Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy Academic Year

Transcription

1 Recgnitin f Prir Learning (RPL) Plicy Academic Year Authr: Name: J Kelly Jb Title: Directr f Quality, Supprt and HE Date plicy reviewed. 12/09/16 Date plicy t be reviewed 30/08/17 Impact assessed by: J Kelly Date impact assessed: 12/09/16 Plicy apprved by: CET Date apprved: 15/09/16 Recgnitin f Prir Learning Plicy1 P a g e

2 Cntents 1. Intrductin Aim Scpe f plicy Hw RPL is applied RPL prcedure fr students Stage 1 Awareness, infrmatin and guidance Stage 2 Pre-assessment; gathering evidence and giving infrmatin Stage 3 Assessment/dcumentatin f evidence Stage 4 Claiming certificatin Stage 5 Appeal Funding fr RPL Related plicies and prcedures Regulatry references Intrductin 1.1 Suthprt Cllege is cmmitted t an inclusive apprach t the assessment f learning, including the recgnitin f prir learning and/r achievement. 1.2 The Cllege will ensure that the prcess f assessment fr Recgnitin f Prir Learning (RPL) is subject t the same quality assurance and mnitring standards as any ther frm f assessment. 1.3 Recgnitin f Prir Learning (RPL) is a methd f assessment [leading t the award f credit] that cnsiders whether students can demnstrate that they can meet the assessment requirements fr a unit thrugh knwledge, understanding r skills they already pssess and d nt need t develp thrugh a curse f learning (Regulatry arrangements fr the Qualificatins and Credit Framewrk Ofqual/08/3726). 1.4 RPL includes: 2. Aim Accreditatin f prir certificated learning [APCL] qualificatins r academic credits cmpleted thrugh anther qualificatin and/r at anther educatinal institutin Accreditatin f prir experiential learning [APEL] - achieved utside frmal educatin and training systems (e.g. wrk/ life experience), r via nn-credit bearing curses such as inhuse training. 2.1 The aim f the plicy is t enable students t apply fr RPL against any recgnised qualificatin fr which they are currently enrlled t recgnise learning based n experience and/r ther previus frmal, nn-frmal and infrmal learning cntexts. The knwledge, understanding and/r skills in questin may have been acquired in any area f life, e.g. dmestic / family life, educatin and training, wrk related activities r vluntary activities. Recgnitin f Prir Learning Plicy2 P a g e

3 3. Scpe f plicy 3.1 This plicy applies t mst qualificatins, including thse awarded by Higher Educatin institutins and thse n the Natinal Qualificatin Framewrk (NQF), the Qualificatins and Credit Framewrk (QCF), Self-Regulated Framewrk (SRF) and ther natinal framewrks in Wales, Sctland and Nrthern Ireland and self-regulated qualificatins. Hwever, where learning is nly evidenced thrugh a natinal examinatin the student is required t sit this examinatin, e.g. general qualificatins such as GCSEs are nt within the scpe f this plicy. 3.2 Prir learning must be relevant t a student s curse f study and at the same academic level. 3.3 Higher educatin students n prgrammes f study with UCLAN, the University f Chester and the University f Cumbria are subject t the academic regulatins fr these institutins in respect f prir learning. Requests in respect f accreditatin f prir learning fr students studying n these prgrammes will be referred t the relevant institutin fr cnfirmatin f RPL. Requests in respect f accreditatin f prir learning fr students studying n Higher Natinal BTEC prgrammes are subject t Cllege plicy. 4. Hw RPL is applied 4.1 Prvided that the assessment requirements f a given unit r qualificatin have been met, the use f RPL is acceptable fr accrediting a unit, units r a whle qualificatin. Evidence must be: Valid: The evidence prvided by the student must demnstrate that it cnfrms t the requirements f the learning utcme. In assessing a unit using RPL the assessr must be satisfied that the evidence prduced by the student meets the assessment standard established by the learning utcme and its related assessment criteria. Current: The assessr will need check that evidence meets up-t-date requirements rather than reflecting a practice that has significantly changed. Evidence f current knwledge, understanding and skills will vary frm sectr t sectr. If the currency f any evidence is in dubt, the assessr shuld use questins t check understanding, and fr cmpetence. Reliable: Evidence btained thrugh RPL shuld be such that an assessr wuld arrive at the same assessment decisin, were the assessment t be repeated. 4.2 Assessrs wishing t carry ut RPL must ensure that: Students are registered as sn as they frmally start t gather evidence Recrds f assessment against prir learning are maintained Certificatin claims are made accrding t nrmal prcedures All relevant evidence is assessed befre assessment decisins are cnfirmed 4.3 RPL shuld nt be cnfused with the fllwing: Exemptin - the facility fr a student t claim exemptin frm sme f the achievement requirements f a qualificatin, using evidence f certificated achievement deemed t be f equivalent value. Equivalent unit(s) - a unit/units frm a different qualificatin r submitted by anther recgnised rganisatin that is/are deemed t be f equivalent value and s can cunt twards a qualificatin in place f designated mandatry r ptinal units frm it. Recgnitin f Prir Learning Plicy3 P a g e

