• Best Lifelong Learning for the Professional Postgraduate Certificates
• Best Partnership, with Publicis, for the development of Alexandria, the AI platform for learning

UBI BUSINESS SCHOOL is proud to announce that, following nominations in four categories at the AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards 2026, the School received the ‘Highly Commended’ Award in two: Best Lifelong Learning Initiative and Best Business School Partnership.

These honours reflect UBI’s sustained focus on quality, innovation, professional orientation, and impact within global business education. In particular,  the School’s HyFlex learning model, our new Professional Certificates , and its strategic collaboration with Publicis Commerce to develop Alexandria, UBI’s advanced AI learning platform.

In addition to these achievements, UBI BUSINESS SCHOOL was also shortlisted for Best Digital Transformation and BGA Student of the Year (2026).

Results and Recognitions

• Highly Commended – Best Lifelong Learning Initiative
  For UBI’s HyFlex delivery and professional postgraduate certificates, enabling MBA specialisations and upskilling of individuals, providing access to British-accredited education for working professionals. This continues the recognition of high quality by the EFMD EOCCS certification achieved in 2025, confirming the quality and consistency of our virtual/online education.
• Highly  Commended – Best Business School Partnership
  Honouring UBI’s collaboration with Publicis Commerce, resulting in “Alexandria” , UBI’s AI learning platform, designed to support personalised learning progress while aligning with academic standards and forward-looking industry practice. Here we are doing what companies asked us, to train their future employees to use AI in a productive and responsible way. The School’s graduates are AI-ready, they learn how the technology strengthen/creates existing/new business models, and also how it can create new income streams.
• Shortlisted – Best Digital Transformation
  This shortlisting recognises UBI’s digital strategy, centred on access, inclusion and educational impact. Through HyFlex, students at our Brussels campus, our associated campus in Madrid, and online in more than 40 countries learn together in real time, supported by purpose-built hybrid classrooms and digital learning systems.
• Shortlisted – BGA Student of the Year
  Facundo Biffi represents UBI BUSINESS SCHOOL in the individual awards. A senior government official in Mendoza, he applies MBA learning directly to public service—strengthening public institutions, building international academic partnerships, and widening access to higher education for disadvantaged communities through UBI’s HyFlex delivery.

“Being nominated in four categories and achieving ‘Highly Commended’ in two—precisely those that embody our distinctive education model—confirms that we are building for the future,”

– said Gaston Fornes, Dean UBI Business School.

“With HyFlex and specialisations via our Professional Postgraduate Certificate British degrees, we make lifelong learning flexible, rigorous and globally accessible. And with Alexandria, developed with Publicis Commerce, we are shaping a Human-firstAI  learning ecosystem where human insight and responsible AI accelerate impact for our students, partners, and communities.”

UBI BUSINESS SCHOOL also warmly congratulates the winners and applauds all finalists whose achievements continue to elevate global business education.

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Driving Social Impact Through Education

Facundo’s work exemplifies the power of education to drive social change. Among his most notable achievements is the establishment of a strategic partnership between UBI Business School and ProMendoza, a regional economic development agency. This collaboration has provided over 15 public officials and business leaders with access to UBI’s MBA, significantly enhancing institutional capacity and promoting a culture of continuous professional development in both the public and private sectors. Facundo also played a key role in securing an agreement with the Fundación Bolsa de Comercio, aimed at expanding undergraduate education opportunities for socioeconomically disadvantaged students. Through UBI’s HyFlex model, this programme delivers high-quality, flexible learning to those who might otherwise be excluded from higher education. These initiatives have not only opened doors for students facing socioeconomic barriers but have also brought advanced knowledge and training to local businesses and public institutions.

Academic Contributions and Leadership

Facundo has made a lasting contribution to the development of UBI’s academic programmes. As a proactive and insightful student, he provided valuable feedback during the design and implementation of the HyFlex model, ensuring it met the needs of working professionals across diverse global contexts. His input, grounded in his experience in public administration and regional development, helped shape a more inclusive and adaptable learning environment.

