Flexible learning pathways ________________________________

opportunities and food for thought

The power of Life Long Learning

Antoinette van Berkel

Lucie te Lintelo

Centre for Recognition of Prior Learning

Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

17/18 June 2010

Contents Setting the scene: a short introduction

Life Long Learning in Amsterdam

Government policy on RPL and LLL

Issues related to» the national RPL policy» the national law of HE» the government funding of HE» accreditation in HE

A short introduction

Hogeschool van Amsterdam: University of Applied Sciences Bachelor and master degrees in

a professional field Business Administration – Engineering - Built Environment -

Social Work – Education – Communication – Law – Health – ICT

All degree courses are competence based A bachelor degree course: 240 EC (4-year) About 50 bachelor degree courses for working

adults studying on a part-time base

Life Long Learning: for whom?

Joop S.

Team manager IT at a housing corporation

Attained a bachelor degree in one year on the base of RPL

Present: just finished his master cognitive information engineering at the University of Amsterdam

For whom? (2)

Alex H. (41) IT Risk manager Deu. Bank 18 years of experience Chose for an individual work

based learning route (BBA)

‘I am very enthousiastic about the way I can use my experience at work. I learn to analyse my actions and how I could have done things differently, in a better way.’

Life Long Learning in Amsterdam (1)Focus on the individual and his learning needs

» for upgraders, professionals, switchers» tailored to individual career perspective» taking into account formal, non-formal and informal

learning (RPL)» creating an optimal balance between

private situation - job - studies

Life Long Learning in Amsterdam (2)

LLL-products and services» Flexible learning pathways in degree programmes

Diversity in content (within learning outcomes framework)Diversity in form: individually/groups, work based learning,

blended learningDiversity in time: timestretch, individual pace of studying,

timetable

» Continuous pathways and intermediate diplomas Associate Degree, Bachelor, MasterPiling certificates and diplomas (implies: accrediting (informal)

programmes and courses in European Credits)

» Facilities to support tailor-made learningcompetence-based intake, RPL, career counselling, coaching

and supervision (in education)

Flexible learning pathways: a framework

Indivi-duals

Demand steered learning routes

Groups

LEARNING OUTCOMES

MODELIndividual work based

pathway

PARTNERSHIP MODEL

(work based) pathways for a group of

employees of a company

FLEXIBEL PROGRAM MODELPersonalized pathway

within curriculum, based on exemption

and choice

GROUP CUSTOMIZATION

MODEL Fixed pathways for

specific target groups

Supply steered learning routes

Life Long Learning in Amsterdam (3)

LLL products and services require:

» Client- and market-oriented organisationA central portal for LLL targetgroups and questionsUniversities and employers (and other educational providers):

partners in educationMarketing and accountmanagement: on faculty level and for

university as a wholeFlexibility in logistics and registration (of results)

» Room for innovation, pilots and experiments

» Professional lecturers, tutors and coaches in education experts with a wide (practical) experience flexibility

Government policy on RPL and LLL

Government funding for Universities of Applied Sciences for LLL:» 2006-2007: development of RPL system» 2008-2009: development of RPL and tailor made work

based learning » 2010-2011: development of LLL-universities

Requirement: commitment from the whole university on LLLOnly the best applications get funding (seven universities; now

joined in a national LLL-network)

National quality code on RPL» Accreditation as an RPL-provider

Issues related to national RPL policy RPL procedures should meet the national quality

code (for accreditation)» note: an audit is costly and time-consuming

The quality code prescribes » RPL standard = the national competence standard of a

degree programme (open and abstract)

Government considers RPL a self-supporting product» RPL takes place before enrolment at a degree programme» candidate pays (no university funding allowed)» universities should be able to offer (individual) flexible

learning pathways on the basis of an RPL-report issued by any accredited RPL-provider

» for employers (and employees) an RPL report should give insight into an employee’s level (bachelor or other)

Issues related to the national law of HE

Max. 80 EC of a bachelor degree programme can be obtained through work based learning» What exactly is meant by ‘work based learning’?

Students should be able to start a bachelor degree programme at any moment in time» Requires organisational flexibility (often not realised in

practice)» Note: for government funding a student should pass the date

of 1 October Exam boards leading in allowing and justifying

flexible learning routes» Less conservative thinking and more expertise is needed

(more focus on learning outcomes instead of a fixed curriculum)

Issues related to government funding HE

Max. 4 years for a bachelor degree + diploma bonus» How to handle students who followed part of a degree

programme elsewhere (2/3 years?) and now enrol at a different programme at your university?

Only one degree is funded» does not encourage universities to admit LLL students for a

second bachelor- or master degree

Academic masters are government-funded; professional masters are not

If you want to offer tailor made programmes for a group of employees from one company: no government funding allowed

Issues related to accreditation in HE Extensive procedures to obtain accreditation for new

degree programmes

A university’s education- and examination-regulation should cover the diversity of all learning routes within degree programmes » Full-time courses, work based courses, part-time courses» Transparency is needed