A spring 2003 snapshot: the current status of prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR) in Canada's public postsecondary institutions: part one

In 1999, the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) released 'A report on public expectations of postsecondary education in Canada' (indexed at TD/TNC 78.434). The report identified accessibility, and mobility and portability as two of the key themes that would guide future research. Recognition of prior learning was considered the process that responds to learners, employers and the community, and to broader issues of social inclusion and accountability. In order to address the 'responsiveness' theme, CMEC commissioned a study on prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR) as the first part of a two-part PLAR project. This report documents the first part which involved the creation of an inventory of provincial/territorial policies, initiatives, and best practices. For the purposes of this study, PLAR was defined as 'all processes (advising, assessment, evaluation, transcription) associated with informal learning acquired by adults through employment, on-the-job training, volunteer work, independent study, military service, credit for workplace training and other life experiences, which are evaluated against the learning outcomes of a program or course through the use of a challenge test, demonstration, case study, or portfolio assessment'. The survey results and their analysis identify the key issues for PLAR, indicate areas for further investigation, and provide a benchmark for discussion on PLAR in Canada's public postsecondary institutions. Show less