Recognition of Prior Learning Policy

Policy intent

UTS provides the opportunity for students to apply to have prior learning considered for credit towards a UTS course where the prior learning is related to assessable components of the course. Forms of prior learning include previous study from recognised tertiary organisations, relevant work or life experience or courses undertaken outside a recognised tertiary education organisation.

Objectives

• To recognise and support the legitimate interests of students in obtaining credit for prior learning.
• To ensure public availability and scrutiny of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) provisions.
• To ensure a consistent and equitable approach to the granting of credit for prior learning.

Scope

This policy is applicable to all undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs of the university and it covers the granting of credit towards a UTS award on the basis of:

• prior learning at tertiary or credentialed institutions
• prior learning in non-credentialed settings.

It should be noted that eligibility for RPL does not guarantee an applicant a place in the course for which recognition of prior learning may be available.

Definitions and categories

1. Basis of recognition

Credentialed prior learning – course-related learning leading to the award of a tertiary qualification. This includes learning from:

• Completed university subjects and courses
• Completed TAFE subjects and courses
• VETAB accredited courses
• Overseas qualifications from National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR) recognised higher education institutions.

Uncredentialed prior learning – informal learning from work experience, life experience or courses taken outside the university and TAFE systems.

2. Form of recognition

Exemption – the process of releasing a student from undertaking an individual subject and for the granting of equivalent academic credit.

Substitution – releasing a student from undertaking a subject and specifying alternative subject(s) of equivalent credit point value which must be completed in order to achieve equivalent academic credit.

Credit transfer – recognition that a block or group of subjects and their associated equivalent academic credit, that have been completed at different institutions, are being recognised as a valid component of a student's enrolled UTS course.

3. Components of the course that are recognised

Individual specified credit – equivalent to a subject exemption. Credit is granted where there is one-to-one, equivalent-level correspondence between the applicant's prior learning (credentialed or uncredentialed) and UTS subject outcomes. Only full subject credit can be granted, up to the limit allowable for the course.

Individual unspecified credit – credit granted where the prior learning (credentialed or uncredentialed) of the applicant is judged to be relevant to the course at the appropriate level but may not directly correspond to specific course subjects. Unspecified credit is usually granted towards meeting the elective requirements of a program.

Block credit – credit granted under pre-determined arrangements for study at TAFE or other tertiary providers. Block credit usually refers to a block of subject exemptions either specified or unspecified, or a combination of both.

Policy provisions

1. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for the purposes of this policy is the process of recognising for credit, in the form of specified or unspecified credit, what an individual knows or can do, wherever and however they may have acquired the knowledge and/or skills.
2. UTS recognises two types of prior learning:
   • credentialed prior learning and
   • uncredentialed prior learning.
3. Applicants for RPL on the basis of uncredentialed prior learning may be required to demonstrate their learning through the completion of some type of assessment or activity such as testing or compiling a portfolio of learning and/or experience.
4. Applicants who have relevant prior learning may apply for recognition of this prior learning and, if their application is successful, they are granted either exemptions or substitutions from either specified or unspecified components of their UTS course.
5. Eligibility for RPL does not guarantee an applicant a place in the course for which recognition of prior learning may be available.
6. Applicants for RPL may be granted any combination of recognition as described above subject to the University Rule 2.28, which states that, except with the approval of the Academic Board, no student shall receive credit that totals more than:
   • two-thirds of a course of three years or less full-time duration, or
   • three-fourths of a course of more than three years full-time duration.
7. Regardless of the nature or amount of recognition granted, any specific requirements of an award must be fulfilled, including any conditions associated with the professional recognition of the award.
8. Applications for RPL will normally only be considered at the time of admission. Where this is not possible, or where circumstances change, a second or later application will be considered only prior to final re-enrolment in the UTS award course for which RPL is being sought. A second or later application for RPL must be made in writing to the Responsible Academic Officer, must make full disclosure of the initial application and must set the circumstances which prevented an initial application or the changed circumstances which justify a second application.

   This does not preclude a student's right at any time to cancel exemptions or substitutions that have been granted previously. (It should be noted that cancellation of exemptions or substitutions often has fee implications for students.)

