Degree Course Regulations, 2012

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L.N. 30 of 2012

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Master in Early Childhood Education and Care

Degree Course Regulations, 2012

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 regulations made by the Senate of the University of Malta

by virtue of the powers conferred upon it by articles 75 and 79 of the said Act

Citation and Interpretation

(1) These regulations may be cited as the Master in Early Childhood

Education and Care Degree Course Regulations, 2012.

(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Education;

“the Coordinating Board” means the Coordinating Board, responsible for

the academic administration and organisation of the Course, which shall include a

member from each Partner Institution;

“the Course” means the programme of study developed by the Partner

Institutions leading to the degree of Master in Early Childhood Education and Care;

“the Degree” means the Master in Early Childhood Education and Care;

“the Partner Institutions” means the institutions taking part in the Erasmus

Mundus Masters programme which is approved by the European Commission under

Convention Number 159480-1-2009-1-NO-ERA MUNDUS-EMMC, namely

Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland;

University of Malta, Malta; and

Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Norway.

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Early

Childhood Education and Care;

“the Senate” means the Senate of the University of Malta; and

“the University” means the University of Malta.

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(3) This Degree is a joint Master’s degree of the University and this shall

be taken to mean that the Course is taught at the Partner Institutions within the

framework of a joint degree programme. The Degree shall only be awarded if the

Partner Institutions declare the student to be eligible for the award.

Applicability

These regulations shall apply to courses commencing in August 2010 or

later.

Qualifications for Admission

(1) Applicants shall be in possession of a first cycle degree in Early

Childhood Education or in Primary Education with Early Childhood Education as the

area of specialization, or a first cycle degree in a related area from another university,

recognized by the Coordinating Board for the purpose, in all instances together with

at least two years of teaching experience in the early years sector.

(2) Applicants shall have computer knowledge and skills.

(3) Applications shall be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria

(a) Relevance and excellence of academic background (50%);

(b) Relevant experience and professional training (25%);

(c) The submitted statement of purpose (15%); and

(d) Letters of reference (10%).

Course Duration

The Course shall extend over two years of full-time study.

Programme of Study

(1) The programme of study, consisting of 80 ECTS credits for taught study-

units and 40 ECTS credits for research leading to a dissertation, shall be published

prior to the commencement of the Course, following the approval of Senate.

(2) Students are expected to attend at each of the Partner Institutions for

at least one semester.

Catalogue of Study-Units

The Coordinating Board shall draw up a catalogue of all study-units. The

catalogue shall indicate the level, code, title, description and type of each study-

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unit, the ECTS credits assigned to each study-unit, and the methods of teaching and

assessment. The Board shall publish the catalogue prior to the commencement of the

Course, following the approval of Senate.

Assessment

(1) The results for the assessment of the study-units shall be published on

a Pass/Fail basis.

(2) The results for the assessment of the dissertation shall be published

with a grading letter system, where A is the best grade, E the lowest pass grade and F

is fail.

(3) Students who fail in any study-unit shall be allowed a supplementary

assessment once only.

(4) If unsuccessful in the supplementary assessment, students may not

continue the Course and shall be asked to withdraw.

Postgraduate Diploma

(1) Students who successfully complete six taught study-units to which

60 ECTS credits have been assigned and opt not to proceed with the Course or having

proceeded do not successfully complete the Course shall be entitled to the award of

the Postgraduate Diploma.

(2) Students who qualify for the Postgraduate Diploma in terms of paragraph

(1) of this regulation shall have their names published in a list in alphabetical order.

Dissertation

(1) All students shall submit a title and a detailed research proposal by

the deadline and in the format specified in the Student Handbook as drawn up by the

Coordinating Board.

(2) The Coordinating Board shall appoint a supervisor for each student.

Students shall be required to have regular contact with their supervisor. Supervisors

may refer to the Coordinating Board students whose work they consider unsatisfactory

and shall refer for the approval of the Coordinating Board any substantial modification

in the title or content of the dissertation.

(3) Dissertations shall be written in English.

(4) Dissertations shall include a declaration signed by the students that it

is their own original work.

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

composed of at least three members, which shall include one internal examiner

from the Partner Institutions, who is not necessarily the academic co-ordinator, the

supervisor who shall act as the chairperson, and an external examiner from outside

the Partner Institutions.

(6) Students whose dissertation is found unsatisfactory may be allowed

by the Coordinating Board, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners, to re-

submit it in a revised form, within a period of up to six months from the day on which

it is referred back to them.

(7) Dissertations must conform to the relevant guidelines as regards format

and presentation, as set out by the Coordinating Board in the Student Handbook.

Award of the Degree

(1) Students who obtain the 120 ECTS credits shall be eligible for the

award of the Degree.

(2) The names of students who qualify for the award of the Degree shall

be published in a list in alphabetical order.

The Degree shall be awarded jointly by all the Partner Institutions

following agreement between the University and the Partner Institutions concerned.

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