Approval for this procedure given by :

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1 Recognition of Prior Learning Scheme Name of procedure: Approval for this procedure given by : Responsibility for its update : Procedure applies to : Recognition of Prior Learning Scheme Academic Board Academic Registrar and Director of Student Experience To all students registered on awards at Staffordshire University leading to professional registration. Date of Approval : July 2014 Proposed Date of Review : May Background Page 2 2. Strategic Overview Page 2 3. Principles Pages Objectives of the Scheme Page 3 5. Types of Prior Learning Page Scope Page 4 7. Appeals Page 5 8. Systems and Processes Pages 5 9. Role of External Examiners Page Evaluation & Reporting Mechanisms Page Flow Chart Page 9 1

2 1. Background Staffordshire University has long been committed to excelling in support for learning and teaching and to widening participation in higher education. In this context it has developed various Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) strategies such as Advanced Standing, Articulation and Accreditation of Prior Learning) All these schemes seek to recognise and value prior learning and help students find their level and make the best use of their learning experiences. The policy is designed to encourage achievers to participate in higher education. It will enable them to utilise prior knowledge and skills appropriately against the Learning Outcomes of their chosen programme. This document will provide a framework to bring together all RPL provision and ensure equity of treatment across subject disciplines. It will also incorporate recommendations for new schemes within the framework to encourage Faculties and Programme Leaders to make more use of such schemes especially to give access to higher education to a wider range of learners. The University supports and encourages the use of prior learning in all academic Faculties and Programmes in the context of this framework 2. Strategic Overview The University acknowledges the value of RPL that is both certificated and experiential and associated with knowledge and skills acquisition which has taken place in the workplace or other learning situations. It is committed to recognising that learning takes place outside the traditional educational establishments. The Recognition of Prior Learning Scheme (RPLS) enables students whether individually or as part of a cohort to incorporate previous relevant learning experience into a programme of study, and acknowledges their expertise. It is also crucial to maintain the quality of University awards. The methods and processes of acquisition of knowledge and skills may be different but the learning outcomes must be seen as substantially equivalent to those identified in the validated award. Hence the systems and processes in all Faculties must be both transparent and consistent. 3. Principles The RPLS will enable an individual to incorporate previous relevant theoretical and/or practical learning into a programme of study. Accreditation is a means of considering all relevant formal certificated learning and experiential learning for credit towards a named award. Units of learning, theoretical or practical that are accepted for accreditation must be of compatible value to the programme content and academic level. The process of accreditation will be rigorous to ensure the integrity of the awards. 2

3 Evidence must satisfy the following criteria: Validity evidence must be provided that the prior learning for which the applicant is claiming credit is relevant to the programme they have applied for at Staffordshire University. The applicant must demonstrate that there is an appropriate match in both level and content between the previous studies and the Staffordshire University module or modules for which they are seeking exemption. Currency prior learning must have been gained sufficiently recent to make it still of value. The time limits may vary according to subject area but qualifications older than five years are unlikely to be considered. Sufficiency applicants must provide enough evidence to fully demonstrate they have achieved the credit currently being claimed. Authenticity evidence must be provided that relates to the applicants own efforts and should be able to be verified as such. Credit for a completed award may not be used to count towards a qualification at the same level. However, a student may seek to use credits previously gained in order to contribute to a higher level award or to an award that is larger in terms of the number of credits. For example: a student with a Certificate of Higher Education could use the credits from that award towards a honours degree (if appropriate); a student with a Postgraduate Certificate could use the credits from that award towards a Postgraduate Diploma or Masters (if appropriate). However: a student with a BSc cannot reuse the credits from that award towards another BSc and a student with a MBA cannot reuse the credits from that award towards another Masters qualification. Information on the various forms of RPL will be made available to students and an evaluation of the progress of the scheme will be included in an annual review and monitoring reports. Once enrolled students who follow an Accreditation of Prior Learning route for a module or modules will still have access to all module learning resources if desired. No student should be disadvantaged whether through progression opportunities or award classification through following a Recognition of Prior Learning route. 4. Objectives of the Scheme To produce a Staffordshire University assured Recognition of Prior Learning scheme which will be used by all Faculties To draw up a model scheme including recommendations about administrative systems, this will be adopted within the context of the policy. To propose methods to facilitate the use of the scheme, transparency evaluation and monitoring and highlight recommendations for improvement. 5. Types of Recognised Prior Learning 3