9. Students wishing to cancel previously approved credit must do so prior to their final (re-)enrolment.
10. In determining whether credit may be granted, the University must be confident of the currency of the applicant's knowledge. Applications for RPL will be considered on a course by course basis, where currency of learning can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the faculty.
11. Undergraduate subjects will only be accepted for credit towards postgraduate courses in the following cases:

    (a) for existing courses, through approval by Academic Board of the conditions either for individual courses or for groups of courses; and

    (b) for new courses, in the course accreditation proposals either by explicit definition or by reference to existing approved conditions, as per (a).

12. Previously acquired credentialed or uncredentialed learning may only be counted once as approved RPL exemptions for any course offered by the University.
13. Where students do not meet the faculty standard on grade requirements, any relevant applications for RPL shall be rejected automatically and, where TAFE courses do not provide a grade, or where faculties have not set the criteria, applications are to be redirected to faculties for individual consideration.
14. In the case of one faculty delivering a subject in the course of another faculty, the delivering faculty is responsible for defining the criteria and process for RPL in respect of the delivered subject. Decisions regarding the recognition of prior learning may be made either by the delivering faculty or the home faculty of the student, in accordance with these criteria.
15. Students accepted under this policy may be required by their faculty to complete a bridging program.
16. The normal UTS procedures (see footnote 1) should be followed for students appealing against unsuccessful applications for RPL, or disputing any decisions made in respect of approved credit.
17. Wherever possible, NOOSR guidelines should be used for assessing applications for RPL on the basis of overseas study.
18. All areas of the University should apply the Procedures for Managing RPL Applications in administering this policy.

Responsibilities

Faculty Boards shall be responsible for the application of this policy and may delegate all or part of their powers, in accordance with the authority granted by Council (UTS Calendar, Chapter 12, 6.2 (xvi), Duties and powers of Faculty Boards) (see 6. Duties and powers).

In recognising prior learning, faculties shall have due regard for the academic standards of the University, equity principles, promptness in processing applications and consistency of application of the policy between faculties.

Each faculty shall maintain a record of precedents to facilitate the formulation of the above. Faculties should develop and publish on their websites their own position regarding previously acquired credentialed and uncredentialed learning. Faculties should also publish annually the grade requirements for prior TAFE and all other accredited study accepted in the previous year for RPL.

Communications

This policy shall be published in the University Calendar, Faculty Handbooks and University websites.

Related Information

The Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee (AV-CC) Credit Transfer Principles.

Further administrative information about this policy

Previous Recognition of Prior Learning policies

Related legislation/policies

This policy replaces the Academic Board policy on Recognition of Prior Learning. It should be read in conjunction with:

• University Rule 2.28 (see footnote 2)
• UTS Calendar, Chapter 12, Faculty Management – 6 Duties and Powers – 6.2 (xiii , xiv and xvi)
  (see also online UTS:Calendar, 6. Duties and Power)
• the ATN agreement of credit transfer (see footnote 3)
• Handling Student Grievances, Principles of Grievance Handling, and Policy and Procedures on Handling Student Complaints (approved by Council 8/8/02) (see footnote 4)
• UTS Coursework Assessment Policy and Procedures Manual

Supporting procedures

This policy is supported by Procedures for Managing RPL Applications (see footnote 5).

Accountabilities

Compliance with the policy
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning)

Monitoring and evaluation of the policy
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning)

Development/revision of the policy
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning)

Contact
To be advised.

Footnotes

1. As listed under Selected Policies and Guidelines, Chapter 13, UTS Calendar, and in various published documents (see Related Legislation/Policies).
2. Rule 2.28 is currently known as the 'advanced standing' rule. A consequential rule change will amend this Rule and its terminology to be more consistent with the principles and terminology of the Policy.
3. Australian Technology Network, a coalition of five Australian universities which share a heritage of working with industry (Curtin University of Technology, UTS, RMIT, QUT and University of South Australia).
4. As published on the University's Grievance Handling Policies, UTS Grievance Handling Procedures and UTS Policies web pages.
5. In development.

Last administrative update on this policy: October 2003