THE AUSTRALIAN COMPUTER SOCIETY INC

THE AUSTRALIAN COMPUTER SOCIETY INC

MEMBERSHIP BOARD

RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING PACKAGE

POLICY ON IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

1. CONTEXT

The National Regulations (NR) of the Australian Computer Society (ACS) authorised the use of RPL in the National Regulations which came into operation as from January 1 1997. (Refer to NR 2.2.2 (a) (iii)).

The ACS has developed Guidelines for Recognition of prior learning and these were approved by Council in September 1997. Also approved at that meeting of Council were the Core Body of Knowledge Guidelines for Information Technology Professionals (CBOK). The CBOK includes Areas of Knowledge which are to be used for RPL purposes.

2. PRINCIPLES The ACS is committed to the following principles in relation to the operation of RPL.

The recognition of prior learning shall focus on what a person has learned as a result of formal and informal education, training and experience, not how when and where learning occurred.

The recognition of prior learning shall be available to all potential applicants for grading of Member (MACS).

The recognition of prior learning shall involve processes that are fair to all parties involved.

The recognition of prior learning shall involve the provision of adequate support and information to potential applicants.

3. PRACTICES The process for recognising prior learning in the ACS allows for:

Assessment or evidence of the learning acquired by an individual in relation to the required knowledge standard

Applicants to provide written evidence as to how their prior experiences relate to the knowledge standard for which they are seeking recognition.

A range of methods and techniques to assess accurately the knowledge held.

Support mechanisms and dissemination of information to encourage and facilitate

Applicants’ use of the RPL process.

Clear criteria for dealing whether or not to grant recognition including:

- Authority: The evidence presented to support the applicants is authentic, that is, it is verifiable.

- Currency: The learning is still current, that is, it is performable.

- Quality: The knowledge can be used at the required standard

- Relevance: The knowledge is relevant to the knowledge claimed.

- Transferability: The learning can be applied outside the specific context in which it was learned.

- Validity: A sound connection can be made between learning acquired and the knowledge for which recognition is being sought.