He also contributed to the evolution of UBI’s MBA curriculum, relaunched in September 2025, advocating for a more practical, impact-driven approach that aligns academic content with real-world challenges. His influence has helped reinforce the importance of ethical leadership, innovation, and social responsibility in business education.

A Role Model and Ambassador

Facundo is not only admired for his professional achievements but also deeply respected by his peers and faculty. Currently enrolled in one of UBI’s Professional Postgraduate Certificates, he continues to embody the values of integrity, inclusion, and long-term societal impact. His journey is a powerful example of how education can empower individuals to become catalysts for meaningful change.

We also extend our congratulations to the other exceptional students and business schools selected as finalists this year. Their accomplishments reflect the global talent, leadership potential, and commitment to positive impact that define the AMBA/BGA community.

At UBI Business School, we are honoured to celebrate Facundo’s recognition. His story is a testament to the transformative power of education—and to the role our students play in shaping the future of business, governance, and community development.

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The AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards recognise business schools and individuals that advance management education worldwide. Against this backdrop, UBI Business School’s multiple shortlists demonstrate its strategic priorities in flexible learning, digital innovation, industry engagement and student development.

Recognition Across Four Award Categories

• Best Lifelong Learning Initiative

UBI Business School earned recognition for Best Lifelong Learning Initiative through its HyFlex learning model and modular postgraduate certificates. This approach enables professionals from more than 45 countries to access British-accredited education without leaving their jobs or relocating.

The model attracts participants from a broad international base, including professionals in developing regions. By aligning programmes with current business priorities such as AI, sustainability and digital business, UBI supports continuous skills development. This approach has been recognised by QS and EFMD, confirming its quality and relevance.

• Best Business School Partnership

In addition, UBI Business School was shortlisted for Best Business School Partnership through its collaboration with Publicis Commerce. A key outcome of this collaboration is Alexandria, UBI’s advanced artificial intelligence learning platform, developed jointly with Publicis. Alexandria supports individual learning progress while remaining aligned with academic standards. It also reflects current industry practice. Through this partnership, students develop applied digital skills alongside analytical and strategic capabilities relevant to contemporary business environments.

• Best Digital Transformation

UBI Business School also received recognition for Best Digital Transformation, driven by a digital strategy centred on access, inclusion and educational impact rather than technology alone.

Through its HyFlex model, students from more than 45 countries take part in the same classes, either on campus or online. Teaching is delivered across multiple locations, including Brussels, Madrid or Guatemala, enabling real-time interaction within a single learning environment supported by hybrid classrooms and digital learning systems.

UBI’s HyFlex delivery holds EFMD EOCCS certification, which validates the quality and consistency of its online and blended programme design. This approach supports comparable learning outcomes across delivery modes while widening access to internationally relevant business education.

• BGA Student of the Year

In the individual awards categories, Facundo Biffi represents UBI Business School as a nominee for BGA Student of the Year 2026.

Facundo applies his MBA learning directly to public service as a senior government official in Mendoza. His initiatives strengthen public institutions, build international academic partnerships and expand access to higher education for disadvantaged communities through UBI’s HyFlex delivery. His leadership reflects the values of responsible management and societal impact central to AMBA, BGA and UBI.

Sustaining Excellence and Impact

Being shortlisted in four categories at the AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards 2026 reinforces UBI Business School’s position as an institution committed to relevance, innovation and academic excellence.

Looking ahead, the School remains focused on delivering high-quality programmes, strengthening industry partnerships and maintaining a student-centred approach to business education.

Source: AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards 2026

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The workshop was led by: 

• Mr. Bilal Lezeik – Founder & Creative Producer, Limelight Productions 

• Mr. Baudelaire Montcho – Client Advisor, Business Counter, Securex 

• Ms. Niki Karafillakis – Advisor, hub.info, hub.brussels 

The session combined real-world experiences, legal guidance, and institutional support to help students understand how entrepreneurship works in Belgium, especially for international and non-EU founders. 

