CAPLA presents the online RPL
Boot Camp
December 2 and December 7, 2021
CAPLA’s recognition of prior learning (RPL) Boot Camp is for the brave and resilient innovator who wants to improve the way we acknowledge learning in Canada!
Is your institution or organization
- committed to quality assurance and continuous improvement?
- working on updating your PLAR/RPL policies and procedures?
- authenticating immigrants’ skills and knowledge?
- assessing non-classroom learning for prospective students?
- supporting under-represented groups in your community?
- exploring alternative learner pathways for those wanting a credential or certification?
- helping business and industry assess and recognize workplace skills and competencies?
- getting ready to assess, recognize and deliver micro-credentials and needing some guidance on the RPL implications?
Then this Boot Camp is for You!
Boot Camp Highlights
Day 1: December 2 | 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm (EST)
- Welcome
- RPL Systems Overview – Judy Tavares, Manager, Student Transfer Services, Humber College
- RPL Systems Guest Presenter – Shari Furniss, Director of Academic Quality and Learner Pathways, Saskatchewan Polytechnic
- RPL Policies/Procedures – Maggie Hope-Simpson, RPL Coordinator, Department of Labour and Advanced Education, Nova Scotia
- RPL Policies and Procedures Guest Presenter – Tania Smethurst, Indigenous Portfolio Coordinator, Office Of Indigenous Education and Engagement, Vancouver Island University
- Q/A
Day 2: December 7 | 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm (EST)
- Welcome and Recap of Day 1
- RPL Tools – Teresa Francis, Director of Learning and Professional Practice, Nova Scotia Career Development Association
- RPL Advising Practices – Mark Gallupe, Retired Faculty, Loyalist College
- RPL Advising Practices Guest Presenter – Tanja Krajcinovic Matthews, Supervising Team Lead with Pre-employment and Bridging at ISANS (Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia)
- RPL Assessment – Dan McFaull, Competence Assurance and Assessment Specialist, Managing Partner at North Pacific Metric Inc.
- RPL Assessment Guest Presenter – Rosie Reid, Loyalist College CYC Professor and PLAR Practitioner
- Q/A
CAPLA will be using the Quality Assurance for the Recognition of Prior Learning in Canada Manual (2015) to inform the Boot Camp’s program activities and outcomes.
Session Leads
Judy Tavares
Manager, Student Transfer Services
Office of the Registrar
Humber College, Toronto, Ontario
Judy Tavares has been a member of CAPLA since 2015 and has served as a member of CAPLA’s Board of Directors since 2020. She is the Manager, Student Transfer Services in the Office of the Registrar at Humber College where she manages the daily operations for all new and current transfer students including recognition of prior learning (PLAR/RPL), transfer credit and diploma to degree pathways. Her focus is on creating a seamless transfer experience for Humber students as well as creating a culture that acknowledges and awards credit for previous academic and work/life experiences.
Judy has been very active in fostering a transfer culture at Humber. As the co-chair of Humber’s RPL Strategic Enrolment Management Committee, her focus has been to align Humber’s PLAR/RPL practices with the CAPLA guidelines in order to create a transparent, fair and equitable process for those seeking credit through PLAR. Judy is also a member of the Heads of Transfer Advisors Group (HOTA) in Ontario where she works closely with ONCAT, colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes partners to help support student mobility and advocate for change in the provincial PSE system.
Over the past 20 years, Judy has worked in various student-centered roles including Adult ESL instructor and CLB language assessor for the Peel District School Board and Recruitment Advisor, Admission Officer and Manager of Student Recruitment at Humber College. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from York University, a TESL Graduate Certificate from George Brown College and a Master of Education Degree in Postsecondary Studies from Memorial University.
Maggie Hope-Simpson
RPL Coordinator
Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education
Maggie Hope-Simpson has been a member of CAPLA since 2015, and has served as a member of CAPLA’s Board of Directors since 2018. She currently works with the RPL and Labour Mobility Unit of the Nova Scotia government as the province’s Coordinator of Recognition of Prior Learning. Her previous roles in the Nova Scotia government include leading program development initiatives for the Adult Education Division, as well as administration of French language adult and family literacy programs on behalf of Nova Scotia’s Acadian and francophone community.
With an educational background in agriculture (MSc (Agr) from McGill University), prior to joining government, Maggie worked for 20 years as an agricultural researcher and consultant, as well as providing composting and waste management consulting to municipalities and industry.
Since 2010, the RPL and Labour Mobility Unit has served as the provincial government lead on RPL and International Qualifications Recognition activities in Nova Scotia. Funded projects undertaken in partnership with immigrant serving agencies, non-profit organizations serving the African-Nova Scotian, Acadian/francophone, and Mi’kmaq communities, career development services, educational institutions, sector councils, employers, regulatory bodies and other stakeholders, have helped to build RPL capacity, address labour and skills shortages, and improve educational and employment outcomes.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the RPL and Labour Mobility Unit continues to work closely with its government and non-government partners to provide continuity of services and to support adaptation and innovation to ensure that programs continue to meet the needs of Nova Scotians during this time.
