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AlGhad Training Institute Quality Management System

Recognition of Prior Learning ( RPL)

Policy Reference:

T/P/013

Version:

1

Person Responsible:

General Manager

1. Policy Statement

This Policy defines GTI’s position on the recognition of prior learning (RPL) for admission into a programme .  It also identifies the GTI requirements for considering course credit applications or exemptions to students for their prior learning which may be certified or by experience.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all GTI courses. Students in programmes covered by the GTI regulations may apply for admissions, credit applications or exemptions by submitting evidence of having achieved similar learning through experience or through prior certification.

3. Definition of Terms

  • Formal Learning takes place through an organised program provided by an accredited education provider that leads to the achievement of a qualification.
  • Informal Learning is learning garnered through a variety of experiences such as work or social circumstances. It is not structured in terms of objectives, time or learning support.
  • Non-Formal learning occurs through a structured program but does not lead to an officially accredited qualification.
  • Prior certificated learning is formally assessed learning which leads to the achievement of a certification.
  • Prior experiential learning is learning gained through relevant experience but has not been formally assessed. What is of significance is the learning achieved through the experience, and not just on the latter. Eg. work experience or knowledge gained through experiences outside work.

4. Types of RPL

  • RPL for Admission: this is for a candidate who does not qualify for admission into a programme / qualification via the ordinary admission requirements of an institution.
  • RPL for Advancement: exemption from certain modules of a course of study on the basis of the candidate’s experience / learning acquired prior to applying for RPL.
  • RPL for Credit: granting credit for a module of a course of study on the basis of experience gained or learning acquired before applying for RPL.

5. Applications

Personnel:

  1. This policy applies to all employees, students, partners and staff contracted to provide, promote and maintain the high standards of teaching, learning and assessment for those students who are trained at GTI.
  2. This policy applies to those who make decisions and review credit accumulations, applications or exemptions through RPL.

Procedures:

This policy applies to all evidences that will be presented by an applicant for RPL and the assessments that said applicant may undertake at GTI.

6. External Requirements

This policy helps GTI meet the following external requirements of:

  1. Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA), Bahrain
  2. Directorate of Institutes Affairs, Bahrain Ministry of Labor

7. Principles Involved in Recognition of Prior Learning

  • GTI fully supports a perspective where transparent learning assessment is valued.
  • Learning may be achieved through formal, non-formal or informal pathways, and these need to be recognized for purposes of entry to a course, obtaining credit, and recognition of diverse and inclusive pathways to lifelong learning.
  • The applicant’s achievement of learning or acquisition of prior learning outcomes are demonstrated, evidenced and authenticated at the appropriate NQF level
  • Currency and relevance are significant in the assessment of the applicant’s learning outcomes.
  • In order to ascertain alikeness and equivalence of prior learning, the programme’s or course’s context, content, learning and assessment approaches are considered.
  • The methods that would be used to assess prior learning must be in context and practical. These must be agreed upon by the assessors and the candidate.
  • A capped number of credits will be allowable to be considered for RPL.
  • RPL, in terms of credits and exemptions is only granted for whole courses and not parts of it.
  • Student must provide evidence of a capped minimum coverage of the course content for a recognition request to be approved
  • RPL consideration shall be done only for completed studies not more than 10 years before the time of application for credit.

8. Related Documents

Policies:

Forms:

7. Key Dates

First Approved: 12 March 2022

This Version Approved: 26 December 2023

Next Review Date: December 2024 or earlier if any changes to legislation or the external environment require it.

Version Effective Date     Description of Changes    
01 12/03/2022 First approval of the policy 

Approved by the General Manager, effective immediately:

Signed by General Manager: Abbas Ali Date: 26/12/2023

 GTI’s current policies are available on the website. If you are using a hard copy of this policy, please check that it is the current version before proceeding.