Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition PLAR in Canada: The Context

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Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition PLAR
in Canada The Context

• Presentation for the OECD Dissemination
  Conference
• (Thematic Workshop)
• Dublin, Ireland
• by
• Kerry Lynn Lake
• Department of Human Resources and Skills
  Development,
• Government of Canada
• October 20, 2005

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Outline of Presentation

• What is PLAR?
• Recognizing learning issues stakeholders
• Addressing key barriers
• PLAR Linkages
• The status of PLAR in Canada
• National PLAR leadership
• HRSDC actions
• Current PLAR Initiatives
• Next steps

learning and personal change generated by the
prior learning assessment process pay direct
dividends in terms of improved employment,
incomes and career prospects. Halifax PLA
Centre, Impact Evaluation Study 2002
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What is PLAR?

• Prior learning assessment (PLA) is a process that
  involves the identification, documentation,
  assessment of learning acquired through formal,
  non-formal and informal study. This may include
  work and life experience, training, independent
  study, volunteering, travel, hobbies, and family
  experiences. Recognition is the award of
  academic credits, trade/occupational and/or
  professional certification, or promotion within
  the workplace.

PLAR can be used to demonstrate competencies in
all three learning venues formal, non-formal
informal.
Definitions used by OECD Thematic Review of
Adult Learning, 2002
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Recognized learning is like the tip of an iceberg
Recognized
Most learning exists below the surface where it
is unrecognized and under-utilized.
Unrecognized
Formal 413,000 Canadians (foreign Canadian
credentials)
Non-formal Informal
130,000-250,000 Canadians
Brain Gain The Economic Benefits of Recognizing
Learning and Learning Credentials in Canada,
Conference Board of Canada, 2001.
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Why PLAR is key to adult learning

• Adult learners are the primary beneficiaries of
  PLAR
• Adults have accumulated considerable knowledge
  and skills learning outcomes that can be
  measured and valued
• Adult learners need alternative approaches to
  traditional, classroom-based learning
• PLAR offers the possibility of alternative paths
  to career mobility
• PLAR opens up
• Accessibility by helping to overcome financial
  and non-financial barriers
• Mobility and portability by recognizing
  knowledge and skills acquired in other settings

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PLAR is deeply embedded in the recognition of
learning universe
Mobility of labour market credentials FORMAL
LEARNING - PROFESSIONS AND TRADES Recognition
by Learning Workplace venues
Transferability of academic credits between
institutions across P/T boundaries PRIMARILY
FORMAL LEARNING Recognition by Learning
Institutions

• Learning recognition leads to access
  opportunity.
• PLAR is a tool that can be applied in recognition
  processes.
• Todays reality heavily oriented to formal
  learning.
• Workplace life learning feed other elements.

RECOGNITION OF LEARNING
Recognition of workplace/life learning INFORMAL
NON-FORMAL LEARNING Recognition by Learning
Workplace venues
Foreign Credential Recognition
(FCR) FORMAL NON-FORMAL LEARNING Recognition by
Learning Workplace venues
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Many stakeholders are engaged
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PLAR Linkages Transferability of academic credit
Recognition by learning institutions

• Challenges
• Transferability of partial degrees, diplomas is
  limited between Canadian PSE institutions
  portability of PLAR credits even more restricted
• Lack of a national framework for coordination and
  national body or council for learning recognition
• Inter-provincial/territorial student mobility
  approximately 8.

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PLAR Linkages Mobility of labour market
credentials
Recognition by workplace learning venues

• Challenges
• Credentials recognized in one jurisdiction are
  not always recognized in others, limiting
  mobility of workers in Canada.
• Workers in over three-quarters of 51 regulated
  occupations in Canada have qualifications
  recognized across Canada.
• More than 80 of workers in Canada are in
  non-regulated occupations only the most
  innovative employers use PLAR.

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PLAR Linkages Recognition of foreign credentials
Recognition by workplace learning venues

• Challenges
• Individuals with foreign credentials face
  challenges in having their prior learning
  assessed and recognized for further employment
  and education opportunities.
• In some occupations, FCR requires demonstration
  of relevant work experience to gain labour market
  access.

