Recognition of Prior Learning
Policy
Controlled Document – refer to Intranet for latest version
Category: Academic
Date Created: December 2006
Responsibility: Director Academic Development
Date Last Modified: August 2012
Approval: Academic Board
Version: 12.1
Purpose
RPL is based on the principle assertion that it is wasteful and demotivating for the
applicant and education provider to spend time and effort studying or teaching
knowledge, skills or attitudes that have already been achieved.
RPL involves UCOL making a fair and valid assessment of an applicant’s abilities. The
assessment may result in the applicant receiving credit for some portion of a programme
(or in some cases the whole programme) that leads to a qualification.
Scope
This policy relates to all UCOL programmes leading to the award of a qualification.
Responsibility
All staff especially Programme Leaders/Academic Managers are responsible for ensuring
this policy is followed.
Students must be informed of the availability of RPL prior to or at enrolment.
TIMEFRAMES
All RPL applications should be submitted within 2 weeks of the start of the
programme/unit standard/paper. Late applications will not necessarily be
considered;
It is highly recommended students continue attending classes until the
outcome of any RPL application is confirmed;
While evaluation of any RPL application will usually be completed within 2
weeks of receipt of application, this may take longer if further evidence is
required.
STUDENT LOANS AND ALLOWANCES
Students must be advised that if, due to RPL their enrolment falls below 80% of full-
time, access to student loans and allowances will be affected.
Policy Statements
1.
Students will normally be credited the student fee component (where paid), less
any administrative charges/hourly fees, for any unit standard/paper for which they
have been awarded RPL.
UCOL Recognition of Prior Learning Policy
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Version: 12.1
2.
a)
The Academic Board may approve regulations for a programme of study that
limit the amount of credit that may be awarded through RPL (Academic
Statute Part VI 6.4.1).
NB. RPL may result in credit being awarded for a complete qualification
where the Academic Board has deemed this appropriate.
b)
Notwithstanding the above, students may be admitted to any point of a
programme with credit for papers
following a successful application for RPL
4.
RPL may include any one or more of the following:
a) Credit Transfer: This is where the applicant has completed the same
courses/papers as part of another programme at UCOL (internal credit
transfer) or at another
New Zealand accredited education provider or
awarding authority (external credit transfer). No fee is incurred in applying
for Credit Transfer.
All Credit Transfer applications MUST firstly be approved by the Programme
Leader or designated RPL Co-ordinator prior to being notified to the
appropriate
Faculty
Board
of
Studies
to
meet
reporting
regulations/requirements.
For the avoidance of doubt Credit Transfer learning has already been
assessed and credit received for a specific unit standard or paper either from
a UCOL programme or from another accredited education provider.
b)
Cross Credit: The award of credit for recognition of what may be regarded
as equivalent courses/papers in the context of another programme ie; when
learning has already been assessed and credit received for a similar
courses/papers toward another qualification, from another accredited
education provider. Eligibility for cross credit is established by assessing the
comparability of the learning outcomes, and the level and currency of the
content of the two courses/papers. No actual assessment of the applicant’s
abilities is carried out. An administration fee will normally apply and there
may be an additional hourly fee based on the time required to undertake an
assessment of the application. All Cross Credit applications MUST firstly be
approved by the Programme Leader or designated RPL Co-ordinator prior to
being presented to the appropriate Faculty Board of Studies who may either
approve or decline an application.
c)
The Assessment of Prior Learning (APL): applies when there is no formal
academic record but the student believes they can meet the learning
outcomes of a unit standard or paper. A specific
process is used to identify,
assess and recognise what a person knows and can do. Different methods will
be used to make this assessment eg; portfolios, challenge assessment
(written and/or oral), attestation, interview and may include
observations of
practices. Each of these methods is dependant on the applicant providing
evidence that they can meet the learning outcomes of the unit
standard/paper
for which they are seeking credit (see RPL Procedure for
details on Assessment of Prior Learning).
UCOL Recognition of Prior Learning Policy
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Version: 12.1
An administration charge plus an hourly fee for the comparative analysis of
learning outcomes will normally apply for APL. Assessment of Prior Learning
requires Faculty Board of Studies approval.
5.
Credit will only be awarded at unit standard/paper level. Credit will not be awarded
for any unit standard/paper
where there is no evidence to show that all learning
outcomes have been met.
6.
Credit may not be awarded twice for the same learning in the same programme.
7. Assessment of an applicant’s prior learning must meet standards of validity and
must be made by persons competent in the field being assessed. Assessors must
be flexible and able to adapt their assessment techniques to different situations,
provide honest feedback, respect confidentiality and adhere to established
academic standards. A verifiable link between the specific learning outcomes of the
unit standard/paper
and the applicant’s evidence must be established.
8. Credit Transfer must be notified to the appropriate Faculty Board of Studies. Cross
Credit and Assessment of Prior Learning must be approved by the appropriate
Faculty Board of Studies.
Documentation relating to the process used to assess the
evidence against the learning outcomes and the RPL decisions must be retained, in
order to ensure a record in the case of an appeal, and to enable moderation of
assessment decisions in the case of APL. RPL forms must be put onto student files.
Related Documentation
Academic Statute Part VI Section 6.4
Recognition of Prior Learning Procedure
UCOL Recognition of Prior Learning Policy
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Version: 12.1
