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RPL Policy and Implementation Practice at UWC
RPL access pathways are aligned to the strategic national imperatives that support widening access, equity and transformation for individuals who previously did not have the opportunity to study at University. This policy is a catalyst for reducing social injustices and redress related to access to education. The purpose of this policy is to provide a framework for the implementation of RPL procedures and services at the University of the Western Cape. All services provided by the RPL unit are aligned to the provisions regulated by the following policy guidelines. A detailed review of multiple policies and documents were considered, inter allia
• National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Act, 2008
• General and Further Education Training Quality Assurance Act, 2008 (Act No.50 of 2008)
• Higher Education Act, 1997 (Act No. 101 of 1997)
• Skills Development Act, 1998 (Act No. 97 of 1998)
• Report of the Ministerial Task Team on a National Strategy for the Recognition of Prior Learning (2013)
• White Paper for Post-School Education and Training (2014)
• RPL Policies of SAQA, Umalusi, QCTO, CHE, and Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs)
• Report on the Implementation Evaluation of the NQF Act, 2008 (2018)
• National implementation of RPL policy (SAQA, amended policy 2019)
The policy and practice of RPL at UWC have undergone a historic journey and have been boldly implemented since 2001. Dr. Rekha Rambharose has ensured that cultural context, discipline-specific requirements, capacity and institutional limitations are continuously tackled and expressed during each round of policy amendments. Dr Rambharose has played a key role in coordinating policy amendments, and institutional responses and engaging with the institutional community in multiple RPL policy awareness and implementation workshops some of which are tailored to the development of new degree programmes within faculties. For example, Dr. Rambharose has played a key role in developing an RPL assessment model for the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the faculty of Arts and Humanities for RPL access into the PG Dip Language Practice programme in 2022/2023.
RPL practice at UWC
UWC has remained committed to RPL practices since 2001. The policy development, implementation and practice of RPL are aligned to the goals set out in the Institutional Operating Plan 2021-2025. RPL practice at UWC aims to facilitate a meaningful and stimulating university experience for mature students who previously did not have the opportunity to higher education, from initial consultation, assessment, student support, competency identification, and academic skills building to Faculty recommendation for placement via RPL.
Creating RPL institutional awareness and building RPL champions
Dr. Rambharose has made a concerted effort to engage with all faculties as it relates to comprehension and application of RPL policy and implementation, RPL for access, assessment models, RPL for post-graduate access, RPL for advanced standing, RPL for credit transfer and RPL requirements for the registration of new programmes. During the past five years, Dr Rambharose has engaged in the following workshops and benchmarking initiatives
UWC- Faculty of Education, Arts and Humanities, School of Nursing, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, The Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice, Centre for Multilingualism and Diversities Research (CMDR), Department of Labour Law and the School of Government.
RPL implementation and benchmarking workshops where implemented for Local Government SETA, Department of Quality Assurance and Accreditation Management at the National School of Government (NSG), Stellenbosch Municipality and colleges such as Stadio.
RPL implementation and benchmarking workshops for national higher education institutions: University of Zululand, Faculty of Commerce, Administration and Law, University of Fort Hare, Stellenbosch University, University of Venda.
RPL implementation and benchmarking workshops for institutions within the African continent: Saint Augustine University of Tanzania-Mwanza, University Of Arusha (UoA)- Tanzania.