1. Bilal Lezeik

Founder & Creative Producer, Limelight Productions 

Mr. Bilal Lezeik shared his entrepreneurial journey as the founder of Limelight Productions, a visual communication agency established in Beirut in 2012 and now operating from Brussels. With over a decade of expertise in creative visual storytelling, he collaborates with organisations working in human rights, gender equality, peacebuilding, emergency response, and education. 

During his presentation, Bilal introduced the agency’s mission and evolution into a global creative partner for socially driven organisations. He highlighted Limelight’s multidisciplinary services including: 

• Animation & graphic design 

• Strategic communication 

• E-learning content 

• Capacity-building projects 

He also shared advice for new entrepreneurs on establishing a business in Brussels, navigating the creative industry, and adapting to Belgium’s multicultural business environment. 

2. Baudelaire Montcho

Client Advisor – Business Counter, Securex 

Mr. Baudelaire Montcho provided students with a clear, step-by-step guide to the administrative and legal obligations for launching a business as a non-EU entrepreneur in Belgium. With extensive experience advising international founders, he explained: 

• The purpose and process of obtaining the Professional Card 

• Required documentation, legal considerations, and processing timelines 

• Registration with the CBE (Crossroads Bank for Enterprises) and VAT 

• Social security obligations for self-employed individuals 

• GDPR and mandatory compliance responsibilities 

Baudelaire also presented the role of Securex as a one-stop partner for administrative registration, legal support, HR solutions, and insurance services for entrepreneurs. 

3. Niki Karafillakis

Advisor – hub.info, hub.brussels 

Ms. Niki Karafillakis introduced students to the comprehensive support ecosystem offered by hub.brussels, the Brussels Agency for Entrepreneurship. Her session gave future entrepreneurs a structured understanding of the business landscape and available support channels. 

Key topics included: 

• Administrative conditions to start a business 

• Choosing a legal form 

• Taxation & social contributions 

• Differences between employment and self-employment 

• Support programmes such as springboard schemes, shared enterprises, and subsidies 

• How to use the 1819.brussels platform to find expert guidance 

Niki emphasised that Brussels offers one of Europe’s strongest support networks for international entrepreneurs, with free guidance, coaching, and sector-specific resources. 

A Valuable Experience for UBI Students 

The workshop was highly engaging and provided practical clarity for students considering entrepreneurship during or after their studies. The combination of creative industry insights, legal expertise, and government-backed support made it a complete and actionable session for aspiring entrepreneurs. 

UBI Business School thanks our speakers for their invaluable contributions and for supporting the entrepreneurial spirit within our student community. 

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This global conversation brought together business school leaders from across continents to reflect on how AI is reshaping business education. It also explored how institutions can evolve while preserving the human essence of teaching, mentorship, and community.

Representing UBI, Prof. Gaston Fornes, Dean of UBI, and Desmond Yap, Deputy Managing Director of UBI, contributed insights grounded in our school’s long-standing commitment to responsible, tech-enabled, globally minded education. 

 Key themes that emerged: 

• AI across the full learning journey
  From helping students become “classroom-ready,” to supporting complex decision-making, to personalising career pathways.
• Governance, trust, and strategy
  Participants underscored the need for clear institutional AI policies, shared practices, and trust-building between students and faculty. Accreditation bodies increasingly expect schools to align AI with mission, strategy, and societal impact.
• Faculty at the forefront of transformation
  Mindset shifts, digital literacy, and overcoming fear or uncertainty remain central. Faculty readiness continues to be one of the main barriers — and opportunities — in AI adoption.
• Rethinking pedagogy and assessment
  AI pushes schools to revisit authenticity, originality, and evaluation frameworks. The distinction betweenAI courses and AI-supported courses is becoming crucial. 
• AI as a driver of inclusion and global learning
  From language support to personalised learning, AI creates opportunities to level access while requiring thoughtful attention to ethics, culture, and context.

