In Manitoba, PLAR is being successfully applied to benefit individuals and change how organizations serve a variety of learners. This section features stories of individuals who have benefited from PLAR and overviews of how organizations are applying PLAR.
Tom Susan Tyler Erin John Nasir Eric
Brandon University Urban Circle University of Winnipeg
Brandon University
Consistent with its long history of leadership of providing quality education to traditional and non-traditional students, Brandon University (BU) has taken a keen interest in the implementation of PLAR. Starting in 1999, BU has undertaken a number of initiatives to increase awareness and acceptance of PLAR principles and procedures.
PLAR guidelines, policy and procedures are in place and PLAR Student Handbook has been published. Students interested in having their prior learning assessed can contact designated PLAR staff.
Key activities have included:
- A strong endorsement of PLAR practice within the School of Health Studies. The Bachelor of Science in Psychiatric Nursing and the Bachelor of Arts in First Nations and Aboriginal Counselling (FNAC) programs have taken great strides to enable their students to present applicable prior learning for assessment. An estimated 30 of students have already been granted PLA credit. FNAC staff are also exploring new opportunities to extend their PLAR work to staff of Aboriginal agencies in Manitoba.
- Responses to an increasing number of requests for PLAR by the Departments in the Faculties of Arts, Science, and Education. For example, the Master of Rural Development program has adapted its admissions policy so prospective students can present prior learning for consideration in lieu of meeting standard admissions criteria. The program has also implemented an exit requirement course that emphasizes learning outcomes expected of a graduate from the program.
- Endorsement of PLAR by the faculty involved in the proposed Bachelor of Arts (4-Year) Major in Creative Arts and the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual and Aboriginal Art Studies. Faculty members in the Visual Arts program have begun to redevelop specific courses in terms of learning outcomes.
- Advancement of PLAR in the Faculty of Science in the Applied Disaster and Emergency Studies (A-DES) program and the Math/Computer Science program in collaboration with the Department of Business Administration. From its inception, the A-DES has addressed the need for assessing informal learning and professional development achieved or acquired by emergency response personnel.
