Context:
University Grants Commission finalises guidelines for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in Higher Education to provide access, recognition, and career progression opportunities.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
- Aprocess that acknowledges and gives formal recognition to the skills, knowledge, and competencies individuals have acquired through informal, non-formal, and formal learning experiences.
- Purpose – Aims to bridge the gap between informal, non-formal, and formal education by assessing and recognizing previously acquired knowledge, skills, and abilities.
- Align with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Credit Framework (NCrF).
- Objectives –
- Create diverse and flexible pathways for individuals with various educational backgrounds and learning experiences to access higher education based on their demonstrated competencies.
- Promote a culture of continuous learning to equip individuals with updated skills and knowledge necessary to meet evolving career demands.
- Process of RPL –
- Application – Applicants submit their learning evidence, such as portfolios, work samples, certifications, or project reports, either physically or digitally.
- Assessment – Submissions are assessed against predefined learning outcomes by trained evaluators from academia, industry, and regulatory bodies.
- Credit Award – Once validated, credits are awarded and recorded in the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), a digital repository enabling learners to accumulate and use credits for formal qualifications.
- Through RPL, students can earn up to 30 percent of the required credits for a degree program.
University Grants Commission:
- A statutory organization under the Ministry of Education.
- Established in –1956, on the basis of recommendation of Dr S Radhakrishnan Commission
- Aim – To coordinate, determine, and maintain standards of teaching, examination, and research in university education.
- Also advises the Central and State Governments regarding the measures for the development of Higher Education.
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
‘Recognition of Prior Learning Scheme’ is sometimes mentioned in the news with reference to [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2017 Prelims]
(a) Certifying the skills acquired by construction workers through traditional channels
(b) Enrolling the persons in Universities for distance learning programmes
(c) Reserving some skilled jobs to rural and urban poor is some public sector undertakings
(d) Certifying the skills acquired by trainees under the National Skill Development programme
Answer: (a)