Register for Canada’s premier RPL event this fall
CAPLA’s virtual 2022 professional development program provides a variety of different formats and topics, from a three hour hands-on workshop and new perspectives about skills recognition, to a consultation on qualifications for Canadian practitioners in the RPL community of practice.
As in other years, you can register for one session or all three. And since all our sessions are on Zoom, video recordings can be sent to you if one of the dates becomes problematic.
Registration is now open!
Session 1
The Future Skills Centre and RPL: a nexus linking current skills with the needs of tomorrow
Tuesday, October 18, 2022 | 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm (Eastern)
Since its inception in 2019, the Future Skills Centre (FSC) has been engaged in innovation and applied research by “…contributing to a broader skills development ecosystem” (pg.4, FSC Strategic Plan).
The Centre has a focus on the present and future needs of the labour force, while at the same time, addressing and supporting programs for populations who are marginalized and underserved. It currently works with more than 200 research and innovative projects across Canada, building knowledge and evidence about what works for skills development.
Join CAPLA this fall to find out where the recognition of prior learning (RPL) fits into FSC’s vision, mission and work.
Tricia Williams, Director of Research, Evaluation and Knowledge Mobilization at FSC has had a front row seat in listening, facilitating and influencing conversations across the skills ecosystem in Canada. In this session she will share ‘what she has heard’ about ‘skills recognition’ at FSC events and discussions, as well as reflect on the current challenges of how ‘skills recognition’ (PLAR/RPL) in Canada fits into the present and future work and mandate of FSC. In addition, Tricia will bring forward information as it relates to
- FSC-funded projects which directly or indirectly incorporate PLAR/RPL (advising and assessing underserved adults and new Canadians with prior learning) into their activities and outcomes (e.g. Materials Management at Mohawk College (ON); Information Technology at New Brunswick Community College (NB, MB); Micro-credentials at Humber College (ON); Career development programs for disadvantaged populations (Canadian Career Development Foundation – NS) Link here
- FSC’s evolving communities of practice
- Ideas about how the CAPLA community can contribute to the work of the FSC
- Consideration of how quality assurance strategies can be linked to skills recognition and assessment processes currently, and in the future
Following the Tricia’s comments in the first hour, the second hour of the session will be dedicated to participants sharing their ideas and asking questions.
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About the speakers
Tricia Willams
Director of Research, Evaluation and Knowledge Mobilization, Future Skills Centre (FSC)
Tricia Williams brings a strong background across anthropology, sociology and economics disciplines to her role as Future Skills Centre’s Director of Research, Evaluation and Knowledge Mobilization. She has particular expertise in the future of work including digital economies, skills development, migration and gender.
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Alexander Stephens
Senior Advisor, Research and Evaluation, Future Skills Centre (FSC)
Since 2001, Alex has been working on various initiatives related to education, skills and labour market development issues. He began his career as a researcher with the Canadian Labour and Business Centre where he contributed to many projects dealing with skills shortages in Canada.
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Session 2
Exploring the Possibilities of RPL Certificates/Certification in Canada
Tuesday, November 1, 2022 | 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm (Eastern)
Background
The pandemic has shone a light on the need to more consistently and fairly assess and recognize the current learning of all Canadians in transition, as an integral component of lifelong learning and in preparation for the future needs of the labour force. It is a respectful and necessary step towards an inclusive, progressive society.
In recent years, some organizations have placed their PLAR/RPL activity under the umbrella term learning pathways. On the institutional level, the term can describe an organization’s efforts to create links between certificates, diplomas, degrees and continuing education, internally and externally, or to manage the learning needs of non-traditional adult learners who may not be recent high school graduates. For individuals, the term can describe how to manoeuvre into, around and out of an education and training program. Invariably it involves the recognition of learning from all sources and usually takes into account formal, non-formal and informal learning achievements.
Likewise the term skills recognition can also imply knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA) acquired through formal education, employment, volunteer work and life experiences.
The purpose of this session is to investigate the interest in Canada for a credential/voluntary certification for those who work in the broad field of PLAR/RPL, where the adult learner has acquired competencies (KSA) in a range of settings.
