About PLIRC (Prior Learning International Research Centre)
PLIRC to host first Open Learning Scholar
OL is pleased to announce that Dr. Judy Harris will become the first Open Learning Scholar. Dr. Harris has a well-established international reputation in the PLAR field, as co-editor of Re-theorising the Recognition of Prior Learning (NIACE, 2006), the most important theoretical book in the area in recent years. During her four months' residency, Dr. Harris will work with Dr. Christine Wihak, Director of PLAR, on development of an international research agenda for PLIRC and final editorial work on a forthcoming monograph Researching Prior Learning, a collection of papers from the international scholars on the PLIRC board. She will explore research possibilities focussed on the PLAR system at TRU - OL and offer seminars and presentations to interested TRU and TRU - OL faculty members and staff.
The goals of the Open Learning Scholar program are to bring research expertise to the TRU campus to support the reinvigoration of research and scholarly work into open, distance and online education at TRU-OL, and to further enhance the vibrancy and diversity of the research community at TRUOL and at TRU generally.
Dr. Christine Wihak, Director of PLAR at Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) through its Open Learning (OL) Division, has launched an initiative to develop a new Prior Learning International Research Centre (PLIRC). The vision for the Centre, which is helmed by Dr. Christine Wihak, Director of Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) at TRU-OL, is to stimulate innovative and provocative research concerning prior learning and the theory, policy and practice of its assessment and/or recognition and/or validation. "PLAR lies at the intersection of research on workplace, learning and society," Dr. Wihak said, in recognition of the importance of the new centre.
PLIRC will provide an international forum for networking amongst scholars of PLAR and will actively promote dissemination of research findings to practitioners and policy makers alike.
“Prior learning assessment and recognition is an important component of Open Learning at TRU,” Judith Murray, Vice-President, TRU OL, said. “We believe in and support the creation and advancement of knowledge in this field, along with the development of best practices and international standards.”
PLIRC will be a vitual centre, residing in the BC Centre for Open Learning located on TRU's Kamloops campus. Once formal TRU approval for the new Centre is received; PLIRC will invite other international academic and applied researchers to participate.