Credit and Quality Assurance: APEL/RPL and Europe

1Professor Bob Johnson, Education and Management Consultant

Email [email protected]

Credit and Quality Assurance: APEL/RPL and Europe

Professor Bob Johnson

European Council for Business Education, ECBE

SEEC Professional Development Event, 23 January 2008, CEPLW, London



Advancing the recognition of prior learning is proving to be a slow and difficult process!



Formal learning

Learning that occurs in an organised and structured environment

Informal learning

Learning resulting from daily activities related to work, family or leisure

Non formal learning

Learning which is embedded in planned activities not explicitly designated as learning

CEDEFOP 2003

The recognition of prior learning



• wherever• however• whenever• whatever

The recognition of learning



‘all learning activity undertaken throughout life, with the aim of improving knowledge, skills and competence, within a personal, civic, social and/or employment-related perspective’ (European Commission)

Lifelong Learning

pre-school to post-retirement, everything in between



Recognising prior learning

benefits:

• all ages and backgrounds can receive formal recognition for the skills and knowledge they already possess

• mature adults and socially excluded minority groups returning to learning

• students of all ages who wish to study overseas, broaden their expertise or change careers

• students who wish to return to their studies after a learning break

• anyone seeking professional qualifications

• recognition of learning through work or leisure-related activities



benefits for the learner • adds to self esteem

• assists personal development

• increases job satisfaction

• increases career prospects

• certificates learning gain

• accumulates credits towards an award

Recognising prior learning



Recognition of Prior Learning

• Legal and Regulatory issues

• Other issues

- qualifications and credits

- academic structures

- inputs v. outcomes

- delivery

- contact time v. notional learning time

- assessment tools

- quality assurance



RPL: Challenges for quality assurance

• RPL challenges traditional views about education

• the range of RPL tools, techniques and approaches, including assessment

• several good practice guidelines - but little known and used

• Clear national schemes e.g. Finland, France, Ireland, Scotland, Canada and England/Wales/Northern Ireland.

• QA is embedded in existing processes

…….



RPL: Challenges for quality assurance

…..

• HEIs need to have transparent RPL processes

• over-complicated APEL systems (most have none!) that are time-consuming/expensive/rarely used

• many academics are conservative about RPL

• the shift to learning outcomes is incomplete



Barriers to Credit and Recognition of Prior Learning

occur at three levels• European

• National/Regional

• Institutional



Current Developments

Europe meta frameworks• Qualifications Frameworks• ECTS/ECVETS• ENQA

National• SCQF, France, QAA

Regional Consortia• SEEC• NUCCAT



Bologna and Quality Assurance

• Enhance quality• Quality in HEIs and QA agencies• Policies, management and guidance• Quality Management• Globalisation• Building European Higher Education Area• Democratisation of Higher education• Mutually shared criteria and methodologies• Consistent with institutional autonomY• Accountability lies with the institution• Quality in HEIs and QA agencies within national QA systems



National Quality Assurance

• Definition of responsibilities • Evaluation of programmes/institutions• System of accreditation/certification• Peer review• International co-operation



Higher Education Institutions

• Enhance quality

• Internal mechanisms– Cornerstone of QA in HE– own Quality culture– related to own situation and ambition– fair information

• Correlated to external quality assurance– Evaluators: independent, transparent and relevant



Higher Education Institutions:Internal Quality Assurance

• Policies• Monitoring and review• Assessment of students• QA of teaching staff• Learning resources & student support• Information systems• Public information



Overcoming Barriers 1

• Europe – Bologna

– Qualification framework– Credit framework– Promoting learning outcomes– Promoting RPL




• National– Credit and qualification framework(s)– Guidelines on RPL– Guidelines on Credit– Learning outcomes– Level descriptors




• Universities

– Credit-based Curriculum

– Quality Assurance

– Flexible Delivery modes/Structures

– Staff/Faculty Development

• Awareness,

• Understanding

• Expert

– Management and Recording

Credit and Quality Assurance: APEL/RPL and Europe

Documents

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