Established in 1632 3,500 employees (1,700 academic personnel) 9 faculties and 4 colleges

THE RPL AND VALIDATION SYSTEM. HOW DOES IT WORK IN ESTONIA?

Ülle KesliHead of Continuing Education Centre

Centre for LLLUniversity of Tartu

Established in 1632 3,500 employees (1,700 academic

personnel) 9 faculties and 4 colleges campuses in Tartu, Tallinn, Viljandi,

Pärnu, and Narva 18000 students (incl 670 international

students and 5000 adults in Open University studies)

More than 25000 learners in CE programmes per year

LLL developments at UTDuring last 15 years the LLL has developed remarkably 1996 the Open University was established (part-time studies,

continuing education, Science School for talented pupils) 1999 – first e-courses 2000 – Summer University for local people 2002 – International Summer University, UT e-university portal 2003 – Estonian e-University consortium, RPL regulations 2007 – Children University 2010 – Third-age university 2011 – Winter university

RPL history

2002 the University of Tartu started to elaborate RPL system 2003 the University Council approved first RPL regulations 2005-2008 ESF project LÜKKA with 15 partners 2008 RPL included into the

– Universities Act – Higher Education Standard

2008-2013 ESF programme PRIMUS – RPL portal http://vota.archimedes.ee/ collecting information for

applicants, counsellors and assessors

University strategic plan 2009-2015

The university offers research-based degree programmes, CE and retraining courses which meet the needs of society and beside other development activities it is important to develop support services intended for students and adult learners, including implementing more broadly the principles of accreditation of prior and experiential learning.

RegulationsNational level The Universities Act The Institutions of Professional Higher Education Act The Vocational Education Institutions Act The Standard of Higher Education The professions ActInstitutional level – with right to limit the opportunity to use RPL Educational institutions – study regulations or separate documents Professional bodies who award professional qualifications

Use of RPLIt is possible to use prior studies in educational institutions knowledge and skills acquired through CE or independent studies knowledge and skills acquired through professional or other experiencefor restarting interrupted studies meeting enrolment criteria changing programme (also within an educational institution) awarding a professional qualification planning a career

RPL processapplicant information

respective specialist

assessor

study information management system

adviser

determining the results

replyapplication

replyapplication

Validation Assessor (expert, assessment committee, professional

qualifications committee) Application with appendices (self-analysis) and evidences

(certificates, academic report, job description, character reference from employer, study portfolio, etc)

Interview Internship report Observation of practical work or simulation

RPL applications in 2010

applications Fully validated

Partly validated

Not validated

University of Tartu

1487(59961,6 ECP)

1371(52377,6 ECP)

103(6225,8 ECP)

13

Tallinn University

517(19454,5 ECP)

449(18287 ECP)

Futher developments RPL in Continuing Education – ESF project with 6 partners

– common principles with degree studies– can be used for fulfilment of existing CE programmes up to

100%– part of CE programme is possible to recognise if the

programme is built up in modules with study outcomes and each module and/or study outcome has fixed volume

– fee for application and assessment

Thank you!

ulle.kesli@ut.ee

Ülikooli 18, 50090 Tartu +372 727 6213