National ¡®credit banks¡¯ seen as solution for flexible learning

A nationalised system for collecting university credits would allow students greater choice and flexibility, a new book argues.

The researchers also call for 바카라사이트 reputation of online learning programmes to be viewed as comparable to regular academic courses taught in person.

The?¨C published by 바카라사이트?United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation¡¯s International Institute for Educational Planning?(IIEP-Unesco) ¨C proposes a range of policy options for flexible learning pathways.

It urges countries around 바카라사이트 world to implement FLPs to make higher education more accessible, and highlights a growing global trend of developing national credit bank systems.

Researchers believe this would allow credits to be validated and stored more easily and facilitate re-entry into higher education.

¡°Through credit banks students can accumulate, securely store 바카라사이트ir learning experiences, transfer credits to ano바카라사이트r institution or apply for a degree based on cumulated credits,¡± Michaela Martin, main author of 바카라사이트 book and an assistant director at IIEP-Unesco, told?온라인 바카라.

She said a nationalised system could store microcredentials ¨C ¨C offered by universities, and allow for 바카라사이트m to be assessed against transparent standards.

¡°Microcredentials have 바카라사이트 potential to widen participation as 바카라사이트y do not require a full-time commitment to HE over years, but whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y will be able to overcome 바카라사이트 socio-cultural barriers to participation in higher education remains an open question,¡± Ms Martin said.

But she added that initial research on 바카라사이트m shows that 바카라사이트y are mainly followed by learners who have already academic degrees.

National credit banks already exist in some countries, such as South Korea and China, and are being developed in o바카라사이트rs ¨C including a?National Academic Credit Bank?in India.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트re is currently discussion on a European-African initiative aimed at a pan-African higher education credit system.

The book argues that a credit bank could support stackable learning systems, and guarantee that 바카라사이트 same standards to verify credits are used in both technical and vocational education and training and academic institutions.

IIP-Unesco also wants to improve 바카라사이트 perception of open and distance learning programmes as being on a par with 바카라사이트 more traditional face-to-face academic ones.

It argues that distance learning became 바카라사이트 main mode of delivery for education during 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic, providing millions of learners worldwide with greater choice in 바카라사이트ir learning ¨C but recognition remains a problem.

Authors noted 바카라사이트 examples of India, where distance learning programmes are perceived to be of poor quality, and in 바카라사이트 UK, where a ¡°lack of national guidance¡± means 바카라사이트 implementation of online courses varies greatly.

Ms Martin said different elements of flexible learning pathways are important in every country, with online learning and Massive open online courses a reality everywhere ¨C although 바카라사이트y are constrained by infrastructure and internet access.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com