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PLAR Linkages Recognition of workplace life
learning
Recognition by workplace learning venues

• Challenges
• Informal non-formal learning not assessed or
  recognized.
• Barriers to learning lack of employer support,
  conflicts with work schedules.

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Status of PLAR in Canada

• PLAR has gained momentum in the last decade
• PLAR was initially practiced in the college
  sector now expanding to universities and into
  the workplace
• But there is no sustaining national framework for
  PLAR
• Governments agree in principle that PLAR is
  useful, but in practice PLAR is uneven and
  fragmented across the country

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National PLAR leadership Key elements

• Policy
• Use of national occupational standards
• Development of national policy and standards for
  PLAR (i.e. rigorous outcomes-based assessments
  within a flexible approach)
• Consensus on national adult learning principles
• (i.e. focus on learning outcomes)
• Application
• Support and funding
• Trained and certified PLAR practitioners
• Workplace orientation
• Institutional employer support and promotion

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Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
(HRSDC) Actions

• Three-pronged strategy
• Build recognition into Government of Canada
  practices and programs
• Build tools, knowledge awareness
• Build recognition of workplace learning

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Current HRSDC PLAR Initiatives
Build Recognition into Government of Canada
Practices and Programs
FNTI - Adult Learning Principles
Pilot-PLA in EAS in N.S. Region
Youth at Risk
Leadership in PLA
Persons with Disabilities
Completed
In progress
Centre for Education Work PLAR for labour
market transitions
Under development
Longer-term

• Some past projects
• Feedback from Learners A Cross-Canada Study of
  PLAR
• Association of Registrars of the Universities and
  Colleges of Canada
• PLA Centre Impact Evaluation Study

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Select PLAR Initiatives - Highlights

• Prior Learning Assessment Centre, Halifax
  Developing and testing portfolio development
  processes at Employment Assistance Services
  agencies in Nova Scotia.
• Outcome Help the unemployed re-integrate into
  the labour market.
• Mount Royal College, Calgary Testing new PLAR
  tools and approaches to ladder licensed practical
  nurses and foreign trained nurses into registered
  nursing practice in Canada.
• Outcome Accelerate graduation and integration
  of nurses into the labour force.
• Conference Board of Canada Researching and
  demonstrating assessment and recognition of
  workplace learning through credit review service.
  Campus Canada a partner.
• Outcome Opportunities for a critical mass of
  workers to obtain PSE qualifications while
  training on the job.

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Select PLAR Initiatives Highlights (continued)

• Canadian Association for Prior Learning
  Assessment (CAPLA)
• National voice for prior learning assessment and
  recognition (operating since 1994 incorporated
  in 1997 as a non-profit organization)
• Members are comprised of adult learners, PLA
  practitioners, unions, businesses, academic
  institutions, equity groups, occupational bodies,
  sectors and non-governmental organizations.
• Recognition For Learning (RFL) project
  http//recognitionforlearning.ca/index.php
• Online community of practice dedicated to PLAR
  (developmental funding from federal government)
• Goals are to
• advance the assessment and recognition of
  learning and
• promote the improvement of PLAR practice in
  Canada.

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Next Steps

• Build national PLAR standards, applicable to both
  workplace and learning
• Develop national coordination and information
  hub PLAR forum, virtual clearinghouse of
  information
• Develop national PLAR tools and processes more
  needed for workplace entities
• Learn from other countries experiences

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Contact InformationKerry Lynn LakePolicy
Analyst Labour Mobility Coordinator Labour
Mobility Section, Foreign Credential Recognition
DivisionHuman Resources and Skills Development
Canada (HRDSC)5e étage, Phase IV, 140 Promenade
du Portage Gatineau (Secteur Hull), Québec K1A
0J9Tel. [phone] Fax [phone]
Email kerrylynn.lake_at_hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Analyste en politique et
Coordinatrice de la mobilité de la main
d'oeuvreMobilité de la main d'oeuvre,
Reconnaissance des titres de compétences
étrangersRessources humaines et Développement
des compétences Canada5e étage, Phase IV, 140
Promenade du Portage Gatineau (Secteur Hull),
Québec K1A 0J9Tel. [phone] Fax
[phone] Email kerrylynn.lake_at_hrsdc-rhdcc.
gc.ca