teaching psychology in malta - uni salzburg poster.pdf · • investing in e-learning. • the...

The University of Malta: It’s origins• TracesitsoriginstothefoundingoftheCollegiumMelitense(runbytheJesuits)whichwassetupthroughdirectpapalinterventionon12November1592.

The University of Malta• HighestteachinginstitutioninMalta.• Publiclyfunded,itisopentoallthosewhohavetherequisitequalifications.• HasrevieweditsstructurestobeinlinewiththeBolognaprocessandtheEuropeanHigherEducationAreaandmanyofthecoursesofferedrunonthemodularorcreditsystem.• TheUniversitystrivestocreatecourseswhicharerelevantandtimelyinresponsetotheneedsofthecountry.• ThesupremegoverningbodiesoftheUniversityaretheCouncilandtheSenate.• Therearesome10,000studentsincludingover600foreign/exchangestudentsfromnearly60differentcountries,followingfull-timeorpart-timedegreeanddiplomacourses.The Department of Psychology: • Establishedin1988,TheDepartmentofPsychologyispresentlyhostedintheFacultyofEducation.• Astrongandstimulatingdepartmentwith11fulltimemembersofstaffandnumerouspermanentpart-timesofferinghighlevelqualitylecturingandresearch.• Studentsappreciatethelecturers’skillsoflinkingtheorywiththeirpracticalexperience.• Studentsfeelrespectedandsupported.• Ethicalissuesareconstantlyheldinhighregardatalllevels.• Graduatesstatethattheyfeelextremelypreparedfortheirpostgraduatestudies.• Offersundergraduateandpostgraduatecourses.• Servicesotherdepartmentsandfaculties.• AlsohoststheProgrammeforInclusiveEducation.

Psychology Courses:*BachelorinPsychology(Hons)(~170students)*BachelorofArts(Psychology)(~150students)*MasterinPsychology(Educational,ClinicalandCounselling)(18students)

Other courses:*DiplomainFacilitatingInclusiveEducation(~180students)*BachelorofEducation(PersonalandSocialDevelopment)(23students)*PostgraduateCertificateinEducation(PersonalandSocialDevelopment)(15students) *MasterinCounselling(22students) *MasterinInclusiveEducationandCommunities(16Students)

Entry Requirements.• ForB.Psy.(Hons):MatriculationcertificatewithatleastaCforBiologyIntermediatelevelhttp://www.um.edu.mt/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/68507/Scr11_veryJuly09.pdf

• ForB.A.inpsychology:Matriculationcertificate.• M.Psy.:B.Psy.(Hons)atleastSecondClass(UpperDivision),oranequivalentqualificationfromthisoranotheruniversityandaminimumof2400ofworkexperienceinthefield. o Aboardselectsapplicantsaccordingtothefollowingcriteria:qualifications,workexperienceintheareaorarelatedfield,professionalaptitudeanddispositionandreferences(numbersarelimited)http://www.um.edu.mt/registrar/regulations/faculties/educ/m.psy.clin.-or-m.psy.couns.-or-m.psy.ed2.-bl-2010

Accreditation.• Coursesareevaluatedonayearlybasisbyanexternalexaminerheldinhighregardinacademia.• B.Psy.(Hons)studentsaregrantedGBRbyTheBritishPsychologicalSocietyonapplication.• PsychologistsaregovernedbyTheMaltaPsychologyProfessionBoardwhichfunctionsundertheProfessionalPsychologyAct(2004).• January22,2007,sawthefirstwarrantingceremonyforpsychologistsinMalta.

Taught subjects.Bachelor’slevel:Studentsreadatotalreadof180studyunitsin:• Researchmethodsinpsychology• Developmentalpsychology• Clinical,counsellingandhealth• Socialandorganizationalpsychology• Cognitiveneuroscience• Dissertation:10ECTS(endofyearIII)

Practicum:A100hourpracticuminresearch,adult,child,healthororganizationalpsychologyisofferedasanoptionalstudyunitinthethirdyear.

