Recognition of Prior Learning
(RPL) Procedure
Controlled Document – refer to Intranet for latest version
Category: Academic
Date Created: 2002
Responsibility: Director Academic Development Date Last Modified: September 2012
Approval: Deputy CE Academic
Version: 12.1
Purpose
This document outlines the procedures to be used when a student applies for any
category of RPL,
including Credit Transfer, Cross Credit and Assessment of Prior
Learning.
Students must be informed of the availability of RPL prior to or at enrolment.
TIMEFRAMES
All RPL applications should be submitted within two weeks of the start of the
programme/unit/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.
Scope
This is a UCOL wide procedure.
Procedure
A.
Credit Transfer
Use this process when a student has successfully completed unit standards/papers at
UCOL (internal credit transfer) or at another New Zealand accredited education provider
(external credit transfer) with identical programme content and learning outcomes.
1.
The student will complete an RPL Application Form
2.
The student will attach to the application form one of the following:
i.
A suitably endorsed academic transcript; or
ii.
A copy of the student’s Record of Learning from NZQA.
3.
The completed form and attached information is forwarded to the Programme
Leader or designated RPL Co-ordinator for checking and approval sign-off. There is
no fee for a Credit Transfer application.
4.
It is the responsibility of the Programme Leader or designated RPL Co-ordinator to
advise if the Credit Transfer has any impact on the student’s enrolment status
and/or the impact of this on the student’s loans and allowances.
UCOL Recognition of Prior Learning Procedure
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5.
It is the responsibility of the Programme Leader or designated RPL Co-ordinator to
notify the student of approved Credit Transfer.
6.
A copy of all documentation pertaining to the Credit Transfer application MUST be
notified to the appropriate Faculty Board of Studies to meet reporting
regulations/requirements.
7.
After notification to the Faculty Board of Studies the RPL application form is then
forwarded to Student Registry Services who will process the Credit Transfer,
generate any credit notes and record the result on the student’s record. The form
and associated documentation will be put on the student’s file.
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
Use this process when the student can produce evidence of having been awarded credit
for what may be regarded as equivalent courses/papers toward another qualification
from another New Zealand accredited education provider. For example, a student may
have completed the first year of a degree at another provider and wishes to have this
transferred to a UCOL degree. Cross credit is not normally applicable to unit standards.
This process involves an appropriately qualified academic staff member evaluating the
Cross Credit application to ascertain the similarity of learning outcomes, and the level
and the currency of the content of the course/paper applied for, when compared against
the curriculum of the UCOL programme. Where a match can be established then credit
may be awarded. The match must be close enough to justify the award of ‘full-credit’,
that is credit for the whole module. Partial credit will not be awarded.
1. The student will complete an Application Form for RPL. A copy of the student’s
Academic Record/Transcript must be attached to the Application Form. A $45
administration fee (including GST) will apply to all applications for Cross Credit.
In situations where cross crediting arrangements have already been established for
programmes from outside UCOL as detailed in curriculum documents no further
charges will be incurred.
However, where staff are required to undertake a comparative evaluation of the
UCOL programme and the course/paper for which cross credit is sought, additional
charges of $50/hr (including GST) for staff time may be made.
2.
The application will be forwarded to the Programme Leader/RPL Co-ordinator.
Initial processing of applications will normally take place within two weeks.
However, where further information from other institutions is required to enable
evaluation, the student will be notified that this may cause delays.
3.
If a Cross Credit has been previously approved by the Faculty Board of Studies for
the scope of the application, the Programme Leader/RPL Co-ordinator will check
that the student’s Academic Record/Transcript is consistent with the approval and
if so credit will be awarded.
If this is the case, any administration fee charged will
be refunded. The form will be signed and returned to Student Registry Services
who will register the Cross Credit. The form and associated documentation will be
put on the students file. It is the responsibility of the Programme Leader or
UCOL Recognition of Prior Learning Procedure
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designated RPL Co-ordinator to advise
if the Cross Credit has any impact on the
student’s enrolment status and/or the impact of this on the student’s loans and
allowances.
4.
When an evaluation of a cross credit application is undertaken the student is
required to provide information from the programme documentation that will allow
the evaluator to ascertain the learning outcomes achieved, the level of the
paper/course and its content. After a comparative evaluation has been undertaken
by an appropriately qualified academic staff member, the RPL application along
with supporting documented evidence will be presented to the Faculty Board of
Studies. 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 will either award or decline the application for cross
credit. It is the responsibility of the Faculty Board of Studies to notify the student
of any approved or declined Cross Credit.
