APL Guide for Access to HE Diplomas

APL Guide for Access to HE Diplomas

APL Guide

for

Access to HE Diplomas

2011-12

Section
Click on title to go to section / Pages
1 Introduction and context / 3
2. Accreditation of prior learning (APL) / 3
2.1 Definition / 3
2.2 Process / 3
Table 1 key forms / 4
2.3 Grading / 4
3. Accreditation of prior certificated learning(APCL) / 4
3.1 Achievement of specific units / 4
3.2 Credit exemption / 5
3.3 Credit transfer / 6
4. Accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL) / 7
5. Ensuring the validity of evidence for APL / 8
6. Access units where use of APL is not recommended / 8
7. Potential impact on funding for colleges / 8

1. Introduction and context

The accreditation of prior learning (APL) provides a means by which students who have already achieved some of the requirements for the award of the Access to HE Diploma, through some means other than study on an Access to HE programme, can be awarded the Access to HE Diploma without necessarily being required to undertake units for which equivalent achievement has already been demonstrated.

No more than 50 per cent of the credits required for the award of the Access to HE Diploma may be awarded through APL. The limit for individual programmes (which might be lower than 50 per cent in some instances) is set at the point of programme validation and is stipulated within the rules of combination.

The rules of combination for each Access Diploma will also identify any specific units for which APL is not permitted

Credit achieved via APL is NOT eligible for grading.

Within the Access to HE credit framework, the concepts of, and processes of operation for, APL are commonly defined (see below) and consistently applied within the rules of combination of Access to HE awards.

1. Accreditation of prior learning (APL)

2.1Definition

APL is the generic term to describe processes used to recognise learning achievement outside the rules of combination for the Access to HE qualification for the purposes of demonstrating learning equivalence which meets those requirements.

2.2The Process

LASER operates a system of APL based upon the mapping of prior learning against learning outcomes within units contained on Access Diploma rules of combination.

If all of the learning outcomes within a specific unit can be shown to be met via the prior learning (either via APCL[1] or APEL[2] –see below), then subject to any specific APL limits within the rules of combination pertaining to that Diploma and subject to the QAA set maximum of 50% of credit overall, the unit can be achieved. The achievement of units achieved via APL will be identified as such within a student’s credit transcript.

Each student making a claim for any APL must have the appropriate forms completed by the Access centre and the final claim must be noted and approved at the final awards board. These forms are, AQR5i ‘Credit Transfer and APL Claim Form” and AQR5ii ‘APL Evidence Form’. Both of these forms are described in the table below.

Document / Description
AQR5i Credit Exemption and APCL Claim Form” / Mandatory: this form must be completed for each student claiming credit exemption or APCL. It identifies which units within the Diploma are being claimed by APL and what evidence is available. It is signed by the Access Coordinator/tutor and the external moderator. A copy of this form must be sent with the RACs to the AVA to verify student achievement for certification.
AQR5ii Credit Transfer Claim Form” / Mandatory: this form must be completed for each student claiming credit transfer from existing LASER/QCF Units. It is signed by the Access Coordinator/tutor and the external moderator. A copy of this form must be sent with the RACs to the AVA to verify student achievement for certification.
AQR5iii ‘APL Evidence Form’ / Optional: this is an optional form into which the details of an individual unit can be cut and pasted enabling the learning outcomes/assessment criteria to be mapped to the APL evidence. It is desirable that a copy of this form should be retained in electronic form by the centre for at least 2 years.

Table 1: Key APL Forms – the above can be downloaded by clicking HERE[3]

2.3Grading

All Level Three units achieved via APL are not eligible to be graded and will be achieved at a pass level.

1. Accreditation of prior certificated learning (APCL)

APCL is the process through which previously assessed and certificated learning is recognised as equivalent in relation to meeting some of the requirements for the achievement of the Access to HE qualification.

3.1Achievement of specific units in the Access Diploma via APCL(Use LASER Form AQR5i –see Access Quality & Moderation web pages)

APCL can be used as the vehicle for the achievement of specific units or groups of units within an Access Diploma (see 2.2 above), or can be used to meet any additional requirements contained within the rules of

combination.

Example A: Rules of combination for an Access to HE Diploma (Teacher Training) state in additional requirements “achievement of a GCSE or equivalent in Mathematics at grade C or above). Student already has a prior GCSE Maths qualification at grade C. Student is not claiming credit towards the 60 required for the Access Diploma but uses it to meet the additional requirement for award of the Diploma.

Example B: A student has achieved a module from an ‘A’ Level in Critical Thinking in Philosophy. Scrutiny of the syllabus confirms that it meets all of the learning outcomes for an Access Unit entitled ‘Critical Thinking’ at Level 3. The relevant forms are completed and the Access Unit is achieved via APCL.

Mapping prior certificated learning for Example B above

In this example the student achieves the actual LASER Access Units on his/her unit/credit transcript but via APL and without grading.

3.2Credit Exemption

(Use LASER Form AQR5i –see Access Quality & Moderation web pages)

Credit exemption is where students are not required to achieve some of the credits which are necessary to achieve an Access Diploma. LASER will acknowledge this by issuing an APL unit which identifies the prior qualification being used to exempt the student from a specified volume of credits. This constitutes a form of credit exemption based upon an agreed AVA tariff for a previously achieved and certificated qualification.

