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

AND RECORDS MANAGEMENT

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.674

BYE-LAWS IN TERMS OF THE GENERAL

REGULATIONS FOR UNIVERSITY POSTGRADUATE

AWARDS, 2021 FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

ARTS IN ARCHIVES AND RECORDS MANAGEMENT

- M.A. - UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF

MEDIA AND KNOWLEDGE SCIENCES

19th November, 2021

LEGAL NOTICE 444 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 Archives and

Records Management - M.A. - under the auspices of the Faculty of

Media and Knowledge Sciences.

(2)

In these bye-laws, unless the context otherwise

requires -

"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty of Media and

Knowledge Sciences;

"the Course" means the programme of study leading to the

degree of Master of Arts in Archives and Records Management -

M.A.;

"the Degree" means the degree of Master of Arts in Archives

and Records Management - M.A.;

"the Postgraduate Certificate" means the Postgraduate

Certificate in Archives and Records Management - P.G. Cert.; and

"the Postgraduate Diploma" means the Postgraduate Diploma

in Archives and Records Management - P.G. Dip.; and

"the Principal Regulations" means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards, 2021.

These bye-laws shall be applicable for courses

commencing in October 2021 or later.

(1)

The Course is open to applicants in possession

of

(a) a first cycle degree obtained with at least Second Class

Honours or Category II in Knowledge and Information Management,

awarded by this University or any other higher education institution

recognised by Senate; or

AND RECORDS MANAGEMENT

(b) a first cycle degree obtained with a Third Class Honours

or Category III in Knowledge and Information Management, awarded

by this University or any other higher education institution

recognised by Senate, provided that such applicants shall be required

to submit a portfolio documenting and describing proven professional

experience in the library, archive or information management sector,

which experience was obtained following their first cycle degree.

Applicants in possession of the degree with Third Class Honours or

Category III shall be allowed to proceed to the research component

subject to the attainment of an average mark of at least 55% in the

taught component; or

(c) a first cycle degree obtained with at least Second Class

Honours or Category II in any other subject, awarded by the

University or any other higher education institution recognised by

Senate, provided that they satisfy the Board that they are in

possession of other qualifications, including relevant experience,

obtained following their first cycle degree; or

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

Faculty Admissions Committee, may admit into the Course

applicants in possession of the Diploma in Archives and Records

Management with at least a Merit classification, obtained from this

University, or an equivalent qualification obtained from any other

higher education institution recognised by Senate. Such applicants

shall be required to demonstrate the learning achieved through prior

experience and certification through the evaluation procedures

established by the University Policy for the Recognition and

Accreditation of Prior Learning (RPL). The admission of such

applicants may be made subject to those conditions that may be

imposed to address any lacunae in the applicants’ academic

preparation.

(3) Applicants in terms of sub-paragraph (b) and (c) of

paragraph (1) of this bye-law shall be interviewed by a board

appointed for the purpose, to assess their suitability to follow the

Course with profit. The Board shall announce the assessment criteria

for admission into the Course at the time of the call for applications.

(4) The interviewing board appointed by the Board shall be

composed of at least three members.

The Course shall extend over six semesters of part-time

study which shall include the summer periods.

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

assigned to a dissertation study-unit.

AND RECORDS MANAGEMENT

Students who successfully complete a prescribed set of

study-units totalling 30 ECTS credits assigned for 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.

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.

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 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 15,000 to 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 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 research

proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval not later than

six weeks before the end of the second semester.

(1)

Students shall be required to have regular

contact with their supervisor.

(2) Supervisors shall submit to the Board progress reports

for each student under their supervision at the end of each semester of

AND RECORDS MANAGEMENT

studies. Such reports may include recommendations 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.

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.