4 4.4 The RPL prcess is nt cncerned with allwing fr exceptinal entry t, r exemptin frm, a prgramme f study. The RPL prcess des nt allw the recgnitin f any unit r qualificatin assessed by external assessment nly. This is because such units are subject t specific evidence requirements. 5. RPL prcedure fr students 5.1 Stage 1 Awareness, infrmatin and guidance Ahead f enrlling a student, the pssibility that they may be able t claim credit fr sme f their previus learning shuld be raised with them. If the student is interested in this, they will need t knw the: Prcess f claiming achievement by using RPL Surces f supprt and guidance available t them Timelines, appeals prcesses and any fees invlved 5.2 Stage 2 Pre-assessment; gathering evidence and giving infrmatin. At this stage, the student will carry ut the prcess f cllecting evidence against the requirements f the relevant unit(s) and will submit a written applicatin indicating their intentin t apply fr RPL fr a specific unit f their current curse/framewrk t the curse tutr. In sme cases the develpment f an assessment plan and tracking dcument r similar may be required, t supprt the student thrugh the prcess. The evidence gathered will need t meet the standards f the unit, r part f unit, that the evidence is being used fr. 5.3 Stage 3 Assessment/dcumentatin f evidence Assessment as part f RPL is a structured prcess fr gathering and reviewing evidence and making judgments abut a students prir leaning and experience in relatin t unit standards. The assessr (usually the Curriculum Leader r Internal Verifier) may lk at wrk experience recrds (validated by managers); previus prtflis f evidence put tgether by the student, r essays and reprts validated as being the student s wn unaided wrk. The assessment prcess will be subject t the Cllege s quality assurance prcedure, e.g. internal standardisatin and internal verificatin. Fr curses awarded by the Cllege s Higher Educatin institutin partners (UCLan, University f Cumbria and University f Chester) the relevant institutin will be cnsulted, in line with academic regulatins, t cnfirm whether RPL is acceptable. Evidence gathered thrugh RPL shuld be clearly referenced and signpsted t aid internal assessment and internal and external verificatin. The methds f assessment used will be determined by the assessment strategy fr the qualificatin being assessed but might, fr example, include:- examinatin f dcuments, witness testimny reflective accunts prfessinal discussin. 5.4 Stage 4 Claiming certificatin Once the internal and external quality assurance prcedures have been successfully cmpleted, certificatin claims can be made by the Cllege. Assessment and internal verificatin recrds, alng with any additinal RPL recrds cmpleted, shuld be retained fr a 3 year perid fllwing certificatin. The assessr must ensure that all learning utcmes and assessment criteria being claimed fr each unit are achieved and that the recrds f assessment are maintained in the usual way. Recgnitin f Prir Learning Plicy4 P a g e

5 5.5 Stage 5 Appeal As with any assessment decisin, if a student wishes t appeal against a decisin made abut their assessment they need t fllw the Academic Appeals prcedure. 6. Funding fr RPL 6.1 The funding adjustment fr prir learning field shuld be cmpleted with the prprtin f the learning aim that is still t be delivered if the student is nt undertaking the full scpe f the learning aim because f prir learning. This can be because f a break in learning, a transfer frm anther prvider, r prir learning when they jin as a new student n a new learning aim 7. Related plicies and prcedures Assessment Plicy HE Assessment Plicy Academic Appeals Prcedure Higher Educatin partners academic regulatins: UCLan University f Chester University f Cumbria 8. Regulatry references 8.1 Ofqual and SQA require all awarding rganisatins t establish and maintain their cmpliance with regulatry cnditins and criteria. This plicy addresses the fllwing regulatry criteria and cnditins: Ofqual General Cnditins f Recgnitin Cnditin H5.1: Results fr a qualificatin must be based n sufficient evidence SQA Accreditatin Regulatry Principles (2011) SQA Accreditatin Regulatry Principles (2011) Principle 12: The awarding bdy must ensure that assessments are accessible and prduce results that are valid, reliable, transparent and fair. Regulatry Arrangements fr Qualificatins and Credit Framewrk Regulatry Arrangements fr Qualificatins and Credit Framewrk Sectin 5. Requirements fr awarding rganisatins: Delivery f Assessment: 5.6h the awarding rganisatin must have in place the necessary systems and prcedures and resurces t ensure achievement is recgnised thrugh the recgnitin f prir learning (RPL) where this is apprpriate. Centre recgnitin: 5.11g the awarding rganisatin must have prcedures in place t recgnise, and mnitr n an nging basis, centres t ffer assessment leading t awards within the QCF. These prcedures must ensure that each centre, where apprpriate, has in place arrangements that allw fr recgnitin f prir learning (RPL). 8.2 In respect f Higher educatin prgrammes this plicy addresses the fllwing chapters f the QAA UK Quality Cde fr Higher Educatin: Chapter A6: Assessment f achievement f learning utcmes Chapter B6: Assessment f students and accreditatin f prir learning Chapter B9: Cmplaints and appeals Recgnitin f Prir Learning Plicy5 P a g e