Background
The Fifth International Forum on Prior Learning Assessment and Qualification Recognition is taking place in Winnipeg, Manitoba on October 19-22, 2003. This biennial event, entitled Recognizing Learning - Building Capacity in a Knowledge Economy has been sponsored by Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) since 1995. The Canadian Association for Prior Learning Assessment (CAPLA) will be acting as host of this year's conference.
A National Advisory Committee (NAC) comprised of representatives from all of Canada's provinces and territories, several national organizations, the international qualification community, business, labour, HRDC, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, equity-seeking groups and CAPLA's Board of Directors have provided invaluable advice throughout the planning and implementation stages of this important national event.
As a legacy to the 2003 Recognizing Learning Forum, the NAC supported the development of a web-based portfolio that would showcase Canada's many achievements in the area of prior learning assessment (PLA) and qualification recognition (QR). Canada's Portfolio will grow over time as projects and research continue to be undertaken. It will provide evidence of Canada's leadership in the field of practice. We are also hopeful that a future Learning Plan will be developed in Canada's Portfolio, after we reflect on our past achievements and consider new ideas for a preferred future through special sessions at the October conference.
When adults begin to construct their learning portfolios and reach back over the years to remember and articulate significant learning achievements, they have to spend considerable time and effort to uncover the things they have forgotten. With the development of Canada's Portfolio however, we collaborated with a very dedicated and knowledgeable group of Canadians who helped recall Canada's recognition and assessment achievements. A very special 'thank-you' goes out to Susan Simosko and her team for doing such a masterful job with limited time and resources. The Building Canada's Portfolio Working Group is as follows:
Susan Simosko - Consultant, Canada's Portfolio Project Coordinator
Barbara Haley - Administrative Assistant
Group Members:
Sandra Aarts - CAPLA's Online Community of Practice Coordinator
Corianne Bell - HRDC
Deb Blower - Red River College
Roberta Burke - Mohawk College
Francoise De Pauw - British Columbia Open University
Rae Gropper- Consultant
Kathleen Morrow - International Credential Assessment Service
Douglas Myers - Halifax PLA Centre
Paul Zakos - First Nations Technical Institute
Laurie Gillis, Alexia McGill -Agenda Managers (Recognizing Learning Conference
Logistics)
Bonnie Kennedy - Project Manager, Recognizing Learning Conference
Canada's Portfolio is very similar to other portfolio models that describe what someone knows and can do. However, for the purposes of this project, we are defining terms in the following way:
Portfolio - a collection of significant learning achievements that includes a chronological record, documentation to verify learning claims and plans for the future
PLAR - prior learning assessment and recognition - a process that involves the recognition and assessment of informal learning acquired through employment, volunteer work, military training, hobbies, reading and other significant life experiences. Credit review of workplace training and articulation agreements amongst institutions are other PLAR applications.
QR - qualification recognition (sometimes referred to as international or foreign credential recognition) - a process usually associated with internationally-trained individuals who require concrete recognition for their prior knowledge, skills and abilities from academic institutions or licensing bodies. Recognition of formal credentials may also refer to acceptance amongst institutions and other bodies of each other's credits, licenses, degrees and diplomas.
Canada's Portfolio is a work in progress and we invite you to contribute to it now and in the future! If you have undertaken a PLAR or QR project in Canada, go to the Add a Project or Initiative page and share your learning achievements with others.
Thank you for your interest,
Bonnie Kennedy
A/Executive Director
Canadian Association for Prior Learning Assessment