Have you ever thought of completing a bachelor’s degree or even an MBA?
What is stopping you? Is it the costs associated with higher education? Is it the years of commitment holding you back? Or simply the concept of returning to school is just too overwhelming!
Today these concerns are part of history! Thanks to the innovative – yet logical – concept of RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning).
So what is RPL – Also referred to as Skills Recognition?
By definition, Recognition of Prior Learning describes a process used by colleges and universities around the world to evaluate learning acquired outside the classroom for the purpose of assigning academic credit. – Wikipedia
The idea focuses on skills acquired in the workforce rather than the academic knowledge which at times is merely supplementary. The individual should be rewarded with recognition confirming his/her ability on the job and his/her worthiness of holding such a qualification.
This concept was reinforced by the Australian department of education in the 1970s as a means to enrich the education system. In the RPL process candidates need to prove that sufficient skills and knowledge have been obtained throughout work and life experience in order to exempt the individual from studying a unit or even an entire qualification, and achieving a recognised certificate or degree.
Over time, RPL has proven to be appealing to professionals who have spent countless years equipping themselves with practical experience and as a result would like to have their skills recognised.
You may be thinking that it is too good to be true. Not only is it true, but it gets even better!
Upon completion of the RPL and acquiring the degree, the individual may use this qualification in order to receive credit exemptions from a post graduate program, thus fast tracking his/her ultimate degree.
Let’s take the example of an applicant who has worked extensively in the business field and has completed an Advanced Diploma of Management via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Most universities will grant exemptions for a number of units in their degrees or MBA programs based on the qualification level and the units completed. Therefore, an Advanced Diploma of Management will earn the applicant over a year of a Bachelor’s degree in Management, which is equivalent to ten units. Not only would these exemptions save money, but also time and stress associated with it. Now that is a bargain!
