Continuing education at the University of Malta

Abstract

The first part of the study consists of a review of literature in order to discuss a number of different provisions in University Continuing Education available in different countries. The second part of the study deals with a case study of continuing education at the University of Malta. This work is built on the preliminary study carried out by my supervisor Professor Peter Mayo and which has been first published in the first issue of the online Journal of Maltese Education Research 01 volume 1) and re-published in the book, edited by Michael Osborne and Edward Thomas, Lifelong learning in a changing continent: Continuing education in the universities of Europe. This research relies on material gathered from the perusal of relevant University files, University publications and other related documents and from semi-structured interviews with a number of policymakers, administrators, lecturers and former students. The study outlines the various developments and opportunities in University Continuing Education which have surfaced from the late 1940's onwards. It also takes into account the opportunities which have been missed during this period. Added to this the factors which influenced and shaped such provision were also identified and discussed. Significant importance is given to the role that the Malta Union of Teachers, the Church, different Education legislations and the academic body played in these provisions. Besides this the study identifies a number of obstacles which adult students encounter when accessing such provision. The study concludes by delving into a number of proposals for forthcoming strategies in University Continuing Education.