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CIT Features in Two Chapters of 7th Vpl-Biennale Book “Making Policy Work”
11 November, 2020
CIT’s Deirdre Goggin and Dr Pio Fenton feature in the seventh volume of the VPL Biennale publication series “Making Policy Work”, documenting relevant experiences and good practices and policies presented at the 3rd VPL Biennale in Berlin in May 2019.
The Biennale is a colloquium for policymakers, researchers, users, practitioners and other stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of Validation of Prior Learning. Validation of Prior Learning gives visibility and value to all forms of learning and seeks to uncover and unlock latent talent in the workforce and society.
CIT was represented at the event by Deirdre Goggin, RPL and WBL Researcher with CIT Extended Campus and Dr Pio Fenton, Head of CIT’s Marketing and International Business Department.
The contributions from both Pio and Deirdre are outlined below:
Chapter 1.1 Deirdre Goggin reflects on the question ‘How can bridges be built between stakeholders from the worlds of business, volunteering and education in order for VPL results to have value? Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) has existed in Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) since 1999 as part of its central services to all learners for access, transfer and progression. The sustainability of RPL within CIT is a result of strategic decisions and the multifaceted approach has been adopted and embedded by CIT to ensure that validation is implemented, used and valued.
This paper outlines the policy, systems and processes CIT has adopted to meet the needs of all stakeholders including learners, staff, institution and industry. It focusses on the strategy and policy of the institution which has evolved and developed through dialogue and in the establishment of the CIT Extended Campus, a central unit which facilitates CITs relationships and engagements with stakeholders. This paper also outlines the challenges encountered and solutions which CIT enabled in response to their role in validation over the past twenty years.
Chapter 3.3 Dr Pio Fenton & Deirdre Goggin explain how a VPL-programme for pilots can be embedded in university-programming. The lifestyle and, indeed workstyle, of pilots has long proved an impediment to the attainment of third level qualifications while maintaining active and full participation in the workforce. Equally, the significant investment in pilot training has been poorly reflected in mechanisms of advanced entry to college and university programmes. This poses a quandary for those of us in Higher Education which requires quick resolution for this critical element of the airline industry.
Cork Institute of Technology has developed a programme which, by design, reflects the training foundations and career trajectories of qualified pilots in a more holistic way. Through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) the programme recognises the extensive learning involved in becoming a pilot at commercial level. The underpinning technical expertise, the competences developed and tested along the way, and the attendant awareness of the industry are critical pieces of learning comparable to that developed in many degrees. The RPL process accepts the value of this learning and through a rigorous and quality-assured means equates this to years 1 and 2 of a 4-year Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in International Business with Aviation Studies.
This is the fourth publication in this series that CIT have contributed to since 2014. The other publications ‘The Power of VPL’, ‘Linkages of VPL’ and ‘The Learner at the Centre’ are all available through https://vplbiennale.org/books/
The 3rd VPL Biennale culminated in the adoption of the Berlin Declaration on VPL
