| CODE | BEN5002 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Professional Studies | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 2 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Faculty for the Built Environment | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit is a recommended extra study-unit, in preparation for the professional status, in Malta, of students who successfully complete the relative master degree programmes. It consists of a number of lectures given, and a seminar run, by different practising professionals, as well as academics. The lectures will introduce students to the relevant legislation regulating professional status in Malta, and recognition in the European Union, professional organisation and forms of practice, and the legislation defining professional responsibility and liability, as well as other regulatory constraints on the practice of the profession in Malta. The study-unit will introduce students to procedures in the interface with various statutory bodies, that they will need to be familiar with in the practice of their profession. An important component of the study-unit is to introduce students to the formal aspects of ethical behaviour in their profession, in respect of their clients, their colleagues, but especially in respect of society, in whose name they carry professional status. Study-unit Aims: The objectives of the study-unit are to prepare students who will successfully complete the master degree programmes, for professional status in Malta, and, by extension, in the European Union. The study-unit aims to familiarise students with the legislation regulating their eventual profession, such as the Periti Act, and the basis of professional responsibility and liability, such as the Civil Code, the Code of Police Laws, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority Act, and the Building (Regulations) Act. Students will also be introduced to important professional issues such as professional recognition in the European Union, professional indemnity, forms of practice, and employment. The second important objective of the study-unit is to formally address ethical aspects of the practice of the profession, as arising from the Code of Professional Conduct in respect of their relationship with colleagues and clients, but also arising from their professional responsibility towards the community, in whose name they are awarded professional status. The third objective is to increase students awareness of the different legislative measures that inform professional practice, such as the Development Planning Act, the Cultural Heritage Act, the Environment Protection Act, and various pieces of legislation regulating land and property, which they are likely to encounter in their practice in Malta. They will also be introduced to the interfaces with statutory authorities responsible for planning, environment, heritage, amongst others, and with dispute resolution institutions such as the Courts of Malta and the Arbitration Centre. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Understand the meaning of professional status in Malta and in the European Union, as far as concerns architects and civil/structural engineers; - Describe the main features of the legislation which regulates their eventual profession, and the professional organisations of which they will eventually become members; - Define appropriate ethical professional behaviour in respect of clients, colleagues and society; - Demonstrate an understanding of professional responsibility and liability arising from professional status, and identify the appropriate forms of practice or employment available after reaching professional status; - Identify the main legislative measures in Malta that impose specific obligations on the professional, or which inform the practice of the profession. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Guide his/her professional behaviour in accordance with appropriate codes of ethics; - Following academic qualification, follow the procedural steps required to achieve professional status in Malta and in the European Union; - Take part in the professional institutional structures in Malta; - Refer to the relevant legislation which regulates or informs the eventual practice of his/her profession; - Choose a form of professional practice or employment appropriate to his/her ambitions, skills and aptitudes; - Interact with the statutory authorities responsible for planning, environment, heritage or dispute resolution. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Reference will be made to a number of pieces of legislation, as identified and provided by the various lecturers, including the Periti Act, (and, particularly, the Code of Professional Conduct arising from this law), the Civil Code, the Code of Police Laws, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority Act, the Occupational Health and Safety (Promotion) Act, the Building (Regulations) Act, the Development Planning Act, the Antiquities (Protection) Act, the Cultural Heritage Act, the Environment Protection Act, Land Registration Act, Land Acquisition (Properties) Act, the Agricultural Leases (Reletting) Act, the Housing Act, the Rent Restriction (Dwelling Houses) Ordnance, the Housing (Decontrol) Ordinance, the Reletting of Urban Property (Regulation) Ordinance, of the Laws of Malta. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Seminar & Independent Study | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Danika Cutajar Alex Torpiano Kurt Xerri |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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