The Tools That Built My Career And How They’re Shaping Yours At GBS Malta
Looking back on my career, one chapter stands out as particularly formative in shaping my approach to education: my time in Finland while pursuing an MSc in Finance. I was fortunate to learn under some of the most inspiring professors I had ever encountered, including an ex- Harvard alumnus who taught me financial statement analysis and valuation benchmarked on the CFA curriculum and a professor from Kiel University in Germany who was a true expert in statistics and econometric modelling.
They did not merely focus on theoretical frameworks or abstract concepts. Instead, they constantly pushed us to get our hands dirty, demanding that we work directly with data, build financial models and apply complex ideas in practical ways using tools like Excel, Matlab, R and Python.
The real-world confirmation came later, during my time in the professional trenches. While working in Consulting and then at an investment company, I noticed a distinction among the type of recruitment employed by those companies. My peers, especially those from leading institutions such as KU Leuven, the University of Antwerp and HEC Lausanne, brought more than just a solid grasp of finance theory; they were proficient in Advanced Excel, adept at coding and prepared to put their skills into practice immediately.
That was when I truly understood the gap between theoretical knowledge and industry-ready skills. Their edge was not a matter of luck. It came from education that drilled practical fluency alongside concepts. I felt that sting the gap staring back at me between what I would have crammed for grades and what the job asked for. That is when it hit: too many bright minds graduate clutching transcripts but lacking the tools to thrive from day one.
It was that experience that convinced me that my future was not only in managing a portfolio of assets, but in being the kind of educator who provides students not just theories, but the practical tools and confidence to excel in the real world.
Today, as a lecturer in finance and statistics at GBS Malta, I now have the platform to champion this integrated approach.
In this thought leadership insight, I will share stories from my path, the highs in Finland, the realities in consulting and investment firms Malta and show how GBS Malta closes that employability chasm.
The hidden gap: Why theory alone will not cut it
The expectations of modern industry have fundamentally changed. When employers in banking, fintech, advisory services or asset management look at candidates, they expect more than textbook knowledge. They want someone who can instantly open a spreadsheet using ample excel shortcuts and run a sensitivity analysis or who can code a simple automation sequence in Python to handle large datasets. They need people who can evaluate a company’s value with sophisticated valuation models, not just recite their formulas.
This demand for technical fluency is supported by the rapid integration of data analysis into core financial functions. In fact, a 2024 survey showed that 87% of financial firms were already using skills-based hiring to fill roles, demonstrating a clear preference for demonstrable technical proficiency over theoretical qualifications alone (TestGorilla, 2024).
Traditional academic models are struggling to keep up with this pace. Across the continent, this deficiency creates a widespread problem: studies focusing on financial literacy have shown that, on average, 18% of students in 14 OECD countries do not have basic proficiency. It means nearly one-fifth of students struggle to apply their knowledge to real-life financial issues and decisions (OECD, 2022). This deficit in practical skills becomes a major friction point when these graduates enter the workforce.
This preparation gap is particularly critical in high-growth areas like Malta. Our nation’s financial sector is powering significant economic activity, contributing to a projected 4.1% GDP growth forecast for 2025 (European Commission, 2025). The local market is dynamic, attracting multinationals and driving demand for specialised quantitative talent in areas like fintech and advisory services. These employers are not waiting for graduates to learn on the job; they need sophisticated technical skills from day one.
Hands-on learning is the main mission at GBS Malta
Our academic programme structure is what sets GBS Malta apart from other institutions. We do not just teach corporate finance; we deliver technical training that builds professional muscle memory.
For instance, my students studying MBA in the Global Investment Banking pathway does not just ‘learn corporate finance’ from a slideshow. They spend their time building comprehensive valuation models in Excel, analysing datasets and learning Python for finance and investment decisions.
Python, R and similar programming tools enable efficient handling of complex data and are required skills for roles from financial analysts to quantitative traders.
We utilise a block teaching methodology, which means I have concentrated time to guide students step-by-step through complex processes. We break down real company data and implement statistical models.
This is about adopting critical thinking and analytical rigour, ensuring students use the same technical tools that analysts use every day. This approach builds profound confidence.
Students quickly stop being intimidated by large datasets or complex quantitative tasks. Instead, they start to see themselves as professionals who are fully capable of solving practical, industry- level challenges.
“We are dedicated to transforming the common apprehension around quantitative analysis into professional strength, building confidence through the successful completion of technical assignments that progress from simulation to real-world application.”
My education in Finland, shaped by professors with world-class quantitative expertise, taught me the non-negotiable value of statistical rigour and problem-solving. My time at Deloitte Belgium
reinforced how much employers value graduates who can seamlessly combine these quantitative skills with technical fluency.
At GBS Malta, I bring these exact lessons to the classroom. We do not teach students to memorise formulas; we teach them to think outside the box, to question assumptions and to approach finance as agile, resourceful problem solvers. This mindset is what makes them stand out in interviews and excel in their careers. This is not about teaching abstract models, it’s about preparing students for the industry they are stepping into, ensuring they are not just employable but ready-made for the job.
