Recognition of Prior Learning

Experience the Accreditation Process

Recognition of Prior Learning

Experience the Accreditation Process

Choose UWS/2009

APL refers to certificated learning for which a general credit rating had been agreed e.g. RGN, RM, HNC, HND, degree courses,

The student should provide the University with relevant documentation. This will be accepted as evidence in support of a claim.

What is RPL?

APEL is learning which has its source in experience e.g. Work-based, community based learning

What is Academic Credit?

Two types of credit may be awarded, General Credit and Specific Credit.

General Credit is arrived at through agreements between awarding bodies and Higher Education Institutions. The amount of General Credit is determined by the qualification held.

Specific Credit is credit which the University awards towards a specific programme of study. This time it is determined by subject choice. It follows that General Credit cannot be applied on a blanket basis to individual study programmes, the amount of Specific Credit, depends on how closely prior learning ties in with a proposed programme of study.

Principles of APEL

The student makes the claim to have acquired knowledge and skills.

The responsibility of supporting this claim with evidence rests with the student.

It is learning not experience that is important. Experience is only significant as a source of learning. If learning cannot be extracted from experience there is nothing to assess and a claim cannot be made.

Identification of Learning

This has 3 stages.

1)Experiences are looked at and those where learning has occurred are selected.

2)Clear statements are written about what was actually learned.

3)Evidence in support of the claim to learning is collected and collated.

• It should be at the appropriate level.

• A balance between theoretical knowledge and practical application should be evident.

• Learning should have been kept up to date.

RPL Case Studies

• BA Management RPL Bridging Model

•Culture and Creative Industries – 2 different perspectives