4 There are two distinct types of Recognition of Prior Learning activity. These fall into those schemes that form part of the admissions process and those that occur after enrolment. It should be noted that some University programmes are accredited by professional bodies; in some instances this accreditation denies students the opportunity to seek RPL. It is the Faculties responsibility to ensure that students are informed where this is the case. Pre enrolment RPL Advanced Standing: is an agreement with another institution whereby an individual student who has undertaken part of a course of study at the institution may apply to transfer to an appropriate programme of study at the University. Applications are dealt with on an individual basis and follow normal admissions procedures. Articulation: Articulation is a formal process leading to the recognition of the credit rating of a named qualification of a partner institution of the University and the creation of opportunities to transfer with advanced standing and specific credit to a named qualification of the University. Credit Transfer: A mechanism whereby students who have successfully completed a level or stage of a higher education award at another institution may apply to transfer to an appropriate programme of study at the University. Applications are dealt with on an individual basis. Post Enrolment RPL. Accreditation of prior learning (APL): a process for assessing and, as appropriate, recognising prior learning or prior certificated learning for academic purposes. This recognition may give the learning a credit-value in a credit-based structure and allow it to be counted towards the completion of a programme of study and the award(s) or qualifications associated with it. Accreditation of prior certificated learning (APCL): a process, through which previously assessed and certificated learning is considered and, as appropriate, recognised for academic purposes. Accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL): a process through which learning achieved outside education or training systems is assessed and, as appropriate, recognised for academic purposes. 6. Scope The RPLS applies to all Staffordshire University courses and applications can be made under this framework for any level of Staffordshire University award subject to the limitations established in validation procedures. It should be noted that RPLS applies to both specific and general credit Normally a maximum of 50% percent of credits for any award may be set against the Recognition of Prior Learning Scheme. This is subject to specific requirements of the validated awards and the discretion of the Faculty committee charged with overseeing RPLS. The maximum volume of RPL indicated in the table below is provided for guidance but does not constitute an entitlement. 4 Award Credit Max Minimum Credits to be taken on SU

5 Required credit Validated Awards for Award via RPL Grad Dip credits at Level 6 or above Grad Cert credits at Level 6 or above Honours credits with at least 90 at Level 6 Degree Degree credits with at least 60 at Level 6 FdA/FdSc credits with at least 60 at Level 5 DipHE credits with at least 60 at Level 5 HND credits including at least 60 at Level 5 HNC credits 60 credits at Level 4 or above CertHE credits 60 credits at Level 4 or above MEng MSci credits with at least 90 credits at level 7 Masters credits at Level 7 (including the Dissertation) PgDip credits 60 credits at Level 7 PgCert credits 30 credits at Level 7 Credit bearing doctoral awards (e.g. DBA, EdD, DClinPsy credits at level 8 Notes Ug awards > 240 credits RPL = 66% Ug awards eq to or less than 240 credits RPL = 50% Credit bearing doctoral awards RPL = 33% The RPLS will recognise formal certificated learning which has occurred up to five years prior to the start date of the award and experiential learning which has normally occurred up to five years prior to the start date of the course The smallest unit of accreditation or recognition will be a module. Formal certificated learning and experiential learning can only be used for accreditation purposes once. Students who have been accredited for specific prior learning at Staffordshire University or another institution cannot apply for accreditation of this specific learning again The Recognition of Prior Learning Scheme will only accredit prior learning where the University award is of an equal or higher level than that previously studied. RPL applications cannot be made retrospectively in the event that the module has been taken and failed. 5

