Recognition of Prior Learning Policy

Purpose/scope

The purpose of this policy is to:

• set out how and when Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can be used as a method of assessment for Pearson’s vocational qualifications.

• provide guidance on how the RPL and exemption process can be managed so that evidence of learning meets standards.

• provide guidance on claiming exemptions

Definitions/terminology

•  Recognition of Prior Learning: a method of assessment that considers whether students can demonstrate that they can meet the assessment requirements for a unit through knowledge, understanding or skills they already possess, and so do not need to develop through a course of learning.

• Exemptions: the facility for a learner to claim credits from some of the achievement requirements of a qualification, using evidence of certificated achievement deemed to be of equivalent value.

Responsibilities

Programme Leader: responsible for ensuring that centre has expertise of managing RPL and exemption, learner is informed about the process and learner evidence is accessible for quality assurance.

Assessor: the person responsible for making judgements about a learner’s past learning and experience in relation to unit standards and using further assessments to fill any gaps in learner’s evidence in case of an RPL.

Internal verifier: a member of staff able to verify assessor decisions and validate assessment methods for RPL.

Aim:

The aim of this policy is to:

• set out how and when Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can be used as a method of assessment for Pearson’s vocational qualifications.

• provide guidance on how the RPL process can be managed so that evidence of learning meets standards

• ensure there is a record of learner evidence against prior learning and that these are available for quality assurance.

• set out how to use exemptions to claim credits from some of the achievement requirements of a qualification, using evidence of certificated achievement deemed to be of equivalent value.

In order to do this, the centre will:

•  Explain to learners the process of claiming a unit using RPL and how long the process will take.

• Check that the evidence provided by the learner for RPL has been achieved before the start of their course of study

• Register learner as soon as they officially start to gather evidence of past learning and experience.

• Help the learner in gathering evidence by creating an assessment plan or tracking document.

• Evaluate all the evidence using the learning outcomes and assessment criteria from the qualification or unit being claimed.

• Ensure if there any gaps in the learners work through RPL, then further assessment methods must be used to create enough evidence to be able to award the learning outcome for the whole unit.

At ICS Addis Ababa, the relevant Programme Manager is responsible for ensuring that the Recognition of Prior Learning process is managed in accordance with the Pearson Policy Framework below.