Institute of Health Care - Faculty of Health Sciences (1987-2013) : a celebration

Abstract

The Institute of Health Care embarked on its mission of training health care professionals at the University of Malta in 1987. A degree programme in Nursing Studies was the first course offered by the Institute of Health Care. By expanding steadily to provide training opportunities in a variety of allied health professions, the Institute of Health Care attracted increasing numbers of students over its 25 years of existence. This paper provides a brief historical account of the developments that led to the founding of the Institute of Health Care and to its subsequent upgrade to the Faculty of Health Sciences in August 2010. It also traces the advancement of the Institute of Health Care’s individual professional divisions as they grew into faculty departments and expanded their teaching and research portfolios. A key contributor to the Institute of Health Care’s success was the dedication and commitment of its teaching staff, a factor which continues to support the Faculty of Health Sciences in its ongoing mission.