6 There is no cost to the student for pre-enrolment RPL, such as Advanced Standing and Articulation. However post enrolment RPL, such as APCL and APEL, incurs fees. APCL is charged at a cost of 10% of the module fee whilst APEL is charged at 40% of the module fee. These fees will not apply to students who are charged a tuition fee which covers the full study load for that period of study. For example, a full time undergraduate student whose fees are paid in full by Student Finance England, would not be charged an additional APCL or APEL fee. 7. Appeals In accordance with the University s student appeals regulations, an appeal can only be made against an RPL decision on the basis that there was a material error or irregularity in the process. 8. Systems and Processes Pre-Enrolment Advanced Standing, Credit Transfer, Articulation Each Advanced Standing or Articulation agreement is arrived at on a course by course basis. Academic judgement is at the core of these agreements and will remain so. A list of Articulation agreements will be available within all Faculties. Post-Enrolment - APEL The process of APEL enables the University to formally assess prior experiential learning as well as certificated learning, and award grades which (dependent on level) may be used in calculating end awards. Accrediting experiential learning may not be as straightforward as accrediting certificated learning as it is a process through which learning achieved outside the University has to be formally assessed before it can be recognised for academic purposes. The module/award leader is a key person in the APEL process who will advise the student at the initial APEL interview. Module/award leaders are strongly advised to familiarise themselves with the University Record of Prior Learning Scheme (RPLS). The module/award leader should advise the student that the application should be made as early as possible before a module commences is preferable and if the module has already commenced the module/award lead will need to advise the student that applications can be rejected or referred and therefore there may be a need to continue with module attendance/learning while the application is being processed. The module/award leader will advise the student on completion of the APEL pro forma, although the onus for the APEL application rests with the student. Students must clearly demonstrate how their experiential learning meets all the learning outcomes of the module(s) in the APEL application and that the experiential learning was at the appropriate academic level. Demonstrating how experiential claims meet learning outcomes and academic levels is not always straightforward, so during meetings with the student the module/award leader should discuss and negotiate an appropriate form of assessment which will enable the student to demonstrate that they have met the required learning outcomes at the appropriate level (for 6

7 further guidance on what form the negotiated assessment may take see APL Policy and Staff Handbook). This proposal will be submitted with the application form for consideration by the Faculty APL Committee. Once the form in which assessment will take place is approved by the Faculty APL Committee, the assessment will go through the same processes as any other assessed work i.e. the required assessment is completed, assessed and graded (or pass/fail), reviewed by the external examiner, the awarded grade presented at the appropriate Assessment/Award Board and feedback given to the student. An advantage for the student in having the work graded is that the grade will contribute towards the classification of the end award. Please note that the student cannot commence assessment until there has been approval from the APL Committee. The Faculty s AP(E)L Co-ordinator is able to offer advice and guidance to module and award leads. Please see flow diagram of the process for an experiential proposal. Post-enrolment - APL The APL policy requires that for certificated claims, module/award leaders should see the original certificates and attach a signed photocopy of these to the claim form. The APL Committee will defer consideration of any claims that do not have a signed copy of all the certificates attached to the claim form. 9. Role of External Examiners The role of the External Examiner is identical to the one the Examiner performs on the course studied in the normal way at the University. The Examiner has the role of quality assurance for a particular cohort of students on a specific programme and has the right to review all the evidence or sample the evidence in relation to the application for APEL and the submitted assessment. 10. Evaluation and Reporting Mechanisms Each Faculty Committee with responsibility for RPLS will produce a short annual report of RPLS activity. This will include: Which students applied for APCL/APEL On which modules What certified learning was submitted The form of Negotiated Assessment submitted Which applications were declined or accepted The reasons for these decisions A short summary of this data. Recommendations for improvements to the system 7

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9 11. Process for claiming accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL) Module/award leader and student meet to discuss experiential claim and negotiate a proposal or assessment Student completes APEL pro forma and includes proposed form of assessment Module/award leader approves proposal Experiential proposal submitted to APL Committee Approves proposal Referred Proposal Rejected Student undertakes Assessment * Student /module/ award leader Academic completes marking process Act on referred instructions Review by External Examiner Grade presented at Assessment/Award Board * The student must not commence assessment until approval is given by the APL Committee 9