Development of Thinking

B

L.N. 286 of 2009

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2009 in terms of the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2008 for the Degree of

International Joint Master of Science in Strategic Innovation

and Future Creation

under the auspices of the Edward de Bono Institute for the Design and

Development of Thinking

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred upon him by articles 74

(5) and 75 (6) of the Education Act (Cap. 327), the Chancellor of the

University of Malta has promulgated the following bye-laws made by

the Board of the Edward de Bono Institute for the Design and

Development of Thinking in virtue of the powers conferred upon it by

article 81(1) of the said Act and which have been approved by the Senate

of the University of Malta as required by article 81(2) of the said Act

Citation and Interpretation

(1) These bye-laws may be cited as the Bye-Laws of 2009 in terms of

the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2008 for the degree of

Master of Science in Strategic Innovation and Future Creation.

(2) In these bye-laws, unless the context otherwise requires –

“the Board” means the Board of Studies, which should include members

from the Partner Institutions, appointed by Senate, on the recommendation of the

Board responsible for the academic administration and organisation of the Course;

“the Course” means the programme of study leading to the degree of

International Joint Master of Science in Strategic Innovation and Future Creation;

"the Degree" means the degree of Master of Science in Strategic Innovation

and Future Creation;

“the Partner Institutions” means the institutions taking part in the EU-funded

project 74922-IC-1-2005-1-MT-ERASMUS-PROGUC-5 2006-2305/001 – 001

SO2, namely

University of Teesside, England

Turku School of Economics, Finland

University of Potsdam, Germany

University of Malta, Malta

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic

Innovation and Future Creation;

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2008; and

“the University” means the University of Malta.

Applicability

These bye-laws shall apply for courses commencing in October 2009 or

later.

Requirements for Admission

To be admitted to the Course, applicants shall be in possession of a

Bachelor degree from this University, or an equivalent qualification obtained from

any other recognized university.

Course Duration

The Course shall extend over four semesters of full-time study or the

equivalent in part-time study.

Programme of Study

(1) The programme of study shall comprise study-units to which a total

of 120 credits are assigned, of which 90 credits are assigned to taught study-units

and 30 credits are assigned to the dissertation study-unit.

(2) Students who obtain a minimum of 60 credits assigned to taught

study-units with an average mark of at least 50% and do not proceed with the

Course, or having proceeded do not successfully complete the Course, shall be

eligible for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma.

(3) The programme of study shall be published after approval by Senate,

normally not less than eight months prior to the commencement of the Course.

(4) All students shall be required to spend a compulsory study period at

each of the Partner Institutions, as indicated in the programme of study.

Assessment and Progress

(1) The assessment of each taught study-unit shall be held on completion

of the study-unit, during the period of attendance at one of the Partner Institutions at

a time to be specified by the Board.

(2) Students who in any academic year fail in the assessment of not more

than 20 credits for taught study-units, if following the full-time Course, or not more

than 10 credits if following the part-time Course, shall be given the opportunity to

re-sit the failed assessments at the first practicable opportunity, as determined by the

Board.

(3) Students who fail in more than the number of credits permitted under

paragraph (2) of this bye-law, or students who after re-assessment fail to obtain

credit for any study-unit, shall be deemed to have failed the Course.

Students shall be allowed to proceed to the dissertation study-unit subject

to successful completion of all the taught study-units with a minimum average mark

of 65%.

Dissertation

(1) Students shall be required to submit an individual dissertation of

between 25,000 – 30,000 words on a topic related to creativity, innovation

management, foresight and/or entrepreneurship. The dissertation must satisfy the

Board of Examiners as regards content and presentation.

(2) Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken during the fourth

semester of the Course. Each student shall be assigned a supervisor who shall

provide guidance and advice on a regular basis during the period of study.

(3) A provisional title of the dissertation and a detailed research proposal

shall be submitted to the Board for approval by the beginning of the third semester.

(1)

Students shall be required to have regular contact with their

supervisor.

(2) Supervisors shall submit to the Board progress reports for each

student under their supervision at the end of each semester of studies, whether the

student is following the Course on a full-time or a part-time basis. Such reports may

include a recommendation to either (a) extend the period of study in order to enable

the student to complete the dissertation; or (b) terminate studies prematurely if the

supervisor deems this to be proper in the circumstances, provided that

(i) the extension of the study period referred to in (a) shall be in

accordance with the provisions of Principal Regulations; and

(ii) the Board may not terminate studies prematurely according to (b)

until it has first given the student a chance to be heard.

(1) Each dissertation shall be examined by a Board of Examiners

composed of at least four examiners. At least one of the examiners shall normally

be a local examiner from one of the Partner Institutions, while the external examiner

shall be selected from an institution external to the Partner Institutions.

(2) Students shall normally be required to take a viva voce examination to

defend their dissertation.

Classification of the Awards

The Final Weighted Average Mark for the purpose of the classification of

the Postgraduate Diploma and the Degree shall be based on the results obtained in

all the components of the programme of study, all credits being weighted equally.

Special Provisions for Part-Time Courses

The provisions of the foregoing bye-laws shall apply mutatis mutandis to

courses followed on a part-time basis, and subject to such changes as may

reasonably be deemed by the Board as necessary due to the part-time nature of the

Course.