RPL in the context of Texila Educational Management and Services in India
Background
Texila Educational Management and Services located in India guides and educates professionals in a variety of fields. One of its services is to the Texila American University (TAU), which is a holding in Hong Kong and which has branches in several countries such as Guyana and Zambia. Texila American University in Guyana (TAU-G) offers Medicine and Medicine Programs. It also partners with the University of Central Nicaragua (UCN) for the Postgraduate Medicine and Distance & Blended Learning programs.
TAU in Guyana has developed the RPL program in Association with Texila Educational Management an Services in India and the Certification would be delivered by the University of Nicaragua.
Procedures and processes
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is the formal acknowledgement of skills, knowledge and competencies obtained through formal and informal training and education, work experience and life experience. The RPL procedure consists of three stages and includes guidance and counselling services for individuals:
- Pre-screening process;
- Facilitation process;
- Assessment process.
The pre-screening process starts once a candidate files an application for RPL of TAU-L. Following a successful outcome of the pre-screening process, a RPL facilitator is assigned to the RPL candidate.
During facilitation, the facilitator guides RPL candidates to build their portfolio.
The portfolio is a collection of evidence, comprising personal details, employment history, evidence of skills and knowledge, non-formal courses, work and life experience and community and voluntary activities.
The evidence comprises any or all of the following: statements of results of formal education, sample of work produced, performance appraisal reports, references from current or previous employers, job descriptions, certificates of participation, letters of recommendation, video tapes, tape recordings and photographs of work activities, specific details of work and participation in projects, written testimonials from managers or colleagues and details of formal training, seminars, conferences or workshops which are relevant to RPL application.
The completed portfolio needs to be submitted to the awarding body for assessment within a period of six months.. The assessment is carried out in the form of an interview. At the end of the process, the judgement is made on evidence of the skills and knowledge previously gained through work, study, life and other experiences. On successful completion of RPL assessment, students can undergo university academic learning of different durations depending upon their prior learning and the qualification they want to achieve.
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RPL Certification |
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Prior Learning |
University Learning Excluding 6 Months of RPL assessment |
Degree Awarded |
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‘O’ Level Plus three years of experience/ ‘A’ Level plus 1 year of experience |
6 months |
Certification |
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1 Year |
Diploma |
|
|
2 Years |
Advance Diploma |
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|
3 years |
Bachelors |
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‘O’ Level and five years of experience / ‘A’ Level plus 3 years of experience |
6 months |
Diploma |
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1 Year |
Advance Diploma |
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|
2 Years |
Bachelors |
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‘O’ Level plus Seven years of experience/ ‘A’ Level plus 5 years of experience |
6 months |
Advance Diploma |
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Successful completion of Advance Diploma |
1 Year |
Bachelors |
RPL certification flowchart
Outcomes and ways forward
The established RPL processes and summative assessments help to translate non-formal and informal learning outcomes and life experiences into academic qualifications.
By linking RPL non-formal and informal learning have been made an official part of the TAU-L education and training system.
Source: UNESCO UIL