Masters’Level:Studentsreadingfortheprofessionalmastersdegreeineachareaofspecialization(clinical,counselingandeducational)shallfollowstudy-unitstowhichatotalof120creditsareassigned;90creditsareassignedtotaughtstudy-unitsand30creditsassignedtothedissertationstudy-unit.Itiscalculatedthat40%ofthecourseinvolvespracticalexperience.Difficulties encountered.ReadingpsychologyisextremelypopularinMalta,asineveryothercountry.Thenumbersofstudentskeeponincreasingandwehavehadtoforfeitsmallgroupteachingandsupervisedpracticumsforallatundergraduatelevel.Theuniversityshouldbeprovidingassistantsforcorrectingassignmentsandexams.Teachingmethodsandtechniquesused:• Inclusivepracticesareusedasmuchaspossible.• Frontallectureswithspacefordiscussion.• Tutorialsareofferedforsomesubjects.• Seminarsandpresentationsbygroupsofstudentsarepopular.• Videoconferencingespeciallywithforeignlecturersareheld.• Studentsreceivestrongonetoonetutoringespeciallyfortheirdissertation.• Alllecturersareavailabletostudentsatstipulatedstudenttimes.

Use of technology• Forresearch:Themembersofthedepartmenthavebeenamongstthefirsttousevarioussoftwareapplicationsforresearchpurposes.• Forteaching:nearlyallmembersofstaffusepowerpointpresentations,DVDsandtheinternettoenhancetheirteaching.

Quality assurance:• AllstudyunitsneedtobeapprovedbytherespectiveBoardofStudies,FacultyBoard,TheAcademicProgrammesQualityandResourcesUnit(APQRU),whichistheadministrativearmoftheProgrammeValidationCommittee(PVC),andfinallybySenate.APQRUmayalsoaskforeignexpertsforanexternalevaluation.ThiswascarriedoutfortheM.Psy.course.• Externalexaminer’sreportincludesrecommendations.• Studentanonymousfeedback.• UniversityOmbudsmanhttp://home.um.edu.mt/finance/finance_office-fees.htmUniversityOmbudsmanFirstappointedin2008tosafeguardthewell-beingofstudentsandstaff,topromotegoodpracticesandgovernance,investigategrievances,submitrecommendation,contributetowardsstrongerdueprocessandserveasacatalystforpositivesystemschange(http://www.ombudsman.org.mt/uo/index.asp)

Employment opportunities:Psychologystudentsarewellsoughtafterintheworldonwork.Theyareseenashavingaverygoodpreparationtoconductresearch,planandimplementprojects.Theyarealsoseenasgoodteamplayerswithverygoodcommunicationskills.Theyfindjobsineducation,inmentalhealthservicesbothresidentialandinthecommunity,supportingpersonswithdisability,refugeesandchildreninchildren’shomesetc.TheyarealsoverywellplacedtoworkinHumanresourcesinanybusinessandintheindustry.OurgraduateshavemadeusproudandmanyareholdingveryhighpositionsinGovernmentalandNon-GovernmentalAgencies.

Important Societal Issues in Our Country• Transdisciplinaryteamworkwithotherprofessionalswiththeserviceuseratthecentreofallservices.• Changingattitudesforthecreationofatrulyinclusivesociety.• Mentalhealthissuesandservicesinthecommunity.• Relationships.• Stressathome,school,workandinthecommunity.• Psychologicalsupportforpersonswithhealthissues.• Theelderly.• PromotingWell-being.• Ethicalissues.

Collaboration with EUROPLAT and PLAT COLLEAGUES:• Lecturersandstudentexchange• Jointresearchprojects

What next?• ThesettingupofTheMediterraneanInstituteofQualitativeinquirytohelpacademicstaffandstudentsintheirresearch.• AdualmastersdegreeincounsellinginconjunctionwiththeUniversityofMaryland,USA.• FurthercollaborationontheinternationalDoctorateinInclusiveEducationwiththeUniversita’FuorItalico,Italy.• Alabfortheteachingofcognitiveneuroscience.• Investingine-learning.• THEBUILDINGOFANEWHOME:THEFACULTYOFBEHAVIOURAL/SOCIALSCIENCES.

Teaching Psychology in Malta

EUROPLAT:EuropeanNetworkforPsychologyLearningandTeachingFundedwithsupportfromtheEuropeanCommission.

Reference155981-LLP-1-2009-1-UKERASMUS-ENWA

www.europlat.org

www.um.edu.mt

Dr Dione MifsudHeadofDepartmentofPsychology

Tel:0035623402312•email:dione.mifsud@um.edu.mtDr Elena Tanti Burlò

Co-ordinator,ProgrammeforInclusiveEducationTel:0035623402928•email:elena.tanti-burlo@um.edu.mt