under the auspices of the Faculty of Education

B

L.N. 446 of 2021

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2021 in terms of the

General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2021 for the

Degree of Master of Arts in Open and Networked Higher Education - M.A.

-under the auspices of the Faculty of Education

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred upon him by sections 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 Faculty of Education in virtue of

the powers conferred upon it by article 81 (1) (c) 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 2021 in terms of

the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2021 for the degree of

Master of Arts in Open and Networked Higher Education - M.A. - under the auspices

of the Faculty of Education.

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

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

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

of Arts in Open and Networked Higher Education - M.A.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Arts in Open and Networked

Higher Education - M.A.;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate Certificate in Open and

Networked Higher Education - P.G. Cert.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Open and

Networked Higher Education - P.G. Dip.; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2021.

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Applicability

These by-laws shall be applicable for courses commencing in October 2021

or later.

Requirements for Admission

(1) The Course shall be open to applicants in possession of a Bachelor

degree in an area of study deemed relevant by the Board, classified with at least

Second Class Honours or Category II, awarded by this University or any other higher

education institution recognised by Senate.

(2) The Admissions Board, on the recommendation of the Board, may

also admit into the Course, applicants not in possession of a first cycle degree, if it is

satisfied that such are in possession of other academic or professional qualifications

and relevant experience that together are deemed to be comparable to the level of a

first degree. Such applicants shall be required to demonstrate the learning achieved

through prior experience and qualifications through the evaluation procedures

established by the University Policy for the Recognition and Accreditation of Prior

Learning (RPL).

(3) The admission of applicants may be made conditional on the result of an

interview conducted by an interviewing board composed of at least three members,

appointed by the Board for the purpose.

(4) The Board shall recommend to Senate the number of applicants that

may be allowed to register on the Course, depending on the availability of resources.

The number of available places, where applicable, shall be announced at the time of

the call for applications.

(5) If the number of applicants exceeds the number of available places or

the Board deems necessary, applicants shall be selected using the following criteria,

the weighting of which shall be published at the time of the call for applications

(a) degree type and class;

(b) relevant work experience in the proposed study area;

(c) professional aptitude and disposition; and

(d) performance during an interview conducted by the interviewing board.

(6) For the purpose of selection, applicants whose qualifications as

stipulated in paragraph (1) of this bye-law were obtained by 31 August preceding the

commencement of the Course shall be considered first.

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Course Duration

The Course shall extend over three 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

90 ECTS credits are assigned, of which 60 ECTS credits are assigned to taught study-

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

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

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

(3) Students who successfully complete a prescribed set of taught study-

units totalling 30 ECTS credits 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 Certificate.

(4) Students who obtain the 60 ECTS credits assigned to the 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 dissertation, shall be eligible for

the award of the Postgraduate Diploma.

(5) Students shall be eligible for the award of the Degree if they obtain the

90 ECTS as outlined in the programme of study for the Course with an average mark

of at least 50%.

Assessment and Progress

(1) The assessment of each taught study-unit shall be completed by the end

of the semester in which the teaching of the study-unit is held.

(2) Students who fail in the assessment of not more than 20 ECTS credits

if they are following the full-time course or 10 ECTS credits if they are following the

part-time course, shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the failed assessment during

the September supplementary examination session.

(3) Students who fail more than the number of study-units 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.

Dissertation

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

approximately 20,000 words in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board.

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(2) Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken during the final semester of

the full-time Course or the final two semesters of the part-time 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 for the dissertation and a detailed research proposal

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

the part-time Course or the beginning of the second semester of the full-time Course.

(4) Students shall be required to have regular contact with their supervisor.

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

under their supervision at the end of each semester of studies. 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 the Principal Regulations; and

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

it has first given the student a chance to defend his case.

Classification of the Awards

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

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

all 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.

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