Policy Principle
iungo Solutions (“iungo”) aims to create the connective tissue between employers, training providers, and policy makers. Our mission is to enable our partners to take advantage of new ways of learning and working offered by Workplace by providing bespoke and immersive career planning, organisational development, and training solutions. The Policy describes the commitments from Executive Management to ensuring high quality provision, and the implementation of our Quality Management Systems.
The purpose of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy is to set out the way in which prior learning will be considered, evaluated, recognised and where appropriate, accredited. This Policy ensures learners submit sufficient, reliable and valid evidence for internal and standards verification purposes
iungo Solutions works with diverse cohorts of learners from a range of educational and experiential backgrounds who often bring knowledge understanding and competence of the subject area they are studying. In cases where this prior learning meets the assessment criteria, iungo is not minded requiring candidates to undertake the same learning again to achieve a qualification, unless it deems that a refresher would be beneficial to the learner. iungo also understands that the RPL mechanism is an important tool in supporting those who have returned to learning or who intend to do so.
Scope of Policy
This policy applies to all learners, irrespective of their programme or mode of study, as well as iungo’s employees, contractors, volunteers, and partners.
All assessments of prior learning will be conducted in accordance with the requirements and guidelines of the awarding organisation. For non-accredited courses, iungo will utilise its own judgement based on the parameters set out in this Policy.
Definition
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) refers to a
situation in which a learner can demonstrate that
they can meet the assessment criteria within a unit or
module through knowledge, understanding or skills they already
possess without undertaking a course of learning.
There are two types of RPL:
- Accreditation of Prior Credited/Certified Learning (APCL) evidenced through existing certification of a unit, module, or qualification.
- Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) evidenced through a portfolio or other type of experiential record including interviews. Experiential evidence must be cross-referenced against the learning outcomes of the unit, module, or qualification in question.
- A combination of APCL and APEL as appropriate to evidence the required learning outcomes.
RPL may be an acceptable mechanism for accrediting a unit, module or a whole qualification depending on awarding organisation regulations. Recognition of prior learning does not involve assessing and judging the prior learning or experience but assessing the candidate’s current knowledge and competence. Hence, even where previous accredited learning has been achieved, iungo representatives will be required to make a judgement on the candidate’s current knowledge and competence before pursuing RPL. As a rule, any accredited learning that is more than 5 years old should be accompanied by more recent experiential evidence.
Evidence of learning must be:
- Valid – extent to which evidence demonstrates the knowledge or competence
- Reliable – consistency of the evidence in demonstrating knowledge or competence
- Authentic – relates directly to the learner’s own work and where relevant, has been conducted in a realistic environment
- Sufficient – enough to fully evidence the specific learning outcomes required
iungo does not set a limit on the number of units, modules or qualifications that can be claimed via RPL. However, some awarding organisations may impose RPL limits for their qualifications.
iungo undertakes to fully inform learners of the opportunities for RPL during initial career and learning consultations and wherever relevant opportunities arise.
The learner is responsible for making relevant representatives aware of their wish to make an RPL application.
The Internal Quality Assurer must include RPL on the sampling plan as an assessment method and this will be subject to internal quality assurance.
Policy Commitments
To effectively implement this Policy, iungo commits to:
- Always follow an awarding organisation’s procedure in relation to RPL
- Make learners aware of the purpose and availability of RPL during their initial careers and learning consultant, as well any specific timescales dependent on the length of the course and awarding organisation requirements.
- Offer professional support and guidance to learners considering using the RPL mechanism. This will include providing information related to the specific awarding organisation and ensuring that the learner is equipped to compile the portfolio of evidence and any other paperwork associated with their application.
- Provide suitable and relevant training and development opportunities for representatives involved in RPL signposting, advice and assessment processes.
- Maintain the integrity of units, modules, and qualifications by ensuring all assessment decisions, including RPL, are consistent and meet the awarding organisation’s standards; this will be the responsibility of the RPL assessor.
- Ensure that advice and guidance is provided by a person other than the assessor in all RPL claims.
- Provide feedback to the learner, discuss outcomes, and offer support and guidance on subsequent learning options if necessary.
- Ensure internal and external quality assurers confirm the process of RPL and the proposed award of credit.
- Ensure learners are aware iungo’s appeals and complaints procedures and those of the relevant awarding organisation.
Responsibilities
The Executive Chair will be responsible for:
- Ensuring that the Policy is reviewed at least
annually, and appropriate advice is given on content. - Approving the Policy and seeking reassurance from the
Chief Executive that it is being implemented correctly.
The Chief Executive will be responsible for:
- Developing effective governance arrangements and ensuring that relevant policies, procedures, and training are in place across the organisation.
- Reviewing this Policy and the attached procedures.
- Ensuring sufficient resources are in place to conduct the duties outlined.
- Ensuring that employees, contractors, and volunteers understand and feel equipped to discharge their responsibilities under this policy.
Employees, contractors, and volunteers are responsible for:
- Behaving in a manner that upholds the principles of this Policy and associated procedures.
- Attending any relevant training courses.
- Making themselves aware of their relevant awarding body procedures or Higher Education Institution.
- Informing learners of this Policy and supporting them to access any advice and guidance they may require.
Review and Sign-off
This Policy is subject to 12-month review. The next review is due on 01 November 2024.
| Name: | Tom de Vall |
| Position: | Executive Chair |
| Signature: | T. de Vall |
| Date: | 01 November 2023 |