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About the speakers
Shari Furniss, Director of Academic Quality and Learner Pathways, Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Shari is an educator and quality improvement champion. In her Saskatchewan Polytechnic role as Director, Quality Assurance and Learner Pathways, she supports her team in bringing exceptional learning experiences to a diverse community of learners. As part of this portfolio, she collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to create and promote learner-focused pathways through transfer credit and prior learning assessment.
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Lauren Waples, Manager Academic Quality & RPL Centre for Learning and Program Excellence, Red Red River College Polytechnic
Lauren Waples was elected to the CAPLA Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting in November 2019.
She is the Manager Academic Quality & RPL at Red River College where she manages the College’s RPL Services and provides guidance and RPL resource assistance to RRC faculty and staff.
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Rosie Reid, Former Loyalist College CYC Professor and PLAR Practitioner
Rosie has practiced PLAR in various settings since 2000 when she managed the Portfolio Development Centre in Belleville Ontario along with the Belleville PLAR team, Paul Zakos and Mark Gallupe. Rosie engaged with the team on PLAR projects with partners such as FNTI, Kingston Psychiatric Hospital/OPSEU, Athabasca University, Association of Ontario Land Surveyors, Lennox & Addington and Hastings County Social Services, T’ain Adkim in Chile, Nunavut Arctic College, and numerous community agencies.
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Teresa Francis, Director of Learning and Professional Practice, Nova Scotia Career Development Association (NSCDA)
Teresa began her career in a university Registrar’s office. Since then, she has worked in student and career development as a counsellor, academic advisor, manager, educator, facilitator and consultant. A specialist in the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), Teresa was a core staff member of the Prior Learning Centre, Halifax, and has delivered programs throughout Nova Scotia, across Canada, and in the Caribbean.
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Pat Campbell, former Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, Supply Chain Canada and session facilitator
Pat’s career experiences are a reflection of her passions for stakeholder engagement and partnership building. Pat Campbell joined Supply Chain Canada (formerly the Supply Chain Management Association) as Vice President, Strategic Initiatives in June 2018. Previously, Pat served as Executive Director at both the Canadian Supply Chain and Automotive Manufacturing Sector Councils. Pat has also worked with various provincial, federal and aboriginal government agencies on public/private project initiatives and in a number of labour and non-profit environments.
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Session 3
The RPL Continuum: A Primer
Tuesday, November 15, 2022 | 12:00 noon – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
Have you ever considered
- documenting your own skills and competencies
- hiring the right person with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA) for the job
- advising adult learners returning to an educational program
- helping underserved people uncover all their talents
- assisting those seeking certification from occupational bodies
Recognition of prior learning (RPL), competency-based assessment, portfolio development, skills Identification – What are they? How are they connected? How are they relevant to your workplace and clients?
There are many areas of similarity and overlap among those who work in the helping professions, especially those associated with assisting clients/candidates to accomplish their personal and professional goals. This three hour workshop is intended to clarify and support learning recognition activities in a variety of different disciplines to assist job seekers and adult learners.
This hands-on session seeks to de-mystify the recognition of prior learning, helping to make it concrete for participants by taking a broad view of RPL, from a developmental portfolio perspective to high-stakes competency-based assessment. Through a series of exercises, participants will experience components of RPL and increase their understanding of the continuum of RPL practice. Participants will recognize how specific RPL methods align with the work they already do, to help clarify individual client needs and to facilitate the achievement of educational and employment goals.
Although particularly relevant to those in the career development field, this workshop will be of value to anyone who works with adult learners or is a learner themselves.
Learning Outcomes
Participants will:
- have a greater understanding of the relationship among a range of RPL approaches in terms of a continuum
- recognize commonalities and differences across the continuum, and how different approaches align with varying client needs and goals
- have an increased awareness of the role of the career practitioner in RPL with both clients and employers
About the speaker
Teresa Francis, Director of Learning and Professional Practice, Nova Scotia Career Development Association (NSCDA)
Teresa began her career in a university Registrar’s office. Since then, she has worked in student and career development as a counsellor, academic advisor, manager, educator, facilitator and consultant. A specialist in the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), Teresa was a core staff member of the Prior Learning Centre, Halifax, and has delivered programs throughout Nova Scotia, across Canada, and in the Caribbean.
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