 Alexandria  

UBI shared developments from Alexandria, our AI-powered learning copilot built with Publicis Groupe — recently featured in a Business Impact article for its pioneering work in personalised and hybrid learning, and shortlisted for the AMBA-BGA Excellence Awards 2026. Alexandria reflects UBI’s belief in continuous learning, mission-aligned innovation, and student-centred design.  

A warm thank you to AMBA & BGA and to all participating schools for an open, forward-looking discussion. 

The future of business education will not be defined by AI alone — but by how we, as educators, choose to integrate it with wisdom, humanity, and purpose.
 

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Brussels, Belgium — A delegation from the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT), South Africa, visited the UBI Business School Brussels campus on Friday to explore new avenues for academic cooperation and international partnership.

During the meeting, both institutions discussed a wide range of potential collaborations, including student  exchange programmes, or cooperation in Postgraduate Certificates or specialisations aligned with emerging global skills needs.

The visit represents a significant step towards strengthening international academic networks and fostering cross-border opportunities for students and faculty from both institutions.

About Central University of Technology, Free State (South Africa)

The Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT), headquartered in Bloemfontein, is one of South Africa’s leading universities of technology. It is recognised for its strong applied learning model, industry-focused programmes, and commitment to innovation, research, and community impact. CUT offers qualifications across engineering, health sciences, humanities, business, and information technology, with a mission to empower students with practical and future-ready skills.

About UBI Business School

UBI Business School is an English-language business school with campuses in Brussels, Luxembourg and Shanghai, offering globally recognised Bachelor’s, Master’s and MBA programmes and Professional Postgraduate Certificates.  UBI’s programmes, validated by Middle Sex University, combine academic excellence with a strong focus on technology, leadership, and global employability.

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As a result, Amazon WebServices products and certifications will be part of UBI’s BSc programme, making one of the very few UG programmes to offer this possibility to students. AWS Academy offer hands-on learning experiences in the AWS Cloud and real-world industry scenarios, enabling students to develop skills directly applicable to the job market.

“At UBI Business School, we believe that preparing our students for the future means giving them access to the tools and knowledge that is shaping the near future. AWS Academy will enable our students to learn cloud computing through hands-on experience, gaining skills and credentials that they can carry with them into the job market” said Dr. Marcelo Leporati, UBI’s UG Dean.

This step reflects UBI Business School’s commitment to maintaining a forward-looking academic offer, connected to leading technology companies, and preparing students to become future-ready leaders in the digital economy.

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In today’s professional landscape, lifelong learning opens up a range of opportunities that are hard to ignore. Every professional, however, faces a different dilemma before leaping. switching to fast-growing sectors such as artificial intelligence, sustainability, or the energy transition; launching your own project with solid foundations; re-entering the job market after a career break; or transforming a traditional role into one ready to lead with data, automation, and strategic vision.

Evidence supports this need. A systematic review by  Babashahi et al. (2024) shows how Industry 4.0 and 5.0 technologies—AI, IoT, data analytics, edge computing—are driving changes in skill requirements at a pace that traditional education models cannot keep up with. To thrive in the digital era, organisations must foster continuous adaptation of both technical and soft skills, integrating proactive education with ethical technologies to effectively address AI-driven changes.  Lifelong learning is therefore not a “nice-to-have,” but a professional lifeline. A Harvard-led analysis (2025) reveals that the lifespan of skills has dropped from decades to just six years: what makes you competitive today could be obsolete in less than a decade. Upskilling, then, means much more than taking technical courses—it’s about developing adaptability, curiosity, and mental agility to navigate the unknown. We also know what works best. Lakhal and Khechine (2023) found that the most effective reskilling programs combine active learning methods, personalised feedback, and well-designed hybrid or online environments, exactly the characteristics of UBI’s high-quality professional postgraduate certificates that highlight lifelong learning of individuals.

