Programmes
Choosing a Programme for Professional Development and Career
Progression
Choosing an Initial Teacher Training Programme
Choosing an Adaptation Course
Programme Delivery
Teaching and Learning
Assessment
Teaching Practice
Internships in Industry (Micro-placements)
Teaching Warrant
Educator Vacancies and Recruitment
Accelerated Progression Scheme for Teachers
What professional
development courses are available to educators?
The
Institute for Education offers non-accredited Educator Sessions as well as accredited
Stand-alone Modules and Short Programmes for educators.
What are
Educator Sessions?
Educator
Sessions are non-accredited professional development sessions that are
generally 2 hours in duration.
What
are Stand-alone Modules?
Stand-Alone
Modules are short accredited courses offered across a variety of areas within
the educational sphere whose ECTS value varies between 1 ECTS and 5 ECTS between
Levels 5 and 7 of the Malta Qualification’s Framework.
What
are Short Programmes?
Accredited short programmes are overall Awards
consisting of several modules with their own respective assessment. These
programmes are pegged to the Malta Qualification’s Framework, and give
opportunity for persons working within the education sector to further their
knowledge and practices to enhance the learning experience of students.
What
is an accredited course?
An accredited course is pegged to the Malta Qualifications Framework with
the training, self-study and assessment measured in ECTS. This gives extra
value to the course as it is internationally recognised and may be used to
apply for recognition of prior learning when applying for a programme with
similar a similar module.
I wish
to upgrade my qualifications. Which programme do you recommend?
For
teachers interested in progressing in their career, we advise to apply for the
Master in Applied Educational Leadership. This programme is fully online and
offered part-time over 3-years.
There
is also the opportunity for persons to exit with the following qualifications:
- Postgraduate Certificate in Applied
Educational Leadership (upon successful completion of 30 ECTS);
- Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Educational
Leadership (upon successful completion of 60 ECTS)
I want
to become a teacher. What course do I need to follow?
To
become a qualified teacher, you will need to follow the Bachelor of Education
or the Master of Education programme offered by the Institute for Education.
I do
not have a first degree. What course do I need to be eligible for the position
of regular teacher?
If you
do not have a first degree in the subject/area you are interested in teaching,
you would need to follow one of the Bachelor of Education programmes.
I have
a first degree but do not possess a teaching qualification. What course do I
need to become eligible for the position of regular teacher?
If you
have a first degree in the subject/area that you wish to teach, you would need
to follow a Master of Education programme provided that you meet the entry
requirements.
I have
a first degree and have been told that I just need to complete a two-year
Diploma in Education to apply as a regular teacher. Is this true?
Under
the current law and requirements, you may exit the Master of Education
programme with a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (MQF 7, 60 ECTS) and be
considered for the position of regular teacher. Participants are naturally
encouraged to further their studies to complete the full qualification.
The
subject I am interested in teaching is not available in the IfE prospectus.
Will it be offered in the future?
The
Institute for Education is continually developing new programmes. These are
announced mid-May of each year.
Can I
work and study at the same time?
Yes,
the Institute for Education programmes specifically target those already in
employment. Many of our participants are already working as a supply teacher
whilst following training with the Institute. Both the Bachelor and Master
programmes offered by the Institute for Education are on a part-time basis.
Are
lectures held everyday?
Lectures
for both the Bachelor and Master programmes are generally held twice to three
times a week. They can be delivered both at the Institute for Education or
through the Institute's online portal.
Do I
need to be a supply teacher to follow a Bachelor or Master of Education
programme?
No,
participants do not need to be already working as a supply teacher. You will,
however, need to make arrangements to be available for the teaching practice
component of the programme.
For
further information, please refer to Teaching Practice FAQs.
What
is an Adaptation Course and who is it for?
The
Institute for Education offers adaptation courses in the form of Postgraduate
Certificates in Education. These courses are for qualified educators wishing to
teach in another subject area other than the one they are already qualified to
teach.
These
are one-year programmes offered on a part-time basis.
I do
not have a teaching qualification. Will the Postgraduate Certificate qualify me
as a teacher?
No,
you would need to follow a Master of Education or Bachelor of Education
programme in order to qualify as a teacher in the area of study.
I am a
qualified teacher for secondary education, but I teach in the Primary sector.
What course do I need to apply for the position of regular teacher in the
primary?
You
would need to follow the adaptation programme Postgraduate Certificate in
Education (Primary) (MQF 7, 30 ECTS). This will fulfil part of the requirements
for you to apply for the position of regular teacher.
I am a
qualified teacher for a secondary subject but I am interested in teaching a
Vocational Education and Training subject. What can I do?
The
Institute for Education recommends its Postgraduate Certificate in Education
(MQF 7, 30 ECTS) in the subject area you are interested in pursuing. You will
need to also check with Human Resources at the Ministry for Education and
Employment regarding the requirements to change specialisation.