National community engagement through DHET and SAQA UPSET project 2024
Dr. Rambharose has shown a committed effort to engage with multiple communities of practice in creating RPL awareness and implementation models for institutions across South Africa, the African continent, and globally. Recently Dr. Rambharose has embarked on an opportunity to flag UWC at the center of articulation and alternative access to higher education through a national project funded by DHET- Unfurling Post School Education and Training (UPSET) Project will play a key role in the development of Articulation Implementation Plans (AIPs). . UPSET is an initiative funded by the Department of Higher Education and Training, led by the Durban University of Technology (DUT) and supported by the South African Qualifications Authority. It strengthens articulation, learning-and-work pathways in the South African Post School Education and Training sector through provincial and regional articulation hubs. The UPSET project addresses critical questions about students' learning pathways from studying in TVET colleges to University of Technologies (UoTs). The access pathways from TVET colleges into the UoTs are meant to facilitate university study for students in the TVETs. Upon completion of their TVET studies, these students currently do not have an articulated pathway into the university, impacting their ability to acquire high-level education and training needed for industry-skilled jobs. The access pathway into UoTs study is intended to facilitate the acquisition of such high-level industry demand-side skills. Dr Rambharose will be engaging in discussions with UPSET coordinators and SAQA during April 2024. The signing of the MOU and Launch of the UPSET project for UWC will be spearheaded by Dr. Rambharose and is set to kick off mid 2024. This initiative further cements Dr Rambharose's standing within the area of access to higher education and RPL. Dr Rambharose views this as an opportunity to further engage with key authorities and the post-schooling sector to enhance UWC's position in the plight for social justice, create new programmes that support greater access, and work collaboratively with colleges within the post-schooling and education training sector to enhance access and educational transformation.
Engagement through Profession/Discipline-Based Service provision
The Global Prize for Validation of Prior Learning- the VPL Biennale called for examples of best practice in three categories: products, procedures, policies. The competition offers applicants from around the world an opportunity to communicate best practices, helping to further develop and implement effective VPL systems. In 2022, Dr Rambharose won first prize at the VPL Biennale. This accolade was hugely celebrated by not only the University of the Western Cape but the entire country as well. In 2022 this achievement was acknowledged by the institution's Rector & Vice-Chancellor: Highlights of 2022. This award has validated the role that Dr. Rambharose has played for RPL policy and implementation not only for UWC, the country, and the continent but internationally as well.
Council of Higher Education (CHE) Community of Practice member: National Community Engagement and Professional Policy Development
Dr. Rambharose was appointed to the Quality Assurance Framework (QAF) Community of Practice (CoP) for the Development of Higher Education Practices standards (HEPS): TRANSITIONS INTO HIGHER EDUCATION in 2022-2024. In this role, I have attended many workshops and engaged in collaborative debates, discussions and sharing of practices, challenges and barriers within the higher education sector. Although I have an interest in all areas related to the QAF i.e staff development, experiential learning, student administration, transitions through higher education, and transitions out of formal higher education, my specific focus was on engaging the community of practice from a perspective of experiential learning and pathways related to access to higher education. This platform has provided me with an opportunity to add valuable contributions to the QAF and also share experiences and knowledge from within my role at UWC. I am confident that future engagements with CHE will have a positive outcome for various sectors of higher education. I see myself as an agent of change and want to do my part in facilitating educational transformation.
In 2023 I attended the CHE higher education conference. I was directly able to engage with many stakeholders who have similar viewpoints from which we practice RPL and engage within the community of practice.
RPL employer model: Pilot project UWC Human Resources (draft for 2024/2025)
The National RPL Implementation Policy (SAQA) also exerts that the RPL Employer model can be implemented within higher education institutions. Currently, Dr. Rambharose is working closely with UWC Human Resources and together with the staff development team we hope to spearhead an RPL employer model as a pilot project in 2024/2025. the main aim is to utilize the institutional capital that existing and long-standing employees possess as a mode of credentialing vertical growth within the institution. This model will take into account experience, knowledge, institutional knowledge, formal and informal learning as selection criteria for higher-ranked posts that would conventionally require a formal degree. This opportunity will open many doors for staff development, promotion, flexible learning and lifelong learning. This model is still in the design phase and will involve multiple university stakeholders, management and governance for it to be successfully implemented. This pilot project will be the first of its kind within the country. Dr. Rambharose is looking forward to engaging with human resources in developing this pilot model as it has the potential to transform the lives of so many individuals who have already given decades of service to UWC.
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