Prospective students interested in the Health Care Courses offered by the Institute of Health Care (IHC), University of Malta, may obtain information and discuss their interest with academic members of staff who are available at a stand set for the purpose at Mater Dei Hospital foyer, between Monday 13th July to Sunday 19th July, during the hospital main visiting hours. The stand is manned daily between 3pm and 6pm and on Sunday morning between 10am and 12 noon.

Parliamentary Secretary for Health, the Hon. Joseph Cassar who visited the stand, highlighted the specific characteristics which are nowadays associated with health care professions – particularly:

the vast opportunities for international networking providing overseas experiences to both students and qualified staff across the professions;

the extensive opportunities for both career and academic progression for qualified staff;

the diversity of roles within professions as health care services progressively extend to Community and Primary Health Care settings; and clearly

the job security complementing health care professions against a climate of significant health care services expansion, in response to increased and diverse health care demands.

Dr Cassar reiterated that such characteristics indeed augur well to favourable interest amongst potential recruits towards educational programmes in health care professions.

Dr Sandra Buttigieg, Director Institute of Health Care, said that a career in the Health Sector gives one the opportunity to work in different settings from acute care to long term care, research, education, management and policy development. "A caring profession offers much job satisfaction since one will be responsible for the direct care of the patient or client. The opportunities for young people to join the Health Profession are ever increasing. A career in this area helps them become an integral part of a global caring network. In this regard, in order to meet the needs of the Health Service Sector in Malta, the Institute of Health Care offers courses at various levels. All courses offered are in line with international requirements in order to ensure professional standards," Dr Buttigieg said.

The Institute of Health Care offers studies in 12 different areas, however it is the Nursing and Midwifery Divisions that attract the largest numbers of students. This year, IHC marks the 20th anniversary of the introduction of Nursing and Midwifery Studies within the curriculum of the University of Malta.

Over the past 20 years, over 1500 nurses and midwives have completed a course of studies within the IHC, with nearly 400 obtaining an undergraduate degree and 28 a postgraduate degree. A total of 9 different programmes of studies at both undergraduate and postgraduate level are currently offered, including a diploma in nursing, Bachelor’s programmes in general nursing and midwifery, mental health nursing, community nursing and a Masters programme in nursing/midwifery studies. Prospects for employment for undergraduate and postgraduate students have been remarkable in both the public and private sector, locally and overseas.

An integral part of the Institute is the development of research for staff and students. Enrolment in postgraduate, Masters and Doctoral programmes is widespread amongst members of staff and students. IHC has also forged close links with international universities, particularly in Europe, and members of staff and students regularly participate in Erasmus exchange initiatives.

So far, the diploma and degree courses in nursing ran over a four-year period. As from October 2009, all diploma and degree programmes in nursing will run over a three-year period, congruent with trends in the development of nurse education worldwide. This has been made possible through the adoption of a more integrative approach to teaching and learning throughout the programmes.

Further information regarding IHC courses may be obtained by sending an email to Student Advisory Services: sas@um.edu.mt or to The Institute of Health Care: ihc@um.edu.mt

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