The urgency is not only academic, but also economic. According to the Future of Jobs Report 2025, the transformation of the global labour market is staggering: by 2030, technological, economic, demographic, and sustainability trends are expected to create 170 million new roles while displacing 92 million, resulting in a net gain of 78 million jobs.  Deloitte adds that these strategies not only boost competitiveness but also increase revenues, reduce turnover, and give organisations greater agility—especially in sectors adopting AI and automation.

In short, continuous learning is no longer optional. For some, it will be the way to avoid being left behind; for others, the opportunity to start anew. Whether you aim to reskill or upskill to rise within your sector, reinvent yourself entirely, or carve your own path, lifelong learning is the engine that can take you there.

UBI’s Professional Postgraduate Certificates:

Look forward. Take control. Shape your future

In response to the growing need for flexible, high-quality, and up-to-date training pathways for working professionals, UBI Business School (also known as United Business Institute) is launching a suite of Professional Postgraduate Certificates for lifelong learning of individuals aimed at reskilling and upskilling in critical, forward-looking areas. These programmes are deeply rooted in the principles of lifelong learning and professional agility, offering a strategic response to the challenges and opportunities of the 21st-century economy.

These certificates benefit from UBI’s HyFlex Ecosystem—a flexible model that allows students to choose how and when they study: fully online, face-to-face, or in a hybrid format. This level of customisation empowers learners to adapt their studies to personal and professional demands while preserving academic depth and engagement.

The new programmes include seven specialised pathways which will be progressively deployed over the next 12 months. Currently available specialisations include  Management of Technology, Management of AI & Machine Learning Management (developed in collaboration with Microsoft), CRM and Marketing Cloud, and AI in E-Commerce and Retail Marketing (developed jointly with Publicis). Specializations in Business Transformation & Demographic Change, Sustainable Energy Transition, Digital Healthcare,  or ESG,  to be announced shortly, will ensure that the portfolio evolves alongside market trends. Each cohort is intentionally capped at 35 participants to foster dynamic, collaborative learning environments where individual attention and peer exchange thrive.

UBI’s academic approach is reinforced by optional international experiences at renowned institutions such as the London School of Economics, Babson College in the U.S., and Porto Business School, giving participants access to global perspectives and high-impact networks. Additionally, all certificate holders have the opportunity to upgrade to a full master’s degree by completing six further modules and a capstone project, allowing for progressive academic development in a logical and coordinated way.

On top if its accredited structure and content, UBI’s programmes are technologically enhanced through Alexandria, a dynamic,  purpose-built, adaptive learning platform on which UBI’s AI-Enhanced Learning is based on. This system personalises the learning experience by dynamically adapting to each user’s academic needs and personal preferences, contributing to an advanced, learner-centred pedagogical model.

UBI is a business school rated 5-star by QS, with leading 5-star indicators in the sub-categories of Teaching, Online learning, and Employability. UBI is also proud to hold the EOCCS accreditation by EFMD, a distinction awarded to only a selected group of institutions globally. This recognition guarantees the academic rigour, technological excellence, and student-centred approach of UBI’s digital learning ecosystem. EOCCS accreditation, combined with the HyFlex model, positions UBI’s Postgraduate Certificates as a world-class offer for professionals eager to lead change in their industries and communities.

These certificates are more than academic credentials; they are flexible, scalable solutions for professional reinvention in times of technological, social, and economic transformation. This is to allow our alumni to Look forward, take control and shape their future.

