Regulations for Micro-credentials, 2024

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L.N. 165 of 2024

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Regulations for Micro-credentials, 2024

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(3) and 79(b) of the said Act

Citation and interpretation

(1) These regulations may be cited as the Regulations for Micro-

credentials, 2024.

(2)

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty offering the Micro-credential;

“ECTS credits” means the credits awarded according to the guidelines of the

European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System;

“the Faculty” means the faculty, institute, centre or school offering the Micro-

credential;

“Micro-credential/s” means a record of the learning achieved following a

small volume of learning. Micro-credentials can refer to individual units of learning,

or units that are grouped thematically as a short course; and

“the Senate” means the Senate of the University of Malta.

Applicability

These regulations shall apply from 1 October 2024 onwards.

Registration for Micro-credentials

(1) The University may, at the discretion of the Senate or the Faculty

concerned, offer the possibility to persons to register as visiting students for

(a) self-contained study-units that are offered within University

undergraduate and postgraduate courses; or

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(b) study-units that are designed ad hoc for particular needs, and

approved by Senate. Such Micro-credentials shall be offered either individually, or

thematically as a short course. They shall normally be assigned not less than 4 ECTS

credits and not more than 25 ECTS credits.

(2) During an academic year, visiting students shall be allowed to register

for Micro-credentials to which a total of not more than 60 ECTS credits are assigned.

(3) (i) On successful completion of a Micro-credential comprising an

individual study-unit, visiting students shall be entitled to an academic transcript

indicating the title of the Micro-credential, the MQF level of the Micro-credential,

the number of ECTS credits assigned to the study-unit and the mark/grade achieved.

(ii) On successful completion of all study-units included in the

programme of a thematic short course, visiting students shall be entitled to a Micro-

credential, indicating the title of the thematic short course, the MQF level of the

Micro-credential, and the title, the number of ECTS credits and the mark/grade

achieved in each study-unit included in the programme for the short course.

(4) The Board of a Faculty offering a certificate, diploma, higher diploma

or degree course may accept the transfer of Micro-credential/s to one of its courses

if the content and level are comparable, and if the study-units concerned have been

completed not more than seven years previously.

Admission Requirements

(1) Applicants shall be in possession of those qualifications and/or

any other requisites which are required to follow the Micro-credential with profit.

(2) Where applicable, the registration of visiting students on any

Micro-credential shall be made on the recommendation of the Board.

Applications

(1) The University shall announce the Micro-credentials that shall be

offered during the academic year through the Course Finder facility which is available

on the University’s website. The applicable admission requirements and the number

of places available shall be published prior to the commencement of each Micro-

credential.

(2) Applicants shall apply to register for Micro-credentials on the

prescribed form, and within the time specified by the Office of the Registrar.

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Attendance

Attendance for lectures, seminars, tutorials and other learning

experiences shall be compulsory and visiting students may be precluded from being

assessed for a study-unit if attendance is not regular.

Assessment

Assessments shall be conducted under the same University of Malta

regulations and practices prevailing at the time the study-unit is offered.

Certification

Visiting students registered on any Micro-credential shall be eligible for

certification as defined in paragraph (3) of regulation 3 of these regulations, if they

(a) complete the study-unit/s, are awarded the credits assigned to it/them, and

satisfy all the requirements prescribed in these regulations; and

(b) satisfy any other requirements prescribed in any other relevant statutes,

regulations and bye-laws of the University.

General Provision

In matters not provided for by these regulations, the Board shall be

guided by the provisions of the General Regulations for University Undergraduate

Awards, 2019, or the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2021,

as applicable.

Repeal

The Individual Study-Units and Awards Regulations, 2020 published as

Legal Notice 292 of 2020, shall be deemed to cease to be in force as from 1 October

2024, provided that visiting students registered on study-units before the 1 October

2024 shall continue to be governed by the regulations that were in force at the time of

their registering on the study-units.

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