Le programme en détail
27 avril 2024
SCHOOL & PROGRAM DETAILS
(english version refers – automated translation in French available here)
Index :
- > Institution profile
- – Name & Licence
- – Mission Statement
- – Vision
- > Course Details
- – Bachelor of Science (Honours) Physiotherapy – B.Sc. Physiotherapy (Hons)
- – Programme Aims and Learning Outcomes
- – Teaching Methods
- – General Assessment procedures
INSTITUTION PROFILE
Name of the Education and Training Provider
MALTA ICOM EDUCATIONAL LTD.
Higher Education Institution
License N. 2018/023
Bachelor of Science (Honours) Physiotherapy – B.Sc. Physiotherapy (Hons)
Adresses :
• Malta Teaching Centre 1 : 16 Triq Sir Frederick C. ,Ponsonby, Il-Gżira, GZR 1075, Malta
• Malta Teaching Centre 2 : Triq Misrah il-Barrieri – 122, Santa Venera, SVR 1755 , Malta
• Malta ICOM Educational Milan Teaching Centre : Via Giacomo Matteotti, 62, 20092 Cinisello Balsamo MI, Italy
Mission Statement
At Malta ICOM Educational, our mission is to provide exceptional leadership in health and social care education and research. We are committed to delivering outstanding undergraduate and postgraduate education and training opportunities that equip our students with the knowledge and skills they need to excel in their chosen profession.
We believe in teaching to the highest academic standards, combining the traditions and values of each profession with the latest scientific knowledge. Our students are provided with a supportive and engaging learning environment that fosters intellectual and personal growth, enabling them to develop into skilled and compassionate professionals.
Our goal is to provide our students with the intellectual and personal skills needed to excel in their professional field of practice. We strive to create an educational experience that is both rigorous and rewarding, preparing our graduates to make meaningful contributions to their communities and to the world at large.
At Malta ICOM Educational, we are committed to providing excellence in education and patient care, and to empowering our students to achieve their full potential.
Vision
At Malta ICOM Educational, our vision for 2028 is to be a leading provider of undergraduate and postgraduate education programmes in health and social care, with a focus on person-centred care in the fields of osteopathy, physiotherapy, and psychology. We aspire to create a multidisciplinary centre of excellence that will be the largest teaching centre for musculoskeletal care in Europe, supporting the development of highly skilled and competent professionals who can deliver exceptional care to patients.
To achieve this vision, we will continue to prioritise research by deepening existing partnerships and forming new collaborative relationships that support our education and training programmes and contribute to the evidence in health and social care, particularly in person-centred musculoskeletal care.
We will strive to create an exciting and dynamic learning environment by developing and applying innovative teaching, learning and assessment strategies that respond to the changing needs of our students and the evolving landscape of health and social care education.
Our commitment to enhancing the quality of clinical practice in the fields of health and social care locally, nationally, and internationally remains a top priority. By providing exceptional education and training programmes, we aim to equip our graduates with the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to become leaders in their respective fields, contributing to the improvement of patient care and the advancement of the healthcare sector as a whole.
COURSE DETAILS
Bachelor of Science (Honours) Physiotherapy – B.Sc. Physiotherapy (Hons)
1. Type of course: Award leading
2. Mode of Delivery: Face to Face and Blended Learning
3. Title of qualification: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Physiotherapy (BSc. (Hons) Physiotherapy)
4. MFQ level: 6
5. Total Learning hours: 6000
6. Total ECTS: 240
7. Course Type and Duration: Full time
8. Target Group: 18+ / career changers
9. Languages of instruction: English, French and Italian
10. Entry requirements:
10.1 Malta Applicants
Matriculation Certificate with a pass at Advanced Level (University of Malta) at Grade B or better in Biology and a pass at Intermediate Level in Physics or Chemistry. Secondary Education Certificate (University of Malta) passes at Grade 5 or better in Maltese, Italian Language, English Language and Mathematics.
Mature applicants (23 years or over) may apply requesting that prior and/or experiential learning is credited.
10.2 Italian applicants
Italian Diploma di Esame di Stato
STEM -related options selected. 70% overall
Mature applicants (23 years or over) may apply requesting that prior and/or experiential learning be credited.
10.3 International applicants
Apart from nations listed above, international applicants must demonstrate equivalence to the entry requirements set out above and in accordance with the Maltese Qualification Framework.
Mature applicants (23 years or over) may apply requesting that prior and/or experiential learning be credited.
