EDUCATION ACT (CAP. 327)

Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Administration and Management) ­ P.G. Dip. Ed. ­ Course Regulations, 2005

IN exercise of the powers conferred upon him by sections 30 (5) and 31 (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 31 and 35 of the said Act:

Citation and Interpretation

1. (1) These regulations may be cited as the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Administration and Management) ­ P.G. Dip. Ed. ­Course Regulations, 2005.

(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 appointed by Senate for the Course;

"the Course" means the programme of studies leading to the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Administration and Management) ­ P.G. Dip. Ed.; and

"the Diploma" means the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Administration and Management) ­ P.G. Dip. Ed.

Applicability

2. These regulations shall be applicable for courses commencing in 2003 or later.

Eligibility for the Diploma

3. To be eligible for the award of the Diploma, students must:

(a) be registered as regular students of the University;

(b) complete the programme of studies as prescribed in these regulations; and

(c) satisfy all other requirements laid down in these regulations and in any other relevant statutes, regulations and bye-laws of the University.

Qualifications for Admission

4. (1) In order to be admitted to the Course, applicants shall be in possession of one of the following qualifications:

(a) a degree in education from this or any other recognised university, together with seven years' experience in full-time teaching; or

(b) a degree followed by a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, both obtained from this or any other recognised university, together with seven years' experience in full-time teaching; or

(c) a degree followed by the Graduate Teachers' Certificate issued by the Education Division, together with ten years' experience in full-time teaching; or

(d) a teaching certificate from the Malta Colleges of Education, together with ten years' experience in full-time teaching.

(2) Applicants with a Master's degree and seven years' experience in full-time teaching shall be admitted to a one year part-time preparatory course comprising study-units in education theory and professional issues, to which 30 ECTS credits shall be assigned. Applicants shall be registered on the Course on successful completion of the preparatory course.

(3) The Board may also consider applicants who hold an administrative position in an educational institution not below that of an Assistant Head of School.

(4) Applicants may be asked to attend an interview for the purpose of assessing their aptitude to follow the Course in conformity with the Admission Regulations of the University.

Course Duration

5. The Course shall extend over a period of two years of part-time study. The Board may allow students to complete the Course in not more than three years. The Senate may, in exceptional circumstances and on the advice of the Board, allow students an additional year of study.

Course Programme

6. (1) The Course shall consist of study-units, to which 60 ECTS credits are assigned in the following areas:

(a) Theory and Practice of Educational Management
(b) Leadership and School Ethos
(c) Creating and Managing a Stimulating Learning Environment
(d) Promoting Quality Education
(e) School Development Issues
(f) Managing Schools for Quality Service to the Community
(g) Long Essay or Project.

(2) A catalogue of study-units, indicating the code, title, description, credits assigned to each study-unit, and the method of assessment (normally by coursework, which may include written assignments, projects, and an examination at the end of the study-unit), together with the weighting given to each component, shall be published before the commencement of the Course, following approval by Senate on the recommendation of the Board.

(3) There shall be a Course Co-ordinator who shall be responsible for the drawing up the catalogue of study-units as well as for the preparation or provision for the availability of support material, with the co-operation and approval of the Board of Studies.

Assessment and Progress

7. (1) During the Course, students shall be assessed in the study-units according to the criteria established by the Board.

(2) Students shall be eligible for the award of the Diploma on obtaining the 60 ECTS credits assigned to the Course.

(3) Results for the assessment of the study-units and the Long Essay/Project shall be published as a percentage mark and grade as indicated in the table below:

Mark Range  Grade

80% -100%         A
70% - 79%          B
55% - 69%          C
45% - 54%          D
0 - 44%               F

Both the percentage mark and the grade shall be recorded in the students' academic record. However, only the percentage mark shall be used for the purpose ofcalculating the students' progression from year 1 to year 2 and for the final classification of the Diploma.

(4) Students who fail in any component of the assessment of a study-unit shall be allowed to resubmit their assignment/s or projects, or resit the examination once only at the next session of examinations. If successful, the maximum marks and grade that they may be awarded shall be 45% - grade D.

(5) Students who fail the reassessment of a study-unit shall be required to withdraw from the Course.

8. (1) Students shall be required to submit a Long Essay, of approximately ten thousand words, or a Project deemed to be of equivalent academic standing.

(2) The subject of the Long Essay or Project must be submitted for the approval of the Board of Studies not later than nine months from the commencement of the Course.

(3) Students who fail to satisfy the examiners in the Long Essay/Project shall be allowed to resubmit it once within a period of twelve months.

Final Result

9. (1) The final results of all students shall take into account the results obtained in all the study-units and in the Long Essay/Project, which shall be weighted according to the number of credits assigned to each component.

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

Passed with Distinction
Passed.