EDUCATION ACT (CAP. 327)

European Master in Early Childhood Education and Care Degree Course Regulations, 2007

IN exercise of the powers conferred upon him by sections 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 sections 75 and 79 of the said Act:

Citation and Interpretation

1. (1) These regulations may be cited as the European Master in Early Childhood Education and Care Degree Course Regulations, 2007.

(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -

"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty of Education;

"the Board of Studies" means the Board of Studies, which should include a member of each Partner Institution, appointed by Senate, on the recommendation of the Board, responsible for the academic administration and organisation of the Course;

"the Course" means the course of studies developed by the Partner Institutions leading to the degree of Master in Early Childhood Education and Care;

"the Degree" means the Master in Early Childhood Education and Care; and

"the Partner Institutions" means the institutions taking part in the EU-funded Project 74922-IC-1-2004-1-MT-ERASMUS-PROGUC-4: Erasmus ­ Joint Development of Study Programmes at intermediate and advanced level, namely:

University of Halle, Germany
Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland
University of Malta, Malta
Oslo University College, Norway
University of Strathclyde, Scotland
University of Goteborg, Sweden.

Applicability

2. These regulations shall apply to the Course starting in October 2007.

Qualifications for Admission

3. (1) Applicants shall be in possession of the Bachelor of Education (Honours) degree with Primary Education as the area of specialization, or a degree from another university, recognized by Senate for the purpose, in both instances together with at least two years of teaching experience in the early years sector.

(2) The Board shall recommend to Senate the number of applicants that may be allowed to register for the Course. The number of available places shall be announced at the time of the call for applications.

(b) If there are more eligible applicants than the number of places available, applicants shall be selected on their performance in an interview held for the purpose and their qualifications, aptitude, experience and commitment.

Course Duration

4. The Course shall extend over two years of full-time study.

Programme of Studies

5. The programme of studies shall be mainly delivered by distance learning and shall comprise two components: eight taught study-units to which 80 ECTS credits shall be assigned and a research component to which 40 ECTS credits shall be assigned. The programme shall be published prior to the commencement of the Course, following the approval of Senate.

Catalogue of Study-Units

6. The Board of Studies shall draw up a catalogue of all study-units. The catalogue shall indicate the level, code, title, description and type of each study-unit, the credits assigned to each study-unit, and the methods of teaching and assessment. The Board shall publish the catalogue prior to the commencement of the Course, following the approval of Senate.

Assessment

7. (1) Results for the assessment of the study-units and the dissertation shall be published as Pass/Fail.

(2) Students who fail in any study-unit shall be allowed a supplementary assessment once only. Given the collaborative and on-line participation of students towards completion of assignments, the mode of the supplementary assessment may be different from the original assessment.

(3) If unsuccessful in the supplementary assessment, students may not continue the Course and shall be asked to withdraw.

Postgraduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care

8. (1) Students who successfully complete the taught study-units to which 80 ECTS credits have been assigned and opt not to proceed with the Course or having proceeded do not successfully complete the dissertation shall be entitled to the Postgraduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care.

(2) Students who qualify for the Postgraduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care in terms of paragraph (1) of this regulation shall have their names published in a list in alphabetical order classified as follows:

Passed with Distinction
Passed.

Dissertation

9. (1) All students shall submit a title and a detailed research proposal by the deadline and in the format specified in the Student Handbook as drawn up by the Board of Studies.

(2) The Board of Studies shall appoint a supervisor for each student. Students shall be required to have regular contact with their supervisor. Supervisors may refer to the Board of Studies students whose work they consider unsatisfactory and shall refer for the approval of the Board of Studies any substantial modification in the title or content of the dissertation. No dissertation may be submitted for examination without a statement, signed by the supervisor, confirming the work's originality and conformity with these regulations.

(3) Dissertations shall normally be written in English.

(4) The Board of Studies may allow students to write their dissertation in any other language provided that the Board of Studies has ascertained, to the satisfaction of Senate, that the University has the necessary expertise to supervise and examine the work. In such cases, students shall be required to include a translation of the Abstract in English.

(5) Dissertations shall include a declaration signed by the students that it is their own original work.

(6) Students must obtain a pass for their dissertation. Students whose dissertation is found unsatisfactory may be allowed by the Board of Studies, on the recommendation of the examiners, to re-submit it in a revised form, within a period of up to six months from the day on which it is referred back to them.

(7) Each dissertation shall be examined by a Board of Examiners, composed of at least three members, one of whom shall normally be an external examiner from another university.

(8) Dissertations must conform to the relevant guidelines as regards format and presentation, as set out by the Board of Studies in the Student Handbook.

Award of the Degree

10. (1) Students who obtain the 120 ECTS credits shall be eligible for the award of the Degree.

(2) The names of students who qualify for the award of the Degree shall be published in a list in alphabetical order classified as follows:

Passed with Distinction
Passed.

11. The Degree may be awarded jointly with any or all of the Partner Institutions following agreement between the University of Malta and the universities concerned.