Sources:

• Babashahi, L., Barbosa, C. E., Lima, Y., Lyra, A., Salazar, H., Argôlo, M., Almeida, M. A. d., & Souza, J. M. d. (2024). AI in the Workplace: A Systematic Review of Skill Transformation in the Industry. Administrative Sciences, 14(6), 127. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci14060127
• Deloitte. (2024). 2024 Global Human Capital Trends. Deloitte Insights. https://www2.deloitte.com/insights/. Last access August 13^th, 2025
• Khechine, Hager & Lakhal, Sawsen & Bytha, Alphonse & Pascot,. (2014). UTAUT Model for Blended Learning: The Role of Gender and Age in the Intention to Use Webinars. Interdisciplinary Journal of E-Learning and Learning Objects.
• Kreibich, S. (2025, June 28). Upskilling for tomorrow’s workforce: Building skills for a global, digital future. Mignone Center for Career Success, Harvard University. Retrieved from https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/blog/2025/06/28/upskilling-for-tomorrows-workforce-building-skills-for-a-global-digital-future/. Last accessed August 13th, 2025.
• World Economic Forum. (2025, enero 8). The Future of Jobs Report 2025. https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025. Last Access: August 15th, 2025

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At UBI, education means more than knowledge acquisition—it is about cultivating purpose and agency. This partnership is a living embodiment of our commitment to educate leaders who can transform societies.

UBI Business School ( also known as United Business Institutes) proudly announces its first formal collaboration with an international non-governmental organisation (NGO), Tuko Pamoja, marking a groundbreaking step in integrating academic excellence with socially engaged leadership and real-world impact. This partnership marks the launch of the UBI Citizen Initiative, a visionary framework that empowers students and faculty to contribute directly to addressing global development challenges through innovative education and values-driven action.

About Tuko Pamoja

Tuko Pamoja, which means “We Are Together” in Swahili, is a community-focused NGO that has been active for over a decade in rural Kenya. It works closely with women entrepreneurs, local leaders, schools, and health workers to empower communities by fostering economic development, education, health support, and social resilience. Their collaborative and respectful approach prioritises sustainability, dignity, and cultural relevance, creating lasting change in some of the most underserved regions. By partnering with Tuko Pamoja, UBI brings global knowledge, technical expertise, and academic resources to amplify the NGO’s impact. In turn, this provides UBI’s students and professors with authentic opportunities to engage with complex social challenges, enriching their learning experience beyond traditional classrooms.

Transformative Learning Experiences for Students and Faculty

This partnership between UBI and Tuko Pamoja represents a unique experiential learning opportunity for UBI students, who will be involved in a range of activities, which may include remote mentorship and consultancy projects, amongst other options. Confronted with real-world challenges of resource scarcity, economic fragility, and social inequities, students will apply theories of strategy, entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership in meaningful contexts. The experience enhances not only technical skills but also vital qualities such as empathy, ethical reasoning, adaptability, and intercultural competence—essential traits for tomorrow’s global leaders.

Faculty members also gain from this collaboration by engaging in applied research, international cooperation, and socially responsible pedagogy. This partnership encourages educators to develop new curricula that integrate sustainability and social impact, enriching teaching and scholarship with practical relevance.

UBI’s Philosophy: Impact through Education

UBI’s academic model is founded on three pillars: academic excellence, global perspective, and social impact. The collaboration with Tuko Pamoja exemplifies this philosophy by bridging education with action, local communities with global learning, and business knowledge with social justice.

Students and faculty will engage in activities such as community co-creation projects, fundraising initiatives, leadership training, and research that respects and uplifts local agency. The partnership prioritises mutual learning and sustainable development, fostering inclusive innovation that responds to community needs.

Looking Ahead: Building a Global Network for Social Innovation

The agreement with Tuko Pamoja is only the beginning of UBI’s ambition to create a worldwide network of academic and social partnerships. Through the UBI Citizen Initiative, the institution aims to connect with more NGOs, social enterprises, and development organisations to multiply impact and foster values-based leadership on a global scale.

 

Empathy, inclusion, and innovation must go hand in hand. We are proud that this partnership embodies these values and represents our ongoing commitment to education for the common good.

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