In 2026, GBS Malta launched a Thought Leadership Series highlighting voices shaping Malta’s higher education landscape. The first article features Swetha Sundaran, Marketing Manager at GBS Malta, sharing her experiences of working and living on the island.A Fresh PerspectiveSwetha Sundaran arrived in Malta from London with curiosity rather than a grand plan. Having worked in the UK’s education system for many years, she wanted to explore how education operates elsewhere. What she discovered in Malta transformed her perspective entirely.In London, higher education is large, traditional and competitive. Decisions take time, weighed down by legacy and rankings. Meetings carry a heavy formality. At GBS Malta, however, she noticed something different: pace with purpose.In one of her first weeks, Sundaran witnessed the launch of a new programme. Faculty, admissions staff and leadership made decisions together, in real time a process that might have taken months in London was completed in weeks.“It’s not just that Malta’s institutions are smaller,” she explains. “The system is flexible, free from old structures. Experienced professionals bring their expertise from larger systems and when that meets agility, students gain international-level education delivered personally and accessibly.”Affordability as OpportunityOne experience captures the impact of Malta’s approach. A prospective student had all the ambition but hesitated because of cost. Sundaran discussed tuition, rent, living expenses and support options. By the end of the conversation, he went from saying, “I hope I can find a way” to “I can make this work.”“That moment stayed with me,” Sundaran says. “Affordability isn’t a discount, it’s permission. It allows students to take their goals seriously and unlock their ambition.”Lower tuition and living costs, alongside schemes like the Get Qualified tax rebate, mean students can pursue their goals without the long-term financial burden often associated with UK higher education. For many, this freedom isn’t just saving money, it’s the ability to say yes to the future they truly want.Students Who Choose with IntentionAt GBS Malta, students pick programmes with purpose. Many aim for management roles, EU-wide careers or entrepreneurship. They engage fully in workshops, alumni insights and community projects, not out of obligation, but because these experiences matter.“This commitment shapes the institution itself,” Sundaran notes. “Staff and students are collectively drawn toward real-world impact.”Upholding the PromiseSundaran emphasises that affordability must be backed by support. Marketing communications at GBS Malta are carefully aligned with student experiences to reflect the real value of programmes.“When trust is earned in this way,” she says, “students’ stories, about how Malta was the right decision or how a programme changed their direction, become far more valuable than any advertisement.”Lessons from MaltaMalta has also been a classroom for Sundaran herself. Professionally, she’s learned the value of working in a system that is still evolving. Ideas are implemented quickly, with students’ needs at the centre.Personally, she’s seen how education extends beyond the classroom. Students collaborate with NGOs, volunteer locally and apply learning in real-world settings. “Education here isn’t just content delivered, it’s confidence built and responsibility shared,” Sundaran explains.She adds: “Malta has taught me to value agility without losing rigour, to combine global experience with local reality and to see opportunity not only in established systems but in places still writing their own story.”Changing PerceptionsSundaran believes Malta’s higher education sector deserves greater visibility. “People picture the coastline and sunshine but often miss the opportunity,” she says. “Malta is a serious study destination: English-language programmes, recognised qualifications and financial accessibility.”When students understand what is available, they arrive with purpose, engage deeply and create real outcomes. “After what I’ve seen in Malta,” Sundaran concludes, “the future is entirely within reach.”Swetha Sundaran leads digital marketing and brand initiatives at GBS Malta, focusing on awareness, student engagement and conversion strategy. With a background spanning K‑12 education sales, marketing and higher education, she brings a student-centred, consultative approach to education communications.This article is the first in GBS Malta’s 2026 Thought Leadership Series, sharing insights from educators, industry leaders and change makers shaping Malta’s learning landscape.Tag someone you know is interested•