BYE-LAWS IN TERMS OF THE GENERAL REGULATIONS FOR UNIVERSITY POSTGRADUATE AWARDS, 2008 FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.614

BYE-LAWS IN TERMS OF THE GENERAL

REGULATIONS FOR UNIVERSITY POSTGRADUATE

AWARDS, 2008 FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

ARTS IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION - M.A. - UNDER

THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF EDUCATION

4th December, 2018

LEGAL NOTICE 407 of 2018, as amended by Legal Notice 107 of 2019.

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

terms of the General Regulations for University Postgraduate

Awards, 2008 for the degree of Master of Arts in Vocational

Education - M.A. - 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 appointed by

Senate for the Course, on the recommendation of the Board;

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

degree of Master of Arts in Vocational Education - M.A.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Arts in Vocational

Education - M.A. - in the relevant area;

“the Faculty” means the Faculty of Education;

“the Postgraduate Certificate” means the Postgraduate

Certificate in Vocational Education - P.G.Cert.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Vocational Education - P.G. Dip.; and

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards, 2008.

These bye-laws shall be

applicable

for

courses

commencing in October 2019 or later.

The Degree may be awarded in the following areas of

specialisation

(i)

Agribusiness;

(ii)

Health and Social Care;

(iii)

Hospitality;

(iv)

Media Literacy;

(v)

Textiles and Fashion;

(vi)

Hair Dressing and Beauty;

(vii) Engineering Technology;

(viii) Information Technology; and

(ix)

Retail.

The Board shall announce the areas of specialisation as

approved by Senate, at the time of the call for applications.

(1)

The Course shall be open to applicants in possession

of one of the following qualifications

(a)

the degree of Bachelor of Education with at least

Second Class Honours from this University; or

(b)

a first cycle degree together with a Postgraduate

Certificate in Education from this University; or

(c)

a degree from another higher education institution

recognised as equivalent to the qualifications

mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this bye-law.

(2)

(i)

Applicants in possession of an MQF Level 5

qualification comprising not less than 120 ECTS credits may be

considered for admission, provided that such applicants provide

evidence of a minimum of eight years’ teaching experience and

provided further that they shall demonstrate the learning achieved by

means of prior experience and certification through the evaluation

procedures established by the University Policy for the Recognition

and Accreditation of Prior Learning.

(ii)

Applicants who do not meet the requirements for

admission as specified in paragraph (1) of this bye-

law or those specified in sub-paragraph (i) of this

paragraph may also be considered for admission,

provided that such applicants can provide evidence of

a minimum of twelve years’ teaching experience and

provided further that they shall demonstrate the

learning achieved by means of prior experience

through the evaluation procedures established by the

University Policy for the Recognition

and

Accreditation of Prior Learning.

(3)

The Board may also require applicants to sit for an

interview during which their ability to successfully complete the

Course shall be assessed.

(1)

The Board shall recommend to Senate the number

of students that may be allowed to register for each area of

specialisation depending on the availability of resources. The Board

shall announce the number of available places in each area of

specialisation at the time of the call for applications.

(2)

If there are more eligible applicants than the number of

places available, applicants shall be selected according to the

following criteria

1 st Category: Holders of a first cycle degree in the relevant

subject area indicated in bye-law 3, together with a Master degree in

the same or a closely related subject area

2 nd Category:Holders of a first cycle degree in the relevant

subject area indicated in bye-law 3 together with a Postgraduate

Diploma in the same or a closely related subject area

3 rd Category:Holders of a first cycle degree in the relevant

subject area indicated in bye-law 3 obtained with First Class Honours

or Category I

4 th Category:Holders of a first cycle degree in the relevant

subject area indicated in bye-law 3 obtained with Second Class

Honours (Upper Division) or Category IIA

5 th Category:Holders of a first cycle degree in the subject area

indicated in bye-law 3 obtained with Second Class Honours (Lower

Division) or with Category IIB,

provided that for the purpose of selection, applicants who

fully satisfy the requirements for admission by 31st August

preceding the commencement of the Course shall be considered first.