Note: Credit can only be awarded at course/paper level. Partial credit will not be
awarded. Additional costs may be charged dependant on the length of time it has
taken to undertake the work required to determine the cross credit at $50 per hour
(including GST). It is the responsibility of the Programme leader or designated RPL
Co-ordinator to advise if the Cross Credit has any impact on the student’s
enrolment status and/or the impact of this on the student’s loans and allowances.
5.
The decision of the Faculty Board of Studies will be forwarded to Student Registry
Services who will process cross credits, generate any credit notes and record the
outcome on the student’s record. The form and associated documentation will be
put on the students file.
C.
Assessment of Prior Learning
This process is to be used when a student believes they can meet the learning outcomes
of a unit standard/paper but has no formal academic record or transcript to support the
award of credit. In these cases students will be required to present evidence that they
can meet the learning outcomes for example portfolio, challenge assessment, attestation
and/or interview.
Phase 1: Applicant’s Responsibility with UCOL Support
1. Initial Steps
The potential applicant:
Is informed of the RPL/APL option prior to enrolment;
Seeks advice and support, forms, etc;
Seek assistance and support from the Programme Leader /RPL Co-ordinator;
Formally applies for consideration of prior learning (if he/she wishes to proceed).
This includes payment of fees;
Will usually enrol and pay course/programme fees prior to the application being
lodged. If a student is not enrolled and has not paid their fees, an administration
fee of $45 (including GST) will be charged and an hourly rate ($50 per hour,
including GST) invoiced for the costs of the assessment once the process has
been completed;
UCOL Recognition of Prior Learning Procedure
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Should apply within 2 weeks of start of unit/paper. Late applications will not
necessarily be considered.
2.
Identifying Scope of APL Application
The applicant:
Takes stock of their current knowledge and skills; work, leisure, education
and training, parenting, community work, etc should be considered;
Decides the courses/papers
for which they wish to seek credit for prior
learning;
Looks at the learning outcomes required in the courses/papers in which they
wish to enrol;
Matches their prior learning (life, work, experiences, etc) against the specific
learning outcomes of that courses/papers
Checks on the availability of credit transfer/cross credit arrangements.
Note: In situations where additional specialist academic advice is needed a
Specialist Advisor may be appointed. The original Programme Leader / RPL
Co-ordinator will arrange this.
3.
Gathering of evidence
The applicant:
In consultation with the Programme Leader/RPL Co-ordinator, decides which
combination of methods they will use to provide evidence of their prior
learning:
- Challenge (examination, practical, verbal or written) assessment task(s);
- Portfolio;
- Assessment Interview;
-Attestation (usually not used in isolation) assembles information and
evidence that supports or demonstrates their prior learning.
4.
Submission
The applicant:
Formally submits their evidence of prior learning to the Programme Leader /
RPL Co-ordinator, relating this directly to the specific learning outcomes of
the courses/papers
for which credit is sought;
Makes a submission. This may be documentary, spoken, an examination, a
demonstration, etc. It may be attested to by others, it may, by agreement,
take place in a classroom, workplace, community organisation, etc.
Prior arrangements obviously need to be made to ensure that all parties are
notified of the date, time and venue. Cost implications to the candidate which
result from the choice of an RPL process should be discussed with the applicant by
the Programme Leader / RPL Co-ordinator.
Phase 2: Assessment - UCOL’s Responsibility
UCOL Recognition of Prior Learning Procedure
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5.
Evaluation
Evaluation of the application will usually be completed within 2 weeks of
receipt of application
The assessor evaluates the evidence presented by the applicant and matches
this against the specific learning outcomes required in the courses/papers.
If required, there will be a meeting between the applicant and the assessor,
e.g. practical demonstration, interview assessment.
The evaluation process should be open and lead to mutually agreed outcomes.
6.
Recommendation
The
Programme Leader or
designated RPL Co-ordinator makes a formal
recommendation to the Faculty Board of Studies or its delegated nominee.
Recommendations must be supported by a summary report on evidence provided.
Possible recommendations are:
Grant full credit.
Deny recognition;
Resubmission of the application with further information being supplied;
Further assessment required by the assessor.
