PLIRC News
Research to Practice Conference -- Vancouver, March 25-27, 2013
Thanks to funding from SSHRC (Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council) PLIRC scholars will share their expertise with PLAR practitioners and policy-makers affiliated with the BC PLA Network (http://bcplan.ca/). Watch this space for details.
May 18, 2012
Prior Learning Assessment Inside Out, Issue 2 -- Call for Papers
See electronic flyer for details. (
PDF 334 KB)
May 18, 2012
PLIRC Book Published
Researching Prior Learning, a new book containing contributions from all PLIRC Board members, was published in June. Edited by Drs. Judy Harris, Migonne Brieir and Christine Wihak, this book is an authoritative, up-to-date overview of international research practice in RPL aimed at researchers, policy-makers, postgraduate students and practitioners in education and other professional fields, especially those concerned with access, widening participation and work-based learning. It provides a comprehensive account of current research in the UK, Canada, Sweden, Australia, South Africa, the USA and other EU and OECD countries. Scholars from each country or jurisdiction were invited to address key questions: Who is doing research? How are they doing it, and why? What questions are being asked?
Designed to consolidate international approaches and identify research gaps, possibilities and emerging questions to support the development of innovative research and scholarship into the theory and practice of RPL over the next decade, this book lays the groundwork for the development of RPL as a community of scholarship.
The book is available for purchase from NIACE.
August 26, 2011
PLIRC members at International Conference on Validation, Oslo, Norway, March 2012
Dr. Patrick Werquin and Dr. Christine Wihak made invited presentations to the International Conference on Validation. Dr. Per Anderson, a PLIRC affiliate member, also made an invited presentation that highlighted findings on Scandanavian research from his chapter in Researching the Recognition of Prior Learning. Hosted by Nordisk Nätverk for Vuxnas Lärande (NVL) in collaboration with Vox, the Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training (Udir) and the Education, Audivisual and Cultural Executive Agency (EACEA), the conference was attended by policy makers, practitioners and researchers from 26 countries. A chronological record of the Oslo conference can be found at http://storify.com/VOFOnorge/validation-conference-oslo-2012.
March 14, 2012
Inaugural issue of PLA Inside Out: An International Journal on Theory, Research and Practice in Prior Learning Assessment
"The first issue of PLA Inside Out: An International Journal on Theory, Research and Practice in Prior Learning Assessment has just been published at http://www.plaio.org/index.php/home.
Thanks for the continuing interest in our work. We look forward to your ongoing comments and contributions."
March 14, 2012
PLIRC Board Member Judy Harris at International Symposium in Glasgow
Dr. Judy Harris, Open Learning Scholar and Adjunct Professor at TRU, delivered a keynote presentation at the international symposium Learning through experience: Developing international and regional research agenda for RPL, hosted by the Centre for Research on Lifelong Learning at Glasgow Caledonian University. The symposium was hosted by PLIRC Board member, Ruth Whittaker.
Other PLIRC members participating in the symposium included Dr. Ros Cameron from Australia, Dr. Mignonne Brieir from South Africa, Dr. Christine Wihak (PLIRC Director), Ms. Joy Van Kleef from Canada and Ms. Helen Pokorny from the United Kingdom. For more information and slide presentations, visit the symposium website.
August 26, 2011
Watch Now: A Presentation by Dr. Patrick Werquin
On June 6, Dr. Patrick Werquin presented a talk entitled "Promoting Lifelong Learning: Recognition of Non-Formal and Informal Learning in the Context of National Qualification Systems." It provides an overview of the key issues involved in recognizing non-formal and informal learning, ranging from the legitimacy of the learning activities themselves (in terms of the outcomes to be recognized), to the cost of the necessary assessment and the essential elements such as quality assurance standards used, potential benefits and real obstacles.
The findings summarized here are based on a report that describes and analyzes practices from 22 countries surveyed in an OECD study (2009). More information about this study and Dr. Werquin's publications may be found on the OECD website.
This presentation was sponsored by TRU School of Business and Economics and TRU Prior Learning International Research Centre.
Download a PDF of Dr. Werquin's slides
May 26, 2011
Agreement signed with World’s Largest University
TRU Open Learning and The Open University of China have agreed to establish a joint centre at OUC in Beijing to collaborate on a broad range of academic activities including joint research and Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition training (PLAR). Read more at newsroom.blog.mytru.ca
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition: Emergence of a Canadian Community of Scholars.
Dr. Christine Wihak convened a workshop entitled Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition: Emergence of a Canadian Community of Scholars in Ottawa on Nov 6-7, 2010. The first event of its kind in Canada, the workshop brought scholars and graduate students from across Canada together to discuss their previous and on-going research in the field of PLAR. PLIRC is grateful to SSHRC (Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council) for providing funding for the event, which was held in association with the annual CAPLA (Canadian Association for Prior Learning Assessment) conference. Click the links to see the workshop program and presentations.
Workshop program
Workshop presentations:
Dr. David Livingstone
Dr. Judy Harris
Adina Gray
Dr. Angelina Wong
Dr. Shibao Guo
New PLA journal announced
Dr. Nan Travers - Co-editor of new PLA journal
PLIRC is delighted to have a representative (Dr. Christine Wihak) on the editorial board of PLA Inside-Out: A Journal of Research, Theory and Practice in Prior Learning Assessment. The new publication, the first peer-reviewed journal dedicated to PLAR, is an initative of Empire State College. Dr. Nan Travers, who serves on the PLIRC Board, will be co-editor, along with internationally known author Alan Mandell.
For further information please go to PLA Inside-Out details.
PLIRC Conference Presentations
In 2010, members of PLIRC's Board have shared information about our mission and research initiatives at conferences around the globe.
Patrick Werquin chaired the closing panel at the Observal Final Dissemination Conference in Brussels on October 13, while Joy Van Kleef was a panel member discussing global perspectives on the future of the field.
Roslyn Cameron made a presentation on PLIRC at the e-portolios Australia 2010 conference in Melbourne on Nov. 3. To see her presentation, click here
Judy Harris and Joy Van Kleef presented on the international research agenda emerging from PLIRC's forthcoming book at the CAPLA (Canadian Association for Prior Learning) Conference in Ottawa on November 8.
Judy Harris and Nancy Travers presented on Researching PLAR: Creating an International Research Agenda at the CAEL (Council for Adult and Experiential Learning) Conference in San Diego on November 11.