Overseas applicants from non-EU countries will need to apply for a student visa: Central Visa Unit
The Bachelor of Science (Honours) Physiotherapy is a four-year full time and a flexible part time programme, which is aligned with:
· The European Core Standards of Physiotherapy (ER-WCPT)
· The Code of Practice for Physiotherapy (2006)
· Physiotherapy Benchmark for the Council for The Professions Complementary to Medicine (CPCM) in Malta
· The Core Curriculum – Core Competence Association of Italian Physiotherapists· The Maltese National Quality Assurance Framework for Further and Higher Education
The programme focuses on developing clinical expertise and providing relevant evidence-based learning opportunities. It aims to produce autonomous, empathetic, and compassionate practitioners.
The programme delivers 1,500 hours of clinical training, surpassing the minimum requirement of 1000 hours set by the ER-WCPT. The clinical practice internships offer a diverse range of patients spanning all ages and lifestyles. Additionally, they grant access to specialised areas within hospitals and clinics with which Malta ICOM Educational holds memorandums of agreement for clinical placements. These placements create opportunities for students to showcase their practical application of knowledge and skills acquired in the classroom across a variety of patient management settings. The placements occur both internationally and at the specialised Malta ICOM Educational physiotherapy clinic in Malta. This specialised training enables students to engage in multidisciplinary clinical environments and observe critical healthcare practices.
Upon successful completion of the programme, candidates will become eligible to apply for registration with the Council for the Professions Complementary to Medicine in Malta. The programme adheres to the European, Maltese, and Italian Physiotherapy Practice Professional guidelines.
The programme is designed to equip graduates with the qualifications necessary for professional registration in Malta through the Council for the Professions Complementary to Medicine (CPCM). Subsequently, graduates can seek professional recognition from other regulatory bodies within the EU and non-EU regions, provided they fulfil local requirements.
Malta ICOM Educational acknowledges the need for an additional application to the Council for Professions Complementary to Medicine, following Article 21 (a) (b) (d) and the First Schedule (Art 6) of the Health Care Professions Act (Cap 464), in order to officially recognise the validated award. This process will be carried out on an individual, case-by-case basis until further notice.
Relationship to occupation:
Obtaining a degree in Physiotherapy from Malta ICOM Educational offers the chance to embark on a fulfilling and demanding career within European National Health Services, Social Services, or the private sector. Various avenues for career growth are available in multidisciplinary environments, including hospitals, medical clinics, general practice settings, and community health centres. Upon completing the programme, graduates are equipped to collaborate with other skilled professionals across diverse clinical settings, contributing to the implementation of advancements in the diagnosis of disease, treatment, and the understanding of health.
In Malta, graduates can apply for positions within the Department of Health and Care of the Elderly, as well as the Department of Education, following successful registration with the CPCM.
With accumulated experience, graduate physiotherapists may opt to engage in teaching and research activities. Opportunities for careers in academia arise as graduates advance their educational journey to Master’s or Doctorate levels.
Programme Aims and Learning Outcomes
The formulated learning outcomes have been meticulously designed to consider various reference points. These encompass the European Core Standards of Physiotherapy (ER-WCPT), the Code of Practice for Physiotherapy (2006) set the Council for Professions Complementary To Medicine (CPCM) in Malta, the Core Curriculum – Core Competence Association of Italian Physiotherapists, and the Training Conduent aligning with the State Diploma of Masseur-Physiotherapist, as stipulated in Decree no. 2015-1110. These references collectively define the essence, attributes, and anticipated benchmarks of physiotherapy education. The programme is structured to satisfy both the academic and vocational requisites for Physiotherapy as outlined in the publications by ER-WCPT3.
The programme aims
• To produce a graduate demonstrating reflective, self-evaluative and critical thinking and transferable skills whilst providing safe, caring, ethical and competent physiotherapy treatment.
• To develop a graduate demonstrating a commitment to life-long learning, research and evidence-based practice, continued professional development and business entrepreneurship.
• Develop professional knowledge, understanding, skills and behaviour, in order to work as an effective, autonomous physiotherapist.
• Promote communication skills such as listening, empathy and sensitivity to engender a caring person-centred approach to physiotherapy practice.
• Demonstrates the skills, competence, attitudes and behaviours which meet the requirements of relevant Maltese and European professional regulatory bodies.
Overall Intended Programme Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the programme the student will be able to:
Knowledge
1. Have a systematic understanding of and be able to apply the theory and evidence base of physiotherapy.
2. The ability to effectively work in partnership with patients and others with respect to the care of individuals, specific groups, communities or populations.
3. Justify the use of graduate level practical and professional skills using effective clinical reasoning.
Skills
1. Effectively demonstrate technical ability in the application of a range of graduate level physiotherapy skills.
2. Use new technologies as part of their practice to promote and evaluate best practice.
3. Modify practical and professional skills appropriately, taking a person-centred, population centred or community centred approach.