The
subject area I am interested in is not advertised on the IfE Prospectus or
Website. Will it be offered in the future?
The
Institute for Education is continually developing new programmes. These are
announced mid-May of each year.
When are lectures held?
Lectures and training
sessions are generally held between 15:30 and 18:15 including a 15-minute
break.
In some cases sessions may be held at a different time though our staff do
their best to always advise you well in advanced.
When is a timetable communicated for full
qualifications?
Participants following a qualification are
provided with a digital timetable by the start of September prior to the
commencement of the academic year. Access to this will be made available
through the Institute for Education portal once enrolled.
Where can I access the programme calendar?
A programme calendar may be digitally accessed
through the Institute for Education’s portal under the section My Schedule.
How do I
know where my lecture will be held?
To access where a session will be held, click
on My Schedule and select the session
marked on your calendar. A pop-up will appear providing you with further
details such as the lecturer, the location and times.
Lecture details are also displayed on the
screen available in the Institute for Education’s foyer.
Who is
my first point of contact should I have any queries regarding my studies?
Your Course Coordinator will be able to guide
you further regarding any particular queries related to services, policies and
procedures whilst studying with the Institute for Education.
Does
the Institute for Education have a library?
Yes,
the Institute has a library located on the ground floor of the Pembroke
premises. Each enrolled course participant will also have access to the online
libraries ProQuest, EBSCO and SAGE Journals, Knowledge and Research Methods.
How are programmes delivered at the Institute
for Education?
Programmes
offered by the Institute for Education are delivered through online, blended or
face-to-face approaches to teaching and learning. Information related to the
structure and delivery of each module may be accessed through the IfE portal.
For further details, kindly refer to the Teaching, Learning and Assessment Policy
and Procedures.
What is blended-learning?
Blended-learning consists of both face-to-face
and online training sessions. This generally adopts a flipped-classroom
approach; whereby, learners can engage with material online at their own time
and pace while reserving face-to-face workshops for deeper discussion and
practice.
What does online learning involve?
Online learning is adopted across all
programmes offered by the Institute for Education. These sessions are held on
the Institute for Education’s portal and may be delivered synchronously (live
online lectures) through Blackboard Collaborate or asynchronously whereby
students may access material at their own time and pace.
What is expected of an online synchronous
session?
Online synchronous sessions are delivered via
Blackboard Collaborate through the IfE portal.
For these sessions, participants will be
expected to access the online classroom at a pre-defined time and participate
in a live session facilitated by the lecturer.
What is expected of an online asynchronous
session?
Asynchronous sessions give learners the opportunity
to access material and interact with other course participants at their own
time and pace through the IfE portal.
For these sessions, participants are expected
to engage with the material provided in the form of readings and videos,
perform follow-up tasks, provide their own critical reflections on the
discussion forums, and give feedback on their peers’ posts.
Do I need any particular technology to learn
online?
You only require a personal
computer and good Internet access.
Which courses offered by the Institute for
Education are assessed?
All accredited programmes have an aspect of
assessment to assure that learning outcomes have been reached. The Institute
adopts a variety of formative, continuous and summative assessment methods
including portfolios, assignments, practical and online tasks, reflective journals,
projects, lesson observation, presentations and videos.
Are
there any examinations for specific modules?
The
Institute for Education does not employ the use of examinations. Modules are
assessed through a range of other assessment tools such as assignments,
portfolios, online tasks, reflective journals, projects, presentations,
practical tasks and placements
How do I check the assessment of a particular
course?
Assessment methods may be found on the module
outline available on the IfE website http://www.ife.gov.mt under Courses.
Where
can I find further support regarding academic writing?
All participants have access to the ProQuest
Research Companion, which includes videos that guide you through the process of
writing academically together with several tools to facilitate the process.
This is available on the IfE portal under the section Resources.
What
referencing systems does the Institute for Education adopt?
The Institute for Education makes use of
Harvard and APA (American Psychology Association) systems.
All participants have access to the ProQuest
Research Companion, which comes with a Citation Builder and supporting videos.
This is available on the IfE portal under the section Resources.
Where
can I access further information regarding policies and procedures related to
assessment?
Further information may be obtained from the
Institute for Education’s website under Policies and Procedures.
What is
a Teaching Practice and how is it assessed?
Teaching Practice is a vital component of
teacher training programmes as it provides opportunity for the learners to put
theory into practice and to self-reflect on teaching and assessment methods
employed in the classroom.
When and
where do Teaching Practices take place?
Teaching Practice takes place in the morning
within a school.
How long
is a teaching practice on the Bachelor of Education programme?
The Bachelor of Education consists of three (3)
teaching practices with each lasting six (6) weeks. These are held in the
first, second and fourth year of the programme.
How long
is a teaching practice on the Master of Education programme?
