The Directorate for Quality and Standards of Education (DQSE) has accredited Frate Jacoba Educational Institute for the programme Applied Qualification in Sustainable Living through the Principles of Permaculture at MQF level 1 and MQF Level 3 (60 ECTS). Students taking the programme at MQF Level 3 are requested to choose two of the following modules equivalent to 20 ECTS each;
- Applied Award in Hospitality and Food Handling through the principles of permaculture
- Applied Award in Wood Assembling through the principles of permaculture
- Applied Award in Welding through the principles of permaculture
- Applied Award in Sustainable Electricity through the principles of permaculture
- Applied Award in Farming and Aquaponics through the principles of permaculture
- Applied Award in Husbandry through the principles of permaculture
- Applied Award in Beekeeping through the principles of permaculture
- Applied Award in Tile Laying and Gypsum works through the principles of permaculture
- Applied Award in Product Development through the principles of permaculture
The above-mentioned modules are also accredited as standalone awards. Consequently, a students may successful complete only one or more of these awards or else any of them, beyond the requirements of the qualification.
The below modules are compulsory;
- Applied Award in Key Competencies through the Principles of permaculture (4 ECTS).
- Core Subjects (Maltese, English, Mathematics, and ICT). The core subjects are being embedded in the modules (16 ECTS).
Both the MQF Level 3 qualification and the awards have an exit point pegged at MQF Level 2, as per detailed Assessment Policy of the institution.
The Institute is also registered as a non-formal education provider, by the DQSE, and offers the following non-formal awards:
- Non-Formal Award in Introducing a Sustainable life through the principles of Permaculture and Community Living at MQF Level 2 (20 ECTS);
- Non-Formal Qualification in Sustainable life through the principles of Permaculture and Community Living at MQF 3 (60 ECTS).
The overall objective of the Non-Formal Award in Introducing a Sustainable life through the principles of Permaculture and Community Living at MQF Level 2 is that students will be exposed to the modules without being assessed. The certification will be mainly based on experience and soft skills whilst being introduced to the Dar Frate Jacoba lifestyle. At the end of the activity students will be able to perform a basic reflection.
The programmes provided at Frate Jacoba Educational Institute envision a climate of shared responsibility to empower the learner as an active and engaged citizen of our society. Thus, throughout the programme, the learners engage in the process of sustainable development, embedded within the permaculture principles. The programme will be grounded within the permaculture ethos and will adhere to the twelve design principles of permaculture. These principles are mandatory, although the methods used to express them will vary greatly according to the place and situation. They are applicable to our personal, economic, social and political realities.
The institute is fully compliant with the DQSE and it was evaluated as best practice during the last programme evaluation held in March 2022.