BYE-LAWS IN TERMS OF THE GENERAL REGULATIONS FOR UNIVERSITY POSTGRADUATE AWARDS, 2021 FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

NETWORKED HIGHER EDUCATION

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.673

BYE-LAWS 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

19th November, 2021

LEGAL NOTICE 446 of 2021.

(1)

These bye-laws may be cited as the Bye-Laws 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.

These by-laws shall be

applicable

for

courses

commencing in October 2021 or later.

(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

NETWORKED HIGHER EDUCATION

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

(e)

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.

The Course shall extend over three semesters of full-

time study or the equivalent in part-time 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

NETWORKED HIGHER EDUCATION

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%.

(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.

(1)

Students shall be required to submit an

individual dissertation of approximately 20,000 words in accordance

with the guidelines issued by the Board.

(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

NETWORKED HIGHER EDUCATION

(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.

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.

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.