Home Economics & Human Ecology

Subject Coordinator

Dr Glorianne Borg Axisa
geo-he.jc@um.edu.mt
Room C318

Home Economics & Human Ecology subject information

Advanced level

Lectures: 5 hours per week
Tutorials: 1 hour per week

Intermediate level

Lectures: 2 hours per week



Home Economics & Human Ecology as a subject aims at preparing young people toward adulthood by learning valuable knowledge and skills for life.

The broad and multidisciplinary nature of this subject trains students to demonstrate their abilities in understanding concepts, transferring knowledge and applying skills as expected at higher education level.

The Home Economics & Human Ecology MATSEC syllabus orients itself to a dynamic choice of topics. The Individual, Family, and Household Groups in Society area encompasses topics about children, adolescents, adults, senior citizens of society and disabled people. The area about Habitat and the Environment tackles topics related to housing and environmental issues while the section Management of Resources deals with consumer education and financial management. The Nutrition component examines the nutrients in detail. The area Food Habits and Needs includes topics related to nutrient goals and dietary guidelines for a balanced diet and energy requirements for different groups of individuals. The Applied Nutrition part discusses the relationship between diet and health and meal planning while the Food Production area addresses the trends and concerns in food production. The section Food Commodities is related to the classification, production and nutrient content of different food groups. Food Spoilage and Preservation deals with food spoilage, food poisoning and preservation of food.

Home Economics & Human Ecology at Junior College is available at both Intermediate and Advanced levels. We strongly suggest prospective students to have a look at the syllabus for both the Advanced and the Intermediate level.

At Advanced Level the programme of work includes a solid theoretical framework. Every week, students have five hours dedicated to lectures and a tutorial hour. Group work is also organised whereby students are encouraged to develop their social, information technology, public speaking and organisational skills. A number of demonstrations are held to encourage students further develop their culinary skills.

The Advanced Level syllabus includes a coursework component consisting of a Food Study Task and an Investigation. The option areas for the Investigation are: Food Technology, Child Development, Senior Members of Society, Hospitality Industry and Services and Textile Studies. Students are guided in their course work by one of the Junior College Home Economics & Human Ecology Senior Lecturers.

During the course of study at Intermediate Level, students have two hours lectures per week.

While a SEC pass or equivalent in Home Economics and/or Design and Textiles is not an essential entry requirement, it is nonetheless considered a strong asset in the successful pursuit of the subject, especially at Advanced level. A strong emphasis is here made on the need for broad and sustained background reading by prospective students. Careful planning  as well as strong commitment are essential.

Students are encouraged to set meetings with their lecturers or the subject coordinator during the 'contact hour' to clarify any arising matters related to their course of studies.


Listen to the episode dedicated to Home Economics from the Junior College radio programme mill-Kulleġġ:
(the episode is in the Maltese language)

https://www.um.edu.mt/jc/geo-he/aboutus/homeeconomics