Aligning Academics: Learner Mobility from a Canadian Perspective

1. Aligning Academics:Learner Mobility from a Canadian Perspective Dr. Griff Richards Thompson Rivers University- Open Learning CANADA Invited Talk, TransBorder Accreditation, Moscow, 30 March 2012

2. Knowledge Capital Which has the most value?

3. Knowledge capital $38.93 $150.14 $16.95 They all have value, but I can’t use them in Canada.

4. Canada has no federal education system. It has 13 regional education authorities. 60oN 49oN Kamloops, British Columbia

5. Mobility in Canada Is a fact of life. • Students often travel and change universities. • Canadians are free to move and work anywhere in Canada. • New Canadians arrive daily bringing skills from all parts of the world.

6. Student Mobility in BC22,000 changes each year www.aved.gov.bc.ca/student_transitions/documents/PSM-Newsletter-2011.pdf

7. Worker mobility When the fishing ended 20,000 people went west to Alberta to fish for oil. Percent of Oil Sands workers from Eastern Canada http://kcorreia.com/2011/fortmac-communities/

8. From Fishing to Oil Sands 4000 km by air 6500 km by road

9. Immigration of skills • Canada welcomes about 80,000 foreign students, 200 000 temporary workers and 250 000 immigrants each year http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/statistics/facts2011-preliminary/01.asp http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp

10. Transfer Systems in Canada • Within the province • e.g. BC Council of Admissions and Transfers (www.bccat.ca) (4,000