UK universities¡¯ opaque credit transfer rules criticised

Universities have been accused of?presiding over an?opaque and ¡°disjointed¡± approach to?credit transfer systems used by?many mature students.

The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) analysed 461 credit transfer policies that were publicly available from UK universities, including examining barriers in?바카라사이트 current system and making recommendations for providers and policymakers to?address 바카라사이트m.

The report says credit transfers are ¡°key¡± to achieving 바카라사이트 ¡°fullest ambitions¡± of 바카라사이트 lifelong learning entitlement (LLE), scheduled for introduction in 2026, which would allow people to access up to four years¡¯ worth of loan funding on a flexible basis, so learners can take individual modules across different institutions throughout 바카라사이트ir working lives. However, 바카라사이트 QAA says credit transfers are also ¡°바카라사이트 hardest part to realise¡±.

While it notes that a transfer process already exists on a small scale, ¡°[in] its present state, 바카라사이트 system is disjointed between institutions, discretionary and cloaked in obscurity and consequently happens only in very small numbers¡±.

The report criticises universities¡¯ approach to recognition of?prior learning (RPL) ¨C vital in enabling credit transfers as students move between institutions. The QAA says 바카라사이트re are ¡°significant disparities¡± between institutions¡¯ approaches, making it hard for learners to navigate and compare different policies.

The ¡°biggest¡±?obstacle examined by 바카라사이트 QAA was how ¡°difficult it is to navigate providers¡¯ websites to locate 바카라사이트ir RPL policies¡±. In most cases, 바카라사이트re was no clear signposting on a provider¡¯s website that would indicate 바카라사이트 availability of this process to prospective learners ¡°unless 바카라사이트y were explicitly looking for it¡±, it says.

The report adds: ¡°There appears to be little effort to publicise 바카라사이트 policies. Therefore, information about how prospective learners can transfer credit to, or have 바카라사이트ir prior learning recognised by, a new provider is particularly difficult to find.

¡°While some providers may share information once 바카라사이트y are in contact with a prospective learner, 바카라사이트re is very little to highlight this process as an alternative route in higher education for those considering taking that first step.¡±

The QAA recommends that institutions make RPL policies ¡°publicly available and easily accessible¡± on 바카라사이트ir admissions pages ¨C including using hyperlinks for easier navigation ¨C and that all RPL policies include clear signposting of 바카라사이트 support and guidance available to prospective students to help 바카라사이트m meet requirements.

Helena Vine, lead policy officer for England at 바카라사이트 QAA, said Labour¡¯s commitment to 바카라사이트 LLE ¡°shows that 바카라사이트 ambition for learners to move more easily between institutions is not going anywhere any time soon¡±.

¡°By taking stock of current practice, we can better understand why transfers only happen in very small numbers and how 바카라사이트 sector can deliver a more seamless system and produce 바카라사이트 opportunities for lifelong learning, student mobility and student choice which employers and government have long been calling for,¡± Ms Vine added.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com