Centres must check with the AVA re existing credit rating tariffs for specific qualifications before agreeing to this process for students[4]. Where a qualification is presented which is not formally covered by the current AVA credit rating tariff the centre, with the support of its Access external moderator must contact the LASER Access office to seek approval for any credit rating proposals.

Centres are advised that ‘credit rating’ of significant amounts of credit other than for GCSEs, is generally intended for use in exceptional circumstances where a student’s progression opportunities would be enhanced by counting prior qualifications towards the achievement of an Access Diploma This would usually be in cases where a student was unable to attend all of the timetabled Access sessions or had other commitments which effectively prevented him/her from achieving the qualification. It might be a particularly appropriate for part-time Access provision, where students enter the course with better developed Level 3 skills but who need preparation for HE to enable them change career or study direction.

Example A: A student has recently achieved a GCSE in English at grade C or above. The Access Diploma does not have LASER GCSE equivalent units embedded within its rules of combination. By agreement with the Access course team and supported by the external moderator, the student wishes to claim exemption from 12 credits at Level 2.

Example B: A student has an NVQ in Health & Social Care and is attending an Access course on a part-time basis so as to continue supporting herself via employment. The course team agree that one of the health care units’ learning outcomes are all met by the NVQ’s syllabus and agree to this 6 credit unit being exempted as a requirement for the student. A copy of the NVQ certificate is obtained and an AQR5i is completed. To further ensure the validity of the claim an AQR5ii is completed mapping the Access unit to the key NVQ units.

In these examples the students’ unit/credit transcripts will show a special APL unit to the value indicated in the examples with a suitable title see below.

Unit Title / Credits / Level / Achieved / Grade
Understanding Health Care (APL) / 6 / Three / APL / N/A

3.3Credit Transfer

(Use LASER Form AQR5ii –see Access Quality & Moderation web pages)

Credit Transfer relates to certificated credit that has been acquired at another institution, normally within another validated Access or Pre-Access programme.These credits must be accepted as relevant for the Access programme to which the learner wishes to transfer. This might occur if a learner has moved geographically during the course, or if there has been a deferment, such as a break for illness or other personal circumstances.

Credit transfer might be available for credit within subject-related pathways, i.e. specific credit, or generic credit achievement. Each Access course or pathway can have its separate regulations, depending on the requirements of the Centre, and of relevant HEI benchmarks.

It might also be relevant for ‘internal’ pathway transfer, such as where Access pathway qualification titles are not fixed until the end of the course and a learner switches from one pathway to another, to gain a final certificate with a named pathway.

Credit transfer means that that this credit does not have to be acquired again by assessment within the Access course, and might result in the learner not having to attend relevant teaching sessions.

Example:a student transfers to an Access course from another centre having already achieved 12 credits at Level Three in 2 units which are directly relevant to the course. The centre use the APCL process to map the 12 credits against 12 credits worth of learning within the Access Diploma and awards these units via APL.

1. Accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL)

(Use LASER Form AQR5i –see Access Quality & Moderation web pages)

APEL is the process by which non-certificated learning achieved in a range of learning contexts is recognised in relation to meeting the credit requirements of the rules of combination for the Access to HE qualification. In this process, credit is awarded by the AVA in recognition of learning achievement, for specific units within the Diploma for which equivalent achievement has already been demonstrated.

Centres offering APEL must have their own robust processes and procedures in place for verifying and approving claims against units within an Access Diploma. The Access external moderator must be kept closely involved with any such claims and must approve the final award of any APEL credit via the awards board and signing of the RAC.

Example:An Access Diploma contains a 6 credit unit at Level Three entitled ‘Understanding Issues in a Social Care Context’. An experienced care worker who has an NVQ Level Two in Care wishes to claim APEL. If the Access team agree to accept the application for APEL the following process could take place. Since the prior certificated learning is below Level Three, it is not sufficient to use an APCL approach. However when the NVQ2 is considered in combination with the experience of the student, backed up by references from a previous employer and an assessment made by the Access course tutor for Health Care, it is agreed and then subsequently endorsed by the Access external moderator, that this unit can be achieved via APEL.

1. Ensuring the validity of evidence for APL

It is the responsibility of the Access providing centre to take all reasonable steps to verify the validity of evidence presented by students in support of claims for APL. Where APCL is used staff from the centre must see, and take copies of, original certificates. Where APEL is applied it is important that staff in centres take active steps to verify the validity of such claims by taking up references, contacting former employers etc. The Access external moderator, acting on behalf of the AVA, will have the final say in approving APL claims. All such claims must be considered at the final Access Awards Board.

1. Access units where use of APL is not recommended

A Centre must identify any units which cannot be used for APL in its Diploma rules of combination. The AVA suggests that these should include the Independent Project, any mandatory Level 3 Units for completion of the Access certificate, and any in which the main method of assessment is under examination conditions. The Centre might wish, also, to preclude ‘study skills’ type units, which are usually very important to learners who have been of education for a considerable period of time and who will probably lack these skills which are essential fro HE study.

1. Potential impact on funding for colleges

Colleges should be aware that if APL is used with a student and if, as a part of that arrangement, a student is allowed to attend the course for less hours than would otherwise be required, then there will be implications for the funding income to the college for that student. Centres may wish to use APL for some students but still require full attendance at sessions which make up the guided learning hours of the course.

1

APL Guide for Access Diplomas v2

[1]APCL = Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning

[2]APEL = Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning

[3]Or copy this into your browser

[4]GCSEs achieved at grade C or above are recognised as being equivalent to 12 credits at Level 2 in LASER’s credit tariff.