Skills Multipliers: Investing In HR & Career Guidance Professionals

Last year, the National Skills Council (NSC) partnered with the University of Malta’s Centre for Labour Studies (CLS) to deepen Malta’s understanding of the evolving competence needs within key workforce professions.

Building on this collaboration, the two organisations launched a research-driven initiative focused specifically on Human Resources (HR) and Career Guidance, examining how these professions are changing and creating opportunities for practitioners to translate evidence into practice through targeted professional learning activities.

Career guidance specialists and HR practitioners both play essential roles in supporting Malta’s labour market adaptability. While career guidance professionals help individuals navigate education, training, and employment choices, HR teams drive organisational capacity-building and shape workforce development.

Together, they influence how Malta responds to technological progress, shifting economic conditions, and changing employee expectations. To acknowledge this strategic relevance, the NSC commissioned the CLS to conduct a structured, evidence-based study on the current and emerging skills required in these roles.

The research is being spearheaded by Professor Manwel Debono, Director of the CLS, who is leading the career guidance track, and Dr Luke Fiorini, Senior Lecturer at the CLS, responsible for the HR research component. A key aim of this collaboration is to make research directly useful to practitioners.

Although the academic publication will be released later this year, both organisations have already prioritised knowledge exchange. As part of this effort, the NSC and CLS designed and facilitated eight professional workshops drawing directly on early research insights.

Since the workshop’s content was developed by the researchers themselves, these sessions ensured that participants were exposed to relevant, evidence-informed content aligned with the themes emerging from the study.

Career guidance workshops brought together educators from state, church, and independent schools, as well as post-secondary institutions - including guidance teachers, PSCD educators, and students aspiring to enter the profession.

In parallel, HR workshops welcomed professionals from across the public and private sectors, in addition to early career practitioners exploring HR pathways. While the workshops mark a substantial achievement, they represent only one strand of this broader initiative.

The concluding stage of the collaboration focuses on academic dissemination of the research findings, ensuring Malta benefits from both practical training and rigorous evidence to inform policymaking and strategic planning.

At a time when work is evolving rapidly, the NSC remains committed to fostering professional growth and cross-sector dialogue. Its partnership with the University of Malta’s CLS reflects this ongoing commitment, helping those who work most closely

with learners, employees, and organisations remain equipped to strengthen Malta’s socio-economic wellbeing.

The insights gathered through the research and the discussions held during the workshops will support the ongoing development of clearer career pathways, strengthened competence frameworks, and sustained contributions by these professions to Malta’s long-term skills priorities.

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