Why letting people go is helping them grow: Planning Authority investing in people through Erasmus+

A common accusation these days is that Gen Z can’t sit still in one job for too long. Statistics continue to show that many graduates and professionals in their 20s tend to stay about 2.7 years before moving on. But if you consider the bigger picture, the truth is that even older employees are switching roles more frequently nowadays, especially when they feel their professional growth stalling, burnout creeping in, or a sense of meaninglessness and disconnection within the workplace culture.

In Malta, the Planning Authority has been taking this growing reality seriously. In 2021, during COVID, when work-life balance became a global talking point, the Authority launched its Employee Development and Wellbeing Unit (ED&W Unit). Led by Unit Manager Daniela Farrugia Camoin and supported by a tight-knit team of two, the unit looks after some 450 employees, focusing on their professional development, personal growth and well-being.

Daniela’s approach is intentionally broad. “We’re always trying to open up the idea of wellbeing as much as possible,” she says. “This is why we work closely with different associations. We’re constantly looking around for new things we can bring to our people.”

Under her leadership, wellbeing at the Planning Authority has been tackled from a holistic perspective, covering the mental, physical, spiritual, educational, and financial aspects of life. Recent initiatives have included PA Wellness Wednesdays, regular expert talks and collaborations with organisations like the Mental Health Association, Kellimni.com and the Department for Health Regulation. And the ideas keep coming – from team building events, reaching out calls to staff and book swap corners.

For Daniela, each of these activities is more than a perk; they’re small but meaningful ways to keep people connected, engaged and – most importantly – happy to grow within the organisation.

On the professional development side, one of the Planning Authority’s biggest success stories has been its long-running involvement in the Erasmus+ programme. This EU initiative funds learning and mobility experiences across Europe, allowing professionals to spend short periods abroad gaining new skills, knowledge and perspectives. The authority’s journey with Erasmus+ stretches back to 2011, when it was still known as Lifelong Learning Projects.

“We started off sending one or two people every couple of years,” recalls Daniela. “Today, we send up to 15 employees a year on job mobility placements, and another 15 on training courses. It’s grown a lot from when we originally started.”

Placements typically last two weeks for job mobility and one week for structured courses. Over the years, Planning Authority staff have gained experience in Norway, Denmark, Poland, Romania, Italy, Ireland, and Scotland, among others. ED&W Unit collaborate closely with the EU & Multilateral Affairs Unit. The EUMA Unit matches the area of work with different host organisations. The ED&W Unit handle the coordination of the mobility placement, including travel, ensuring a schedule packed with relevant experiences and reporting.

The preparation itself is time consuming and carefully planned. “We plan everything,” Daniela explains. “We send CVs ahead, identify the best matches between employees and organisations, and map out a full schedule of meetings and site visits. We want to make sure it’s a rich, relevant placement for each person on the programme.”

Daniela herself took part in a mobility placement in 2019 – an experience she calls transformative. “It’s completely different when you’re actually there,” she says. “You come home with fresh ideas – sometimes small, practical things, but also bigger insights into how other organisations work, lead their teams and approach different challenges.”

Sometimes, she adds, it’s even a reminder to appreciate Malta’s own systems. “We’ve had people come back saying, ‘Actually, we’re doing this better.’ It’s motivating to see that we’re not just learning, but also teaching others. The more we expose ourselves to different ways of working and managing our staff, the more beneficial it becomes.”

When employees return from an Erasmus+ placement, they’re encouraged to share their experience in an open presentation, available to anyone curious about the project or considering applying next time. “It’s a great way to pass on what they’ve learned and inspire others to explore what Erasmus+ could offer them,” Daniela says.

Beyond that, these experiences have helped the PA’s staff build lasting professional networks, with contacts they can reach out to for further advice or collaboration. “They come back knowing they can turn to people across Europe for input,” Daniela adds. “I believe it broadens their perspective so they’re no longer just thinking locally, but as part of a wider professional community.

One unexpected takeaway from the Erasmus+ experience, Daniela says, is how deeply people are craving real, in-person connections again. During the pandemic, everyone adapted to remote work and virtual meetings, but she feels that novelty is steadily fading. “I think people are a bit bored of online now,” she admits. “Yes, it has its benefits, but most of us end up doing more than ever – juggling emails, tasks and meetings all at once.”

That’s what makes Erasmus+ so powerful, she explains. “It gets people out of their comfort zone and into new environments. Importantly, it allows people to be fully focused and present during the learning experience, which is something of a luxury these days.”

Last year, the Authority broadened its Erasmus+ participation to include one-week training courses focused on wellbeing and emotional intelligence. “These courses are generally aimed at managers,” Daniela explains, “to help them develop the soft skills that make a real difference within their teams.”

She also points out that many professionals – whether architects, accountants or engineers – often find themselves leading teams without ever having been taught how to manage people. “You might be great at your job, but that doesn’t mean you know how to handle someone who’s struggling, or when to step in versus step back,” she says. “These programmes give managers the tools to understand people better, support them through challenges and create a more positive, motivated workplace.”

The Planning Authority’s commitment to continuous growth hasn’t gone unnoticed. Its 2023 Erasmus+ Project recently earned a Best Practice Award – a recognition it has achieved more than once. “It’s rewarding to know that the feedback from staff and host organisations reflects that we’re doing things right,” Daniela explains. “Another benefit of this level of recognition is that the Planning Authority is now an accredited Erasmus+ organisation, meaning our applications on behalf of our employees are fast-tracked.”

Yet Daniela is quick to add that the team never rests on its success. “We’re always looking for ways to improve, to open up more opportunities, and make sure our initiatives reach different people across the organisation,” she says.

In this spirt, the ED&W Unit is already setting its sights on Erasmus+ Key Action 2 (KA2), a programme focused on collaboration between organisations across Europe. Unlike individual job placements, KA2 projects are long-term partnerships built around a shared mission. As Daniela explains: “You find common goals with other partners and work together to create something tangible that benefits everyone involved.”

And for other organisations in Malta considering Erasmus+, Daniela’s advice is simple: go for it. “It’s one of the best ways to give your employees meaningful growth experiences without losing them,” she says. “You’re letting them step out, learn, and bring that knowledge back to your organisation.”

She adds that she’s seen younger generations within the PA highly motivated by such experiences. “These programmes provide engagement and opportunity,” she explains. “If people feel they’re learning and evolving, they’ll want to stay.”

This interview was first carried in the 2026 edition of Business Now Magazine, the sister brand to BusinessNow.mt and produced by Content House Group.