Comparability of Accredited Programmes in Malta dipartiment għalL- KWALITA` u STANDARDS EDUKAZZJONI FLORIANA VLT 2000 MALTA department FOR QUALITY AND STANDARDS IN EDUCATION Floriana VLT 2000 May 2017

The Accreditation Process of the DQSE The Accreditation Process of the DQSE is based on: The standards dictated by the National Quality Assurance Framework for Further and Higher Education. The Credit System as promoted by the Bologna Process and regulated by the Referencing Report 2016. dipartiment għalL- KWALITA` u STANDARDS EDUKAZZJONI FLORIANA VLT 2000 MALTA department FOR QUALITY AND STANDARDS IN EDUCATION Floriana VLT 2000 May 2017

The Credit System In line with the principles of the Bologna Process credits be accredited and transferred. This credit system provides a flexible path to obtain an award or a qualification aiding comparability and recognition. dipartiment għalL- KWALITA` u STANDARDS EDUKAZZJONI FLORIANA VLT 2000 MALTA department FOR QUALITY AND STANDARDS IN EDUCATION Floriana VLT 2000 May 2017

The Local Characteristics Each credit in equivalent to 25 hours of total learning divided between: New Content, Supervised Practice, Self-study and Assessment. Any accredited programme not meeting minimum number of Credits stipulated by the Referencing Report 2016 need to include the term Award in the Title. dipartiment għalL- KWALITA` u STANDARDS EDUKAZZJONI FLORIANA VLT 2000 MALTA department FOR QUALITY AND STANDARDS IN EDUCATION Floriana VLT 2000 May 2017

Minimum requirements for qualifications MQF Level Award Qualification 4 0 - 119 Minimum of 120 3 0 – 59 Minimum of 60 2 0 - 59 1 0 - 39 Minimum of 40 Introductory A 0 - 29 Minimum of 30 Introductory B dipartiment għalL- KWALITA` u STANDARDS EDUKAZZJONI FLORIANA VLT 2000 MALTA department FOR QUALITY AND STANDARDS IN EDUCATION Floriana VLT 2000 May 2017

Comparability of Level 3 Programmes Considering the reputation of the GCSE and trust enjoyed by its regulatory Body (i.e. CCEA), the DQSE use it as a benchmark for the comparability exercise. Our decision was based also on the role of the Prince Trust Program within the non-formal context. dipartiment għalL- KWALITA` u STANDARDS EDUKAZZJONI FLORIANA VLT 2000 MALTA department FOR QUALITY AND STANDARDS IN EDUCATION Floriana VLT 2000 May 2017

Main differences between MQF and QCF Local Context UK Context Credit 25 total learning hours 10 guided learning hours Total Learning Hours Contact Hours, Supervised Practice, Self-Study, and Assessment Referred to as Total Qualification Time, that incorporates 3 subgroup: Guided learning hours, self-study and assessment. Essentially equivalent to the local scenario. Guided Learning Hours Contact Hours, Supervised Practice, and formative Assessment carried out under supervision. Estimated hours learners will be under immediate guidance and/or supervision, dipartiment għalL- KWALITA` u STANDARDS EDUKAZZJONI FLORIANA VLT 2000 MALTA department FOR QUALITY AND STANDARDS IN EDUCATION Floriana VLT 2000 May 2017

Differences in Terminology Local Context UK Context Award Any accredited program that does not meet the minimum credit requirements as stipulated by the Reference Report 2016 Any accredited program having between 1 – 12 UK Credits, equivalent to 1 - 6 Credits in the MQF. Certificate Document provided by the Awarding Institution testifying that the candidate has successfully completed the program. Any program having between 13 – 36 UK credits, equivalent 7 – 13 credits in the MQF Diploma The term diploma can not be utilised in the Maltese context Any program having more than 37 UK credits, equivalent to 13 credits in MQF dipartiment għalL- KWALITA` u STANDARDS EDUKAZZJONI FLORIANA VLT 2000 MALTA department FOR QUALITY AND STANDARDS IN EDUCATION Floriana VLT 2000 May 2017

UK Qualification System - GCSE CCEA indicates a value of 120 GLH for a General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), The programmes are pegged at level 2 in the UK, equivalent to MQF level 3. dipartiment għalL- KWALITA` u STANDARDS EDUKAZZJONI FLORIANA VLT 2000 MALTA department FOR QUALITY AND STANDARDS IN EDUCATION Floriana VLT 2000 May 2017

Assumptions Based on General Education Programmes having: Two lessons of 40 minutes per week. Delivered over three years or 76 weeks (i.e. 28 weeks for Form 3 and Form 4, and 20 weeks for Form 5. dipartiment għalL- KWALITA` u STANDARDS EDUKAZZJONI FLORIANA VLT 2000 MALTA department FOR QUALITY AND STANDARDS IN EDUCATION Floriana VLT 2000 May 2017

Minimum Requirements of the DQSE Awards/Qualifications accredited in Malta require, 101 guided learning hours and 225 hours of total learning hours to be considered comparable to the GCSE. This is equivalent to 9 ECTS/ECVETS. dipartiment għalL- KWALITA` u STANDARDS EDUKAZZJONI FLORIANA VLT 2000 MALTA department FOR QUALITY AND STANDARDS IN EDUCATION Floriana VLT 2000 May 2017

Types of Programmes The Maltese Educational system has four different types of programmes, namely: General Education, Applied Education, Vocational Education and Training (VET), and Non-Formal Education. The DQSE established different quality benchmarks for allocation of learning time based on the characteristics of the programme. dipartiment għalL- KWALITA` u STANDARDS EDUKAZZJONI FLORIANA VLT 2000 MALTA department FOR QUALITY AND STANDARDS IN EDUCATION Floriana VLT 2000 May 2017

Distribution of Learning Hours Type of Programme Contact time Supervised Practice Self-Study Formative Assessment Summative Assessment GLH No. of Credits Academic 20 % 35 % 5 % 45 % 9 Vocational 25 % 10 % 55 % Applied 50 % 85 % Non Formal 60 % 15 % 0 % dipartiment għalL- KWALITA` u STANDARDS EDUKAZZJONI FLORIANA VLT 2000 MALTA department FOR QUALITY AND STANDARDS IN EDUCATION Floriana VLT 2000 May 2017

Additional Considerations The Accreditation Unit acknowledges that students following applied education as a specialisation (such as VPA or Sports) need to continue with the learning process beyond the scholastic year. dipartiment għalL- KWALITA` u STANDARDS EDUKAZZJONI FLORIANA VLT 2000 MALTA department FOR QUALITY AND STANDARDS IN EDUCATION Floriana VLT 2000 May 2017

Final Considerations Any program accredited at MQF Level 3 that exceeds 9 Credits can be considered as comparable to 1 SEC or GCSE. Specialised applied programme/s, in the fields of sports and VPA, at MQF Level 3 need to have a minimum of 18 Credits to be accredited. The DQSE deems these programs equivalent to 2 SEC or GCSE. dipartiment għalL- KWALITA` u STANDARDS EDUKAZZJONI FLORIANA VLT 2000 MALTA department FOR QUALITY AND STANDARDS IN EDUCATION Floriana VLT 2000 May 2017

Contact Details For feedback & further information contact: Accreditation Unit phone no.: 25982332 email: kenneth.camilleri@gov.mt dipartiment għalL- KWALITA` u STANDARDS EDUKAZZJONI FLORIANA VLT 2000 MALTA department FOR QUALITY AND STANDARDS IN EDUCATION Floriana VLT 2000 May 2017