chandran congratulated the graduands and wished the success in their endeavours.
Prof Jenny Pange, Director of Lab of New Technologies and Distance Learning and Former Dean of the School of Education at University of Ioannina, Greece addressed the audience on behalf of the Partner HEIs involved in the Level 7 programme. Prof. Pange spoke about the unique experiences gained by the participating higher educational institutions in developing and implementing such a state-of the-art programme that embraced cultural diversity. She spoke of the collaboration, the review and discussions involved to reach agreement on the development of suitable online course content that provided the required academic rigour at Level 7 as well as the pragmatic approaches required by entrepreneurs in launching and managing SMEs.
Mr. Austin Xerri as a student representative from Undergraduate Higher Diploma in SME Management programme spoke about his experience on the programme and recalled some of the key principles he learned though the programme.
Mr. Brian Cremona as the first placed student on the level 7 Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship programme then addressed the audience. He spoke about the impact the ME programme had on him and his colleagues. The intensive course work and the international perspectives provided throughout the programme encouraged him and his colleagues to prepare their business plan with the intention of actually investing and implementing it. This provided the academic background and framework to entrepreneurship, but it also served as the foundation for the development of their business ideas which they have already launched or plan to launch in the near future.
Ms. Anaswara Chandran, then called for the students to approach the podium to receive their awards or degrees, namely the Award in Entrepreneurship, the Post-Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship and the Masters in Entrepreneurship & Award in SME Management, Undergraduate Certificate in SME Management & Undergraduate Diploma in SME Management.
Ing. David Dingli, Director of Advenio eAcademy gave the closing address. He spoke about the need to understand the evolving international market opportunities and to use the contacts and networks developed in the course of the programme as a foundation for their continued development.
The graduation presentations were followed by a reception to celebrate the success of the Level 7 & Level 5 graduates.