(3)

If, after the rank order is established as indicated above,

there is a tie for any one or more places: (a) the final average mark

obtained by the student in the Master or Bachelor degree shall be

considered, and (b) if there is a further tie, the applicants shall be

interviewed.

(4)

The Interviewing Board shall be composed of at least

three members.

The Course shall extend over six semesters of part-time

study.

The programme of study shall comprise study-units to

which a total of 90 ECTS credits are assigned, of which 45 ECTS

credits are assigned to taught study-units, 15 ECTS credits are

assigned to an industry field placement and 30 ECTS credits assigned

to the dissertation study-unit.

(1)

Students who obtain 30 ECTS 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 Certificate.

(2)

Students who obtain the 60 ECTS credits assigned to the

taught and placements 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.

(3)

Students shall be eligible for the award of the Degree if

they obtain the 90 ECTS credits as outlined in the programme of

study for the Course with an average mark of at least 50%.

The programme of study shall be published after approval

by Senate, normally not less than eight months prior to the

commencement of the Course.

(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 any academic year fail in the assessment

of not more than 10 ECTS credits for taught study-units shall be given

the opportunity to re-sit the failed assessments 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 credit for any study-unit, shall be deemed

to have failed the Course.

(1)

There shall be an industry field placement, done

under supervision, as determined by the Board in each of the two

years of the Course.

(2)

Industry field placements shall be assessed on a Pass/Fail

basis.

(3)

The Board shall appoint an industry field placement

Board of Examiners.

(4)

Each student shall be assessed by at least two examiners

as provided for by the University Assessment Regulations.

Examiners may conduct assessment visits to particular students as

they deem fit.

(5)

Industry field placement Boards of Examiners shall

follow the University Assessment Regulations and any other

procedures that the Board may determine for the purpose of the

industry field placement, provided that such procedures are in

conformity with the University Assessment Regulations.

(6)

(a)

Students who, for health reasons, fail to attend for

up to 20% of the industry field placement should present a medical

report within 24 hours to the Faculty Office. The medical report,

drawn up by a Medical Doctor, should clearly state the ailment which

is preventing the student from attending the field placement and

should include the name, signature and the Medical Registration

Number of the Medical Doctor.

(b)

Where students are away from the industry field

placement for up to 20% of the industry field

placement for health reasons or for any other

reason which the Board considers valid, as well as

in special circumstances for which prior approval

would have been given by the industry field

placement Board of Examiners, they may be

required to make up for any missed duties as

directed by the Board.

(c)

Students who fail to attend 20% or more of the

industry field placement shall either be required to

repeat the whole industry field placement under

those conditions established by the Board, or may

be required to carry out additional days of

supervised field placement during the same

academic year as directed by the Board.

(7)

Students who fail an industry field placement shall be

allowed to repeat the industry field placement once only under those

conditions established by the Board. Only one of the field

placements may be repeated.

(8)

Student shall only be declared to have passed the industry

field placement by the industry field placement Board of Examiners.

The academic and professional judgement of the industry field

placement Board of Examiners or of any auxiliary examiner/s is not

reviewable.

(1)

Students shall be required to submit an individual

dissertation of approximately 20,000 words, provided that, in specific

areas approved by the Board where the nature of the study requires

this, students may submit a combination of an activity or project and a

project report of approximately 10,000 words, in accordance with the

relevant Principal Regulations and any further guidelines that may be

issued by the Board.

(2)

A provisional title of the dissertation and a detailed

research proposal shall be submitted for the approval of a Dissertation

Committee appointed by Board by not later than the end of the second

semester of the Course.

(3)

Each student shall be assigned a supervisor, who shall

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

study.

(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 be heard.

(1)

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 the components of the

programme of study, all credits being weighted equally.

(2)

The names of students who qualify for the award of the

Certificate shall be published in a list in alphabetical order.

MASTER OF ARTS IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION - M.A