Purposes of RPL Road map for RPL development

62

7.2 Purposes of RPL

By recognizing previous learning experiences of adults, RPL seeks to extend participation in education and training to meet the needs of individuals, employers and a range of national economic, educational and social needs. Although it is theoretically possible for RPL to apply to young people under 16, in practice RPL primarily caters to adults who have been out of formal education for some time, have working experience paid or unpaid and are now seeking to have their learning from life and work experience recognized. In this way, RPL is closely connected with lifelong learning and the continued need for a skilled and adaptable workforce [Slowey and Schuetze 2012]. Adapting to a lifelong learning perspective suggests that: ‘a fresh element in the educational project is required. That is, one which is concerned primarily with the kinds of development that is required beyond initial educational provisions and needs to be supported in ways which are commensurate with individuals needs across working lives, the kind of lives they lead and the kind of learning that they need and the most optimal ways in which that learning can be supported’ [Halttunen et al. 2014]. RPL is not a solution to increase student enrolment, since many other options are much less expensive and easier to implement to achieve such purpose. In Indonesia, the potential benefits of RPL reflect those that emerged from an OECD [2010] review of RPL policies and practices in 16 member countries, including the following. Employability adaptability : RPL boosts employability and adaptability by improving the transparency of workers competencies and by helping employers to better match employees to tasks. In this way, RPL aids the recruitment and promotion processes. It serves as a vehicle for the promotion of work based learning WBL through the identification and targeting of necessary skills and competencies for employee learning and development whereby competencies indicate a satisfactory state of knowledge, skills and attitudes and the ability to apply them in appropriate situations. Upgrading qualifications of population: RPL supports strategic efforts to upgrade population skills for sustainable economic growth by connecting knowledge and skills with labor market requirements. Within a national qualifications framework, unemployed and low-skilled individuals are able to upskill at the most appropriate level while the time required to attain regulatory qualifications is reduced. RPL further supports a move towards compliance for undeclared workers as the skills they acquire through informal or undeclared work may be formalized. Equity and fairness: RPL presents a means to re-conceptualize ideas of social inclusion and equity as ‘individuals who have had limited access to, or low achievement in, formal education and training, or who learned skills predominantly in the workplace or other settings outside the formal system, are often disadvantaged in further learning and training, and in the labor market’ [UNESCO 2013:12]. Stimulus for innovation in education and training: RPL stimulates innovation in the education sector by calling for greater transparency and flexibility in learning provision. Traditionally, administrative systems have accommodated credit transfer in relation to subjects and modules rather than learning outcomes. To facilitate RPL, credit recognition and transfer, higher education and training providers are urged to make their provisions explicit in terms of learning outcomes and credit. Through the clarification of learning outcomes and credit, RPL is recognized as a means for educational institutions to more clearly address the mobility and flexibility needs of workers within the knowledge economy. Mobility flexibility: When linked to a well-developed and robust national qualifications framework as well as a defined system of learning credits, RPL enables opportunities for mobility and transfer between institutions and countries. By supporting flexible entry and exist points to education, RPL has been 63 shown to enhance the individuals learners motivation and self-esteem as they re-enter education or training frameworks.

7.3 Principles underlying RPL