Teresa Francis
Director of Learning and Professional Practice,
Nova Scotia Career Development Association
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 has delivered programs throughout Nova Scotia, across Canada, and in the Caribbean.
Teresa brings a holistic, learner-centred approach to her work whether the focus is developmental portfolio or formal recognition processes and systems such as those for Continuing Care Assistants, Career Development Practitioners or applicants to University Graduate programs.
Currently the Director of Learning and Professional Practice with the Nova Scotia Career Development Association, Teresa facilitates the development of learning and recognition practices across the organization and within the career development field. She holds degrees in Family Studies, Education and Counselling and is a Registered Counselling Therapist in Nova Scotia.
Mark Gallupe
Mark is a retired community college professor. Prior to his retirement in June 2020 he worked at Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario. Mark taught in the Social Service Worker program and coordinated and taught in the Facilitator of Adult Learning program. He has worked closely for over thirty years with his long-time friends and colleagues Paul Zakos and Rose Marie Reid. Together they have engaged in many PLAR/RPL activities such as planning and delivering conferences, working on projects, developing training materials and so on.
Mark has presented at several CAPLA conferences over the years with a focus on advising and assessing. He continues to be involved in RPL as an assessor with Athabasca University and with Loyalist College.
Dan McFaull
Competence Assurance and Assessment Specialist,
Managing Partner
North Pacific Metrics Inc.
Experienced consultant developing competency-based occupational certification and licensing programs and standards – for large employers, industry regulators, educational / trades authorities, and licensing bodies.
Specializing in designing, developing and maintaining competence assessment tools (examinations, practical assessments, technical interviews and portfolio evaluations.
Successful projects completed in a variety of industries and sectors including mining & metals, early childhood education, property inspection, information technology, oil and gas, hospitality and tourism, residential construction, heavy equipment and crane operation, as well as shipbuilding and repair.
Strong systems design background with post-graduate degrees in both Vocational Education and Business Administration.
Guest Presenters
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.
Previously Shari worked at Saskatchewan Health Quality Council as Director, Collaborative Learning and Development. She worked with health system partners to design, develop, and implement provincial learning pathways. She is experienced in wide range of improvement methods and is passionate about supporting the people side of change. Prior to joining HQC, she worked as an instructional designer at University of Saskatchewan as part of the Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) initiative.
Shari has a Master of Education, a Bachelor of Arts (Communication Studies) and a Bachelor of Education. She also holds a Professional Certificate in Foresight from the University of Houston and completed the Comprehensive Instructor Workshop through Harvard’s Center for Medical Simluation. She lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan with her husband Dennis and their stubborn but adorable dog Wicket.
Tania Smethurst
Indigenous Portfolio Coordinator,
Office Of Indigenous Education and Engagement,
Vancouver Island University
Tania Smethurst is originally from Ontario, her ancestry is Scottish and Irish; and she has lived learned and played in both Kwakwaka’wakw and Coast Salish territories for all of her adult life.
Tania has a Master’s degree in Developmental Psychology, and is a proud alumnus of VIU’s psychology department. Her background is in the field of Aboriginal health promotion, and wilderness therapy. She is honoured to have the privilege to be the Indigenous Portfolio Coordinator for the office and work with students on their educational paths in life.
Tania has a partner and two young children who are always teaching her about the beauty of life. She is passionate about empowering people to feel inspired in their lives, and the lessons one can learn while spending time in nature.
Thank you to the Snuneymuxw peoples for allowing us to spend our days in your territories.
Tanja Krajcinovic Matthews
Supervising Team Lead with Pre-employment and Bridging at ISANS (Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia)
Tanja Matthews has been with ISANS for the past 15 years and has extensive experience working with job seekers and specifically those in regulated professions. Started with ISANS as a client – arrived to Canada as a GAR (Government Assisted Refugee) in 1996. Volunteered with ISANS as an interpreter and later on as a Social Work student placement. Tanja is married to a lovely Newfoundlander and has two daughters.
Rosie Reid
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.
Mark, Paul and Rosie developed the PLAR Practitioner training program that is used today, developed a Portfolio Development course and created a PLAR Centre at Loyalist College. In her role as CYC faculty at Loyalist College, Rosie trained all CYC faculty and leads the CYC Portfolio Program for Child & Youth Care students, which is threaded throughout the 3-year program.
She is a PLAR Practitioner at Loyalist College (and anywhere else she gets an opportunity). She partnered with John Howard Society (JHS) to deliver Portfolio/PLAR Practitioner training to Cross Over Youth (COY) Peer Mentors, initiated a PLAR Community of Practitioners group of service providers in Belleville and conducts portfolio assessments for Athabasca University.