under the auspices of the Faculty of Education

B

L.N. 244 of 2024

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2024 in terms of the

Professional Doctorate Degree Course Regulations, 2014

for the Degree of Doctorate in Educational Leadership – Ed.D. –

under the auspices of the Faculty of Education

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred upon him by article 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 2024 in terms of the

Professional Doctorate Degree Course Regulations, 2014 for the Degree of Doctorate

in Educational Leadership – Ed.D. – under the auspices of the Faculty of Education.

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

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

“the Board of Studies” means the Board of Studies for the Course appointed by

Senate, on the recommendation of the Board;

“the Degree” means the degree of Doctorate in Educational Leadership – Ed.D.;

“the Faculty” means the Faculty of Education;

“the Master’s Degree” means the degree of the Master in Educational Leadership;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Educational

Leadership; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the Professional Doctorate Degree Course

Regulations, 2014.

Applicability

These bye-laws shall be applicable for courses starting in September 2024

or later.

Requirements for Admission

(1) Applicants for the Degree offered by the Faculty shall be in possession

of a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, Management, or any other relevant

qualification deemed comparable by the Board.

(2) Applicants must possess a minimum of 8 years of successful experience

in teaching, leadership or equivalent experience in educational practice.

(3) Applicants must present the following

(a) two letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the

applicants’ leadership potential, relevant experience, and ability to succeed in a

rigorous graduate programme;

(b) a professional written statement describing one’s educational and

professional goals and discussing what one hopes to gain from such a programme;

(c) a Curriculum Vitae / Resumé.

(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 shall be announced at the time of the call for applications.

(5) If there are more eligible applicants than the number of places available,

applicants shall be selected according to the following criteria

(a) qualifications as identified in paragraph (1) of this bye-law: 20%;

(b) professional development portfolio: 30%;

(c) professional written statement: 20%; and

(d) performance during an interview: 30%.

(6) The interviewing board appointed by the Board shall be composed of

at least three members.

(7) Applicants shall be registered on the Master’s Degree in the first

instance.

Course Duration

The Course shall extend over three years of full-time study or the

equivalent in part-time study.

Programme of Study

The programme of study for the Degree shall comprise

(a) a taught and professional practice component, including a reflective

portfolio, comprising study-units to which 120 ECTS credits shall be assigned; and

(b) a research component, comprising a dissertation study-unit to which 60

ECTS credits shall be assigned.

B

In order to remain registered on the Degree, students must maintain an

average mark of 60% in the taught study-units, which average mark shall be computed

at the end of the academic year.

Students who obtain at least 60 ECTS credits for taught and practice study-

units and either opt not to proceed with the Course, or having proceeded, do not

complete the full programme of study, shall be eligible for the award of the Postgraduate

Diploma. Students who opt not to proceed with the Course after completion of the

study-units to which 120 ECTS credits are assigned, shall be eligible for the award

of the Master’s Degree.

The programme of study shall be published after approval by Senate, on

the recommendation of the Board, normally not less than eight months prior to the

commencement of the Course.

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, in the first and second year of the programme, fail in

the assessment of not more than 20 ECTS credits, if following the Course on a full-

time basis, or not more than 10 ECTS credits, if following the Course on a part-time

basis, shall be given the opportunity to resit the failed study-units once during the

September supplementary examination session.

(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 the

credits for any study-unit, shall be required to withdraw from the Course.

Professional Practice

(1) The Board, upon the recommendation of the Board of Studies, shall

appoint a professional practice supervisor, who shall be a resident academic, for each

student. professional practice supervisors shall provide guidance and advice on a

regular basis during the students’ professional practice.

(2) Students shall be required to have regular contact with their professional

practice supervisors.

Professional practice supervisors shall submit to the Board of Studies

reports for students under their supervision, by the end of June of each academic year.

Submission of Dissertation Proposals and Dissertations

Students registered for the Degree shall be required to submit an individual

dissertation which shall not exceed 60,000 words, excluding bibliography, appendices

and abstract, and which shall be written in accordance with the guidelines approved

and published by the Board of Studies.

B

Students shall be required to submit their dissertation proposal for the

Degree to the Board of Studies by the end of the first semester of Year 2.

Not less than three months before the submission deadline, students shall

be required to inform the Faculty that they will be submitting their dissertation for

examination.

The Board shall recommend to Senate the appointment of a Board of

Examiners for each dissertation, in accordance with the Principal Regulations.

(1) Students shall be required to submit a loose bound copy of their

dissertation for each member of the Board of Examiners, together with a copy in

digital format. The officer in charge of the Faculty shall issue a dated receipt.

(2) On successful completion of their studies, students shall be required

to submit to the Faculty two hard bound copies of the dissertation and one copy in

digital format within six weeks from the publication of their result. One copy of the

dissertation shall be kept in the Library of the Department of Leadership for Learning

and Innovation and the digital copy at the University Library. Students who do not

comply with this bye-law shall not be awarded the Degree or the Master’s Degree.

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.

General Provision

In matters not provided for by these bye-laws, the Board and Senate shall

be guided by the provisions of the General Regulations for University Postgraduate

Awards, 2021, published as Legal Notice 371 of 2021, as applicable.

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