JA Malta, a leading provider of entrepreneurship education programmes for young people, has been awarded the prestigious Thomas J. Bata Award for Innovation in Entrepreneurship Education. The award recognizes JA Malta’s innovative approach to entrepreneurship education and its commitment to fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs.
The award was presented to JA Malta Chairman, Chris Vassallo Cesareo, and JA Malta CEO, Matthew Caruana, by Salvatore Nigro, CEO of JA Europe, and Adam Warby, Chairman of the JA Europe Board of Directors on 16 March during the JA Leadership Summit 2023 gala dinner.
The Thomas J. Bata Award is presented annually by JA Worldwide, a global organization that provides entrepreneurship education programmes for young people in over 100 countries. The award is named in honour of Thomas J. Bata, a Canadian businessman and philanthropist who was a strong advocate for entrepreneurship education.
“We are honoured to receive the Thomas J. Bata Award,” said Caruana. “This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team and the impact that our programmes are having on young people in Malta. We are committed to providing innovative and engaging entrepreneurship education programmes that help young people develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the 21st century economy.”
JA Malta offers a range of entrepreneurship education programmes for young people, including the flagship Company Programme, which gives students the opportunity to create and run their own businesses under the guidance of mentors from the business community. JA Malta also offers programmes focused on financial literacy, work readiness, and social entrepreneurship.
“We believe that entrepreneurship education is critical to the future success of Malta,” said Caruana. “By providing young people with the skills and knowledge they need to start and grow businesses, we are not only empowering them to create their own futures, but we are also creating a more vibrant and dynamic economy for everyone.”
The Thomas J. Bata Award recognizes JA Malta’s innovative approach to entrepreneurship education, which includes a focus on experiential learning and real-world application of skills. Through the Company Programme, for example, students learn about the various aspects of running a business, from product development and marketing to finance and operations. They also have the opportunity to compete in local and national competitions, which provide valuable networking and exposure opportunities.
“We are thrilled to honour JA Malta with the Thomas J. Bata Award,” said Nigro. “Their innovative approach to entrepreneurship education is making a real difference in the lives of young people in Malta, and we are proud to have them as part of the JA Worldwide network.”
JA Malta is part of JA Europe, a regional office of JA Worldwide that provides entrepreneurship education programmes to young people across Europe.
JA Malta, along with 20 other JA countries, was also awarded the JA Europe Model Nation Award. These awards recognise the quality of JA national offices’ leadership and operations: their impact, quality of programmes and contribution to the overall success of JA Europe’s network.
“We are proud to be part of the JA Europe network and to be contributing to the development of a new generation of entrepreneurs,” said Caruana. “We look forward to continuing our work in Malta and beyond, and to empowering young people to realize their full potential.”