St Lucia Probes Formato School Executive MBA Concerns

Accreditation concerns grow as St Lucia probes Formato School Executive MBA

CASTRIES, St Lucia – May 22, 2025 – The Ministry of Education, Innovation, and Vocational Training has launched a formal review into the Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) certification issued by Formato Business School in Spain. The move follows mounting concerns over the program’s academic recognition, equivalency, and long-term value within Saint Lucia’s education and employment systems.

“These queries relate to the recognition, equivalency, and long-term value of the certification awarded,” the Ministry stated in an official release issued Thursday.

The Saint Lucia Education Ministry acknowledged that “several individuals have completed or are in the process of completing the programme,” and recognized “the dedication and financial investment made by these participants.” The statement underscored the government’s responsibility to ensure that Saint Lucians receive qualifications that meet nationally recognized academic standards.

As part of its assessment, the Saint Lucia Education Ministry is engaging key stakeholders, including credential evaluation agencies, regional accreditation bodies, and internal policy experts. These consultations aim “to determine a suitable path toward certified recognition of the qualifications awarded,” while balancing the need for transparency and educational integrity.

“The aim is to support the professional and academic advancement of EMBA programme graduates,” the release added.

The EMBA from Formato Business School has gained popularity in Saint Lucia among mid-career professionals seeking globally recognized business qualifications. Marketed as a flexible, executive-level program, it offers distance learning options attractive to individuals balancing work and study. However, this increased interest has also brought heightened scrutiny.

Despite being based in Spain, the program’s relevance in Saint Lucia remains under question. Employers, civil service commissions, and tertiary institutions have raised concerns about how such certifications align with local expectations for postgraduate education.

The Ministry’s intervention comes amid a wider conversation about the legitimacy of international and online degrees across the Caribbean. As digital education expands, so too does the need for clear frameworks that define which foreign qualifications hold equivalency within national systems.

Education officials have not confirmed a timeline for the review’s conclusion. However, the Saint Lucia Education Ministry assured that updates would be provided as consultations unfold.

“The Department will continue to provide updates as consultations progress and thanks all stakeholders for their patience and understanding,” the Ministry noted.

Formato Business School presents itself as a European leader in business education, offering programs across disciplines like strategic leadership, marketing, and international finance. While the school may be accredited in its home country, Saint Lucia’s concern lies in evaluating whether its curriculum, faculty credentials, and assessment models align with national education policies.

The Saint Lucia Education Ministry also signaled that this investigation could help establish a more structured process for evaluating international postgraduate degrees. Analysts suggest that a formal framework could benefit Saint Lucians by ensuring consistent standards for all foreign academic programs, especially those obtained through online or accelerated platforms.

Graduates of the Formato EMBA program have expressed mixed feelings—some welcome the scrutiny to validate their credentials, while others fear that a lack of formal recognition could undermine their academic and professional advancement.

This review reflects Saint Lucia’s broader effort to maintain academic credibility in an evolving global education landscape. As more citizens turn to foreign institutions for graduate study, the Ministry’s approach to credential recognition is likely to shape future education policy.