“As one MBA student recently shared during a valuation exercise, the hands-on sessions made them truly see themselves as an analyst, not just a learner. That shift in self-perception is the true measure of our success.”
GBS Malta offers tailored pathways for every aspiring finance leader
Choosing where to study is a critical investment decision. For students around the world, GBS Malta offers a unique value proposition, blending high academic standards (MFHEA licensed) with specialised preparation for the fastest-growing sectors globally.
For local Maltese students
For Maltese students, GBS Malta offers the advantage of world-class, internationally benchmarked skills without requiring them to leave home or their local networks. Our St Julian’s campus provides a peaceful yet highly connected environment, blending local accessibility with global preparation.
The education provided is acutely relevant to Malta’s expanding financial and digital sectors. Malta’s financial services industry continues to attract high-value business, and the iGaming sector alone employs approximately 16,000 people, constituting about 5.2% of the Maltese workforce (Malta Gaming Authority, 2023).
This industry forecasts $284 million in gross gaming revenue for 2025, demonstrating immense and ongoing demand for quantitative analysts, accountants and finance professionals who understand data (iGaming Today, 2025). The skills we teach from advanced quantitative analysis to coding literacy, are precisely what these key industries demand.
For local Maltese citizens, all GBS Malta’s programmes are often eligible for the Get Qualified scheme, which is a state-backed incentive that covers 70% of course fees up to €10,000. This national policy demonstrates the government’s commitment to upskilling the local workforce in exactly the areas GBS Malta targets, creating an almost unparalleled return on investment for advanced education locally.
Our students graduate with the exact skills these industries demand; from quantitative analysis to coding literacy.
For European students
For students across Europe, Malta serves as an accessible, trusted EU and Schengen hub, simplifying travel and easing post-study transition across the continent. GBS Malta’s English- taught programmes thrive on deep diversity, hosting students from over 100 nationalities. This level of multicultural exposure is not simply an administrative detail; it is a critical educational feature.
My globally inspired teaching, drawing from the quantitative rigour I experienced in Finland and the professional standards I learned at Deloitte Belgium, equips students for pan-European careers, particularly in the fast-moving fintech and digital transformation roles.
This focus is explicitly designed to counter the widespread skills deficit visible in Europe, ensuring that GBS Malta graduates rise above the 18% of EU students who struggle with applying basic financial knowledge.
The result of this diverse environment is a learning experience where every discussion and group project brings essential international perspectives. This prepares graduates not for a single national job market, but for pan-European employment, giving them an enormous advantage when facing cross-border business challenges.
Because our classrooms are global… every discussion brings international perspectives.
For international students
Malta is an increasingly compelling destination for international students seeking a clear, supportive pathway to a European career. The island offers a welcoming culture, high safety- levels and a vibrant lifestyle blending history and modern economic activity. Crucially, the Maltese government has streamlined policies specifically to attract and retain non-EU talent.
Non-EU students enrolled for more than 90 days are now legally allowed to work part-time (up to 20 hours a week) during their academic term. Even more importantly, upon graduation, they are entitled to extend their stay for six months to search for employment. This policy reflects a deliberate national strategy to ‘retain the talent of highly skilled third-country nationals’, effectively turning the GBS Malta experience into a state-supported launchpad onto the European job market. This certainty around post-study career options significantly increases the value of investing in an education here.
To support this path, GBS Malta reinforces accessibility through various options, including scholarships that offer up to 35% off first-year tuition fees for 2026 intakes.
Our rigorous, practical curriculum ensures that international students are truly future-ready, fluent in the essential tools and techniques that worldwide financial institutions demand.
Students who choose GBS Malta are not just enrolling in another business school. They’re joining a learning environment that emphasises practice over theory.
Step into a future-ready finance career with GBS Malta
Looking back, from Finland’s chill to Malta’s warmth, one thread pulls: education that equips, not just enlightens. “At GBS Malta, we are committed to producing graduates who stand out because they can already apply skills in the real world.”
The financial world is driven by data, codes and models and our role as educators must be to equip students to handle those tools with expertise.
At GBS Malta, our focus is intensely on closing the persistent gap between classroom concepts and workplace competency. Our students learn to code valuations, model complex risks and execute
investment decisions, giving them the confidence and technical fluency that today’s competitive employers desperately seek.
This powerful, practical mindset is essential, whether you are a local student preparing to contribute to Malta’s robust 4.1% GDP growth. You may also be a European student seeking seamless mobility across the continent, or an international student building a global career in the Mediterranean heartland. We are committed to producing graduates who stand out not because they memorised models, but because they can apply them in the real world.
What if your degree did not end with a diploma, but launched you straight into roles where you are calling the shots on valuations and financial modelling?
That’s the shift we’re making at GBS Malta. I invite you to explore our specialised MBA pathways, including Global Investment Banking and our other programmes.
Applications are open now for our upcoming 2026 intakes.
By Joseph Falzon, lecturer in finance and statistics, GBS Malta. Joseph, who holds an MSc in Finance from a CFA-benchmarked programme at the University of Vaasa in Finland and has Credit Risk consulting experience with Deloitte Belgium, equips students with practical, industry-ready tools.