S.L. 607.3 Art. 43Programme accreditation.

(1) Programme accreditation shall be granted by the Authority in accordance with this regulation, upon an application by the provider, in one of the categories provided in the Third

Schedule.

(2) Providers may apply for accreditation of one programme or of more than one programme to be accredited simultaneously: Provided that where providers apply for the accreditation of more than one programme simultaneously, the provisions of regulation 8(4) shall apply.

(3) Where a provider applies for accreditation of a programme that serves to obtain a national qualification, programme accreditation:

(a) shall be based on a programme quality audit;

(b) may, without prejudice to the generality of the previous paragraph, be based on a programme quality audit undertaken by a recognised foreign quality assurance or accreditation agency, in which case the Authority shall review the process and outcome of such programme quality audit, and shall decide, on the basis of these and the standards referred to in regulation 39, whether to grant the type of programme accreditation sought by the provider under these regulations or to submit the provider to an additional programme quality audit undertaken by the Authority in accordance with these regulations.

(4) Where a provider applies for accreditation of a programme that serves to obtain a foreign qualification, and where such provider has already obtained accreditation by a recognised foreign accreditation agency, such provider may request the Authority to approve such foreign accreditation. The following shall apply to this request:

(a) where the Authority deems such foreign accreditation satisfactory, it shall assess the credentials and reputation of the recognised foreign accreditation agency and the process to which the programme accredited by it has been subjected;

(b) where the Authority deems such foreign accreditation to be unsatisfactory, it shall request such provider to undergo the process of programme accreditation in Malta in accordance with sub-regulation (3);

(c) the approval of foreign programme accreditation shall lapse when the period of the foreign accredited status of the programme lapses:

Provided that where the period for which the foreign accredited status of the programme is less than five years from the date of the decision on programme accreditation, the Authority may, where it deems fit, apply the same period of validity to any provider accreditation granted concomitantly with the approval of such foreign programme accreditation.

(5) Where a qualification is awarded by more than one provider, only one provider shall submit an application for programme accreditation in accordance with this regulation and such provider shall coordinate the process with all other providers involved. Such provider shall be formally responsible for the joint programme and for the compliance of all providers who form part of the joint programme arrangement to the licence and accreditation conditions or restrictions imposed in accordance with these regulations as the case may be.

(6) The Authority shall grant programme accreditation status according to one of the categories provided in the Third Schedule, which status shall clearly state the authority of the provider providing such programme at a given or comparable level of the Malta Qualifications Framework. Programme accreditation granted under this regulation shall be valid for a period of five years:

Provided that the Authority may grant conditional programme accreditation and may also apply shorter periods for the validity of programme accreditation, where it demonstrates a justified reason therefor, as provided in these regulations.

(7) Where the accredited programme leads to a qualification on the successful completion thereof, the Authority shall:

(a) where the qualification is a national qualification, classify the qualification at a level of the Malta Qualifications Framework and shall include such qualification in the register of national qualifications maintained by it in accordance with article 3 of the Act;

(b) where the qualification is a foreign qualification, classify the qualification at a comparable level of the Malta Qualifications Framework and shall include such qualification in the register of officially recognised foreign qualifications provided in Malta maintained by it in accordance with its functions and duties under article 3 of the Act.

(8) Upon accrediting a programme, or granting endorsement of foreign accreditation to a programme, the Authority shall include such programme in the register of programmes accredited by it in accordance with article 3 of the Act.

(9) Programme accreditation obtained in accordance with this regulation shall be valid for the purpose of obtaining a licence under these regulations.