Northumbria University chosen to train nurses in Malta

With a global reputation for high quality Nursing degrees, Northumbria University, Newcastle has been chosen to train more nurses in Malta to help the country’s national nursing shortage.

Supported by the Maltese Government, Malta Enterprise and the Maltese Union of Midwives and Nurses, a contract has been agreed which will see Northumbria deliver a new full time three year BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies degree programme in Malta, in collaboration with Malta College of Arts Science and Technology (MCAST).

The new €2 million programme, funded by Singapore company Vitals Global Healthcare, will begin in October 2017 with 30 students trained per year during its first years; with numbers increasing significantly over time.

The degree programme will meet all of the requirements of the EU Directive for General Nursing; the Malta Council for Nurses and Midwives’ Scope of Professional Practice; and Malta Council for Nurses and Midwives’ Code of Ethics.

The first year of the programme will be taught at MCAST main campus, until works to build a state-of-the art clinical skills teaching facility at the St Luke's Medical site are completed. The new facility is being built and run by Vitals Global Healthcare as part of €200 million investment programme in three hospitals by the Maltese Government.

Northumbria University was chosen to deliver the degree programme due to its global reputation as a leading nursing education and training provider. Its UK based Pre-registration nursing programmes are approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council and were the first in the UK to be accredited by the Royal College of Nursing.

Dr Alison Machin, Associate Professor in Nursing, Midwifery and Health at Northumbria University, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen to be partners in this important Maltese nursing development. Our selection is testament to our global reputation for academic excellence in nursing and builds on our existing high quality international portfolio of teaching and research. As well as helping to train and educate Malta’s future nurses to the highest possible standards we are helping the Government improve the quality of healthcare by providing more nurses into the system.”

Delivering the programme will involve academics from Northumbria educating and training nursing students in Malta throughout the year, working alongside the MCAST University College lecturers.

Dr Silvio De Bono, President of the Malta College of Arts Science and Technology University, said: “Helping to address the shortage of nurses is a key priority for the Maltese Government. There is no doubt that Northumbria University is amongst the best in the world in developing nurses and nursing standards. Through this partnership with Northumbria we are confident we will be able to help address the nursing shortage and deliver a world class degree programme.”

Northumbria University has an award winning reputation for providing innovative, flexible and wide ranging professional learning and development opportunities for those working in health. In 2016 the University, in partnership with Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, developed the UK’s first 18-month route to a BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies with Nursing and Midwifery Council registration as an adult nurse, for people able to evidence with substantial experience and previous significant academic study in nursing and health care.

Northumbria University offers degree, masters and doctorate level programmes in nursing. Undergraduate programmes are available in adult, child, mental health and learning disabilities nursing and in midwifery. The University also offers a Higher Education diploma in operating department practice.

Professor Dianne Ford, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Health and Life Sciences at Northumbria University, said: “We have an unrivalled reputation for academic excellence in nursing here at Northumbria and we are delighted to have developed this new partnership in Malta. I have every confidence that together we will deliver the highest standard of education and learning in nursing for the benefit of Malta and enhance our global portfolio even further.”

Established in 2001, the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) is the country’s leading vocational education and training institution. Through its six institutes in Malta and the Gozo Campus, they offer 185 full-time and over 300 part-time vocational courses ranging from certificates to degrees (MQF Level 1 to Level 6).

The College is currently building a new campus. Co-financed by the Maltese Government and the European Union, through a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) project once complete it will accommodate over 10,000 full-time students every year.

For more information about UK and international nursing programmes at Northumbria University visit www.northumbria.ac.uk