The Master of Education consists of two (2)
teaching practices. These are held in the 1st and 2nd
year of the programme.
The first year Teaching Practice is eight (8)
weeks and generally held between February and April. The second year Teaching
Practice is seven (7) weeks and held between November and December.
I am
already a supply teacher in the subject/area of specialisation that I wish to
follow. Can I do my teaching practice with my own class?
Yes, this is possible though you will need to provide the Institute with
a timetable of your teaching workload to assure that you have a sufficient
number of lessons each week with a suitable class.
If I do
not have a suitable class to conduct my teaching practice, will the Institute
for Education provide me with one?
Yes, the Institute for Education will assist in
assigning you a class for the Teaching Practice period.
This is done in liaison with the Educational
Resource Department at the Ministry for Education and Employment. The assigned
school is according to their exigencies and outside the control of the
Institute for Education.
When
will I be informed of my school placement?
The Institute for Education will inform you of
your school placement as soon as the Educational Resources Department have made
the necessary arrangements with the College Principal and Head of School where
you will be placed.
Participants are generally informed at least
two-weeks prior to the teaching practice commencing. Where possible, you will
then have the first week of Teaching Practice to observe the regular class
teacher and acquaint yourself with the students and classroom environment.
I am not
a supply teacher. Will the Institute for Education make arrangements with my
employer for me to conduct Teaching Practice?
No. It is the responsibility of the participant
to assure that they are available to follow the teaching practice component(s).
It is advised you discuss options available with your employer upon acceptance
to the programme.
How is
the Teaching Practice assessed?
This component is assessed by teaching practice
visitors who conduct classroom observations and support your development
further through feedback and recommendations on practice. You will also be
assessed on a Teaching Practice file, which needs to be kept up-to-date throughout
the period.
I
noticed that there is an Internship on the programme. What does it involve?
Throughout this module, participants will be
placed in industry away from the school environment in order to develop
essential competences required in the world of work. Participants will develop
soft skills such as adaptability, communication, work ethic, teamwork,
flexibility, time-management and problem solving. All of these are skills that
an educator should foster within their own students in the classroom.
How long
does a micro-placement internship last?
On the Bachelor of Education, the
micro-placement internship may last for a minimum of two (2) weeks and a
maximum of four (4) weeks.
For postgraduate qualifications, the
micro-placement internship consists of a six (6) week industry training
placement in summer.
How is a
micro-placement internship assessed?
Micro-placement internships are assessed
through a reflective journal outlining your experience gained and the
application of inquiry-based techniques.
Can I
choose my own micro-placement internship?
Yes, it is encouraged for participants to find
a micro-placement visit that particularly interests them. For further details,
refer to: https://bit.ly/2VkQwCn
Where
can I find further information on micro-placement internships?
Further information may be accessed on the IfE
website through: https://bit.ly/3aOwbM7.
Who
issues teaching warrants?
The Council for the Teaching
Profession (CTP) is an independent body responsible for issuing teaching
warrants.
Telephone: 2598 2457 / 2598 2440 / 2598 2438 /
2598 2314
Email:
ctpmalta@gov.mt
Do the
Bachelor and Master of Education programmes make me eligible to apply for a
permanent teaching warrant?
The
programmes are recognised by the Maltese Council for the Teaching Profession (CTP)
and fulfil part of the requirements for a permanent warrant.
It is
the applicant’s responsibility to contact the Council for the Teaching Profession
to ensure that they fulfil the appropriate requirements to apply for a
permanent teaching warrant.
Does
the Institute for Education deal with school employment?
No.
The Institute for Education is a Further and Higher Education Institute, and
does not deal with school employment.
Who
should I contact regarding the requirements for position within a school?
You
should contact the Human Resources Department at the Ministry for Education and Employment or
with the respective school you are applying to work.
How do
I apply for position within a school?
To
apply for a position, you should wait until a Call for Applications opens with
the Ministry for Education and Employment or
the respective school at which you are interested to work.
What
is the Accelerated Progression Scheme for Teachers?
One
can find more detailed information on the Accelerated Progression Scheme from
the Letter Circular issued on 2nd May 2018
issued by the Ministry for Education and Employment.
How
many hours does each ECTS contribute to the Accelerated Progression Scheme for
teachers?
Each
ECTS of an accredited course offered by the Institute for Education contributes
to 25 hours of the Accelerated Progression Scheme.
How
many hours does a non-accredited course contribute to the Accelerated
Progression Scheme for teachers?
Each
hour of attendance contributes to one hour of the Accelerated Progression
Scheme.
Who do I contact in relation to the Accelerated Progression Scheme?
For
more information on the Accelerated Progression Scheme, one needs to contact
The Directorate for Learning and Assessment Programmes on 2598 2131 or visit
their website on www.curriculum.gov.mt.