7.
Decision
The Faculty Board of Studies, or their delegated nominee, receives the assessor’s
recommendation and makes a formal decision at the next meeting.
8.
Notification
The applicant is formally notified in writing of the outcome;
Copies of the decision shall also be sent to the advisor, assessor(s) and
Student Registry Services for entry on the formal student record;
Should the decision be to seek more evidence from the applicant or from the
assessor then earlier steps 3-7 may be repeated.
The applicant is also informed of the appeal process and the appropriateness
of appealing.
Students will be refunded for all courses/papers
that have been credited.
The form will be put on the students file.
Phase 3: Appeal
9.
Decide if an appeal is to be made
An appeal based on the provision of new information by the applicant is not
necessary. This case will be dealt with by a resubmission to the assessor. When an
appeal occurs, the Faculty Dean/General Manager must receive written notification
from the student within 10 working days.
Section 9 (Appeals) of the Academic Statute applies.
UCOL Recognition of Prior Learning Procedure
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Related Documentation
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy
Appendices
Recognition of Prior Learning Standards
Definitions
UCOL Recognition of Prior Learning Procedure
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Recognition of Prior Learning Procedure
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Appendix 2
Definitions
Appeal
Process to review a disputed decision.
Assessment
Those processes conducted by Lecturers and/or Approved Assessors and used in
determining the granting of credit.
Assessment Interview
A mechanism for assessing an application for RPL involving a meeting between the
assessor and applicant and which may include attestation.
Assessor or Assessing Group
The person or persons who evaluate the applicant’s submission (evidence of learning)
and who make a recommendation to the Faculty Board of Studies on the amount and
level of credit that should be awarded. This person/group must have the necessary
skills and experience as well as cultural, gender, age and ability sensitivities. The
assessor will normally be the person responsible for the courses/papers in that
academic year.
Attestation
The process, by which an applicant applies to have their earlier life and work
experiences formally confirmed and matched against the specific learning outcomes of
a courses/papers. Where a direct match is established, credit for this course will be
awarded.
Challenge Assessment
A means of recognising an applicant’s prior learning by allowing them to demonstrate
their knowledge, skills or attitudes. It commonly involves taking a written or oral
assessment task (s).
Credit
The basic measure used to record the successful completion of a paper by a student.
For UCOL papers, one (1) credit equates to a minimum of ten (10) hours of student
learning. 120 credits will normally be considered as a full-time/full-year workload.
Credit Transfer
Means a student has completed the same course as part of another programme at
UCOL or at another accredited education provider or awarding authority.
Internal Credit Transfer – is awarded at UCOL on application made to it by a student
for papers or unit standards which have been successfully completed at UCOL, and
which have an identical content to the unit standards or papers the credit is to be
applied against; and is not prohibited by any other regulation or requirements.
External Credit Transfer – is awarded on application made by a student where it is
satisfied that a student has obtained credit(s) at another accredited education provider
and where the learning outcomes leading to the award of the credit(s) matches
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UCOL’s learning outcomes; and is not prohibited by any other regulation or
requirement.
Examinations
These may contain theoretical and/or practical components and may be written or oral
or demonstrated.
Learning Outcomes (Elements)
The competence/achievement which must be demonstrated for successful completion
of a unit standard or paper
Portfolio
A collection of information assembled in an approved format providing evidence of
knowledge, skills and/or attitudes for an award of credit.
Programme Leader / Subject or RPL Co-ordinator
Designated person within a team or school who has responsibility for co-ordinating
RPL applications. This person also advises the applicant on the processes involved in
the recognition of prior learning.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
The process through which an individual seeks the award of academic credit based on
the relevant learning they have acquired through life experience, work experience and
formal or informal education or training. RPL may consist of Credit Transfer (internal
or external) and/or Cross Credit and/or Assessment of Prior Learning
Specialist Advisor
Where the Programme Leader / Subject or RPL Co-ordinator
believes he or she does
not have sufficient academic knowledge in the applicant’s field of experience and
study, then they may enlist the support of an Expert Advisor with the appropriate
academic background. The Expert Advisor may be in addition to, or replace, the
original Programme Leader / Subject or RPL Co-ordinator.
Student
A student formally enrolled in any paper(s) at UCOL.
Submission
Application for recognition of prior learning together with appropriate evidence.
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