‘All students should go through at least one entrepreneurial experience’ – JA Malta CEO

JA Malta CEO Matthew Caruana has highlighted the different learning opportunities that emerge for students and youths from having at least one entrepreneurial experience during school years.

He was speaking following the launch of this year’s JA Malta MarketPlace, where a total of 18 mini companies formed by 16 and 17-year-old students representing their respective sixth form colleges will be exhibiting their products. The public is invited to browse the stands in Valletta on 18th March, where they can purchase the products produced by the students. Aside from this, people visiting the event will have the opportunity to learn more about the products and the company process, while also enjoying live entertainment throughout the morning and afternoon.

This annual event has been happening for the past 30 years and is an important part of the Company Programme, an entrepreneurship education project previously known as Young Enterprise, delivered by JA Malta Foundation. It is one of the organisation’s “flagship learning-by-doing programmes”, through which sixth form students are given the opportunity to start a mini company by coming up with their own business idea, developing its marketing and product, and ultimately selling their innovative business idea to the public.

Additionally, participating teams will also pitch their ideas and compete in the “Best Stand competition”, where the winning team will be given the opportunity to participate in an international marketplace in Latvia.

“We are very pleased to offer this opportunity to a team for the first time ever. We feel that undertaking an international experience is another important milestone for those students who embark on our programmes,” Mr Caruana explained.

“Fundamentally, we believe that during their compulsory education, all students should go through at least one entrepreneurial experience that gives them life skills, brings them closer to the workplace, and enhances their entrepreneurial mindset, as they will be putting what they learn into actual practice,” he added.

The fair will be open between 9.30am and 3pm at Valletta’s entrance, opposite to the Parliament Building, and is free to attend. Apart from visiting the fair, people can also show their support for the students by visiting the online marketplace by clicking here.

“The support of the public is an important aspect of inspiring and preparing youth to succeed,” Mr Caruana concluded.

JA Malta is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation that has had a presence in Malta since 1989. It aims to provide entrepreneurship education programmes at all levels of the education system.