Competence
1. Evaluate knowledge and best available evidence using critical appraisal and problem solving.
2. Demonstrate exemplary attitudes and behaviours in all professional and personal contexts.
3. Demonstrated excellent verbal and/or non-verbal communication skills to build effective partnerships and establish rapport with patients, care givers, health professionals, other sectors and stakeholders.
Learning Outcomes for Communication Skills for the whole course:
1. Communicate effectively with patients and/or their carers/relatives.
2. Communicate effectively with health professionals and other relevant professionals to provide an effective and efficient service to the patient.
3. Demonstrate skill in relating, integrating and responding to information and data acquired by verbal and non-verbal means.
4. Speak from an informed perspective about physiotherapy, its limitations, strengths and potential.
5. Critically evaluate research and other findings concerning the efficacy and application of physiotherapy to specific patient problems and the therapeutic claims of other healthcare disciplines.
6. Apply skills in the use of information technology consistent with the effective and efficient management of a modern physiotherapy practice including the ability to interact with other healthcare professionals.
7. Produce written reports and presentations of high quality for referral and related purposes and the ability to use spreadsheets and information technology for research and related purposes.
8. Manage and present financial and other data needed for compliance with legal requirements.
9. Manipulate quantitative and qualitative data for audit and related purposes.
Learning Outcomes for Learning to Learnt Skills for the whole course
1. Act autonomously, with minimal supervision or direction, within agreed guidelines.
2. Demonstrate appropriate self-awareness, problem-solving, communication, self-management and mature clinical decision-making to function in autonomous practice.
3. Apply the attitudes and skills necessary to comply fully with any continuing fitness to practice standard requirements to maintain registered status.
4. Contribute to and/or understand research and other scholarly activities to promote personal professional development and the profession of physiotherapy.
5. Apply scientific and other knowledge to analyse and evaluate information and data and to find solutions to problems.
6. Effectively manage time resources and prioritise clinical care.
Teaching Methods
Students are exposed to different teaching methods as they progress through their course.
At Level 5 in Year 1 there is a focus on the acquisition of underpinning knowledge and skills building on what has been learnt in secondary education. Key subject areas are introduced, alongside an exploration of the basic principles and philosophy of physiotherapy practice. The concept of reflection for personal and professional development is first introduced and skills are acquired to enable them to study effectively. The modules help students to develop their self-awareness and acquire knowledge of normal human function alongside a limited and specified range of practical physiotherapy skills.
At Level 5 in Year 2 there is a focus on consolidation and development of the knowledge and skills acquired in Year 1 and its application to understanding of abnormal states of health. Critical thinking skills are further developed in the Clinical & Professional Practice
And Research Methods 2 modules. Students’ manual dexterity is further developed. Students learn to integrate theoretical and practical knowledge within supervised clinical experience, complemented and informed by developing reflective skills.
At Level 6 in Year 3 there is a focus on students’ ability to integrate and synthesise knowledge and acquired skills and to apply them in clinical settings. Research skills continue to be developed. Further development of physiotherapy theory and practice occurs within the ‘Research Skills and Clinical Professional Practice Placement modules. The Professional practice also has some choice of elective teaching added to introduce students to Continuing Professional Development and the concept of choosing areas of interest or weakness that need developing or enhancement. Students will develop the ability to make informed and justified decisions, in selecting and applying clinical treatment. These skills are further assessed in the ‘Clinical Professional Practice’ module.
At Level 6 in Year 4 students focus on their continuing development as autonomous practitioners. Modules delivered at this level also focus on clinical reasoning skills, refining technique, widening scope of practice in 4.1 Advanced rehabilitation techniques and developing a research proposal. Year 4 prepares students for life as a physiotherapy practitioner, encouraging and developing lifelong skills necessary for continuing professional development. They will also further develop their application of business-related skills in preparing a Business Plan.
General assessment procedures
The course incorporates a diverse range of assessment methods, aligning closely with the defined learning outcomes. In Year 1, when students’ learning is more guided, assessments include short-answer questions and viva voces. In each subsequent year, coursework takes the form of portfolios and essays. The essays progressively extend in length and complexity as students enhance their prowess in academic writing, culminating in a research project spanning 5000 to 6000 words.
The assessment strategy is tailored to the practical and patient-centred nature of physiotherapy as a service-oriented profession. It encompasses practical examinations of varying durations and intricacy, tailored to the level and credit allocation within the course. Throughout placements, students’ clinical skills and adherence to protocols are evaluated. In Year 2 and Year 3, this evaluation takes the form of Integrated Structured Clinical Examinations (ISCEs). In the concluding clinical examination during Year 4, students undergo a 90-minute patient-focused clinical competence assessment.
Grading system: 0-100%
Pass mark 50%
