Knights College will host the WBL Champion Conference in Malta on May 28, 2026
The EU-funded project is studying WBL across Europe
Knights College will host the WBL Champion Conference in Malta on May 28, 2026, bringing together policymakers, academics, employers, European stakeholders and practitioners to examine how education systems can become more responsive to labour market needs and better prepared for the future of work.
The conference forms part of the WBL Champion project, a European initiative funded through the Erasmus+ programme, and is committed to advancing Work-Based Learning (WBL) as a transformative approach particularly within Higher Education Institutions by integrating real-world professional experience directly into educational pathways.
The project will propose ways to equip graduates not only with theoretical expertise but also with practical skills such as problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and resilience, all attributes increasingly demanded by employers.
The project consortium is being led by VITECO SRL of Italy, together with KNIGHTS COLLEGE in Malta, INOVA+ in Portugal, and TU Dublin in Ireland
In a statement, Morgan Parnis, CEO and Chancellor of Knights College, said the event reflects a longstanding principle guiding the institution’s work.
“Over the years, one thing has consistently driven our vision at Knights College: education must remain connected to reality, to industry, to innovation, to people, and to the future of work itself,” Parnis said. “That is exactly why this conference matters.”
Parnis said the programme has been designed to support practical, future-focused discussion on employability, skills development and the evolution of education systems in Malta and across Europe.
“Through the Erasmus+ WBL Champion project, in collaboration with our European partners, we are bringing together an exceptional lineup of policymakers, academics, employers, European stakeholders, and practitioners to discuss how education systems can become more responsive, more future-ready, and more aligned with labour market needs,” he said.
The programme will feature contributions from Dr Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, and Hon Dr Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, Minister for European Funds and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme, alongside international education leaders and industry representatives from across Europe.
“For us, this conference is not simply about concluding a project,” Parnis added. “It is about creating meaningful dialogue around the future direction of education, Work-Based Learning, employability, and skills ecosystems in Malta and beyond.”
Nadja Dokter from VITECO said: “Work-based learning is one of the keys to bridging Europe’s skills gap. Through this project we are building practical, scalable tools that can be shared across countries to benefit students, employers and educators alike.”
The WBL Champion project has focused on strengthening frameworks that help students develop the skills and experience needed to succeed in professional environments, while supporting stronger collaboration between education providers and employers.
More information about the WBL Champion project and the conference is available here.