Take an architecture student and encourage him/her to do voluntary work. Take a science student and integrate cultural visits to museums into his/her university schedule. Take any university student and offer him/her the possibility to enhance ICT or language skills, or learn more about heritage or entrepreneurship.
Degreeplus, a new initiative for first year university students, promises to give students a rich and full university experience, one that does not include the normal routine but a chance to go beyond that and enhance their knowledge with skills which they can utilise in the future.
In his speech at the opening of the university academic year, University Rector Juanito Camilleri told students that the aim behind Degreeplus was to enrich their university experience that goes "beyond the curriculum of their degree programme", and it is entirely up to the student to participate. "I feel that a University experience should be a period of discovery and acquisition of skills beyond the prescribed confines of a specific degree programme," the rector said. So, while it was not meant to increase the student's workload, Degreeplus seeks to help students "acquire informal skills that will undoubtedly enhance their career and employability".
Senior administrative officer Laura Mifsud Bonnici explained that Degreeplus will be extended to all years over a three-year period. As regards assessment, she explained that "this goes beyond credits, however, students who participate will receive a Degreeplus certificate with their final degree listing the Degreeplus units that they would have followed during their enrolment as students at the university."
The new Degreeplus promises an enhanced university life experience, not through the traditional optional credits, but through the introduction of a choice of five innovative courses which focus on culture, entrepreneurship, ICT, languages and voluntary work. The aim is to target different interests and offer students the chance to expand their horizons with subjects not necessarily related to their studies, such as appreciation for Maltese culture and heritage or initial steps in the world of business and entrepreneurship or getting involved in commendable voluntary work projects or enhancing communication skills by learning a new language or using ICTs for research and beyond.
KSU president David Herrera explained how KSU has been involved in the scheme since it was first created and how it has helped disseminate information throughout Freshers' Week.
He said that the knowledge acquired from Degreeplus will be reflected in the student's transcript, which will undoubtedly aide them once they are seeking employment. In fact, it is perceived that as Degreeplus becomes more popular, employers will increasingly be taking this factor into consideration.
"Looking at the five streams, I would definitely say that the biggest advantage lies within the character development that students will go through, since they will learn to take charge of their life and thus ease their transition into the workplace by learning necessary skills such as time management, working under pressure, working with other members of a team, and so on. Another element is that of promoting active citizenship, evident through the creation of voluntary work and culture and heritage, which both aim to enforce students' realisation of the society they live in. Finally, the Degreeplus programme reinforces awareness of the world we live in, that is, a technologically advanced community and, with particular relevance to Malta, a cultural diversity brought about by EU membership. The ICT and language streams will serve to strengthen this notion.
He said that if students managed their timetables well, this new scheme would not add more strain to the student schedule.
"The University has freed up some lecture slots on a Wednesday afternoon, which means that a structural platform to cater for the programme has already been created. Secondly, Degreeplus is not about credits, which means that the strain of passing examinations and studying for credits will not be placed on students. Instead, students are being offered the practical opportunity to augment their skills, in a friendly and fun environment.
Therefore, the new emphasis being placed by this programme is on non-formal and informal education, where students do not necessarily need to support their classes with additional reading, assignments, and strenuous study periods. Students will be learning by doing, and by listening to the professionals in their particular fields," Mr Herrera concluded.
For more information, visit www.um.edu.mt/degreeplus or e-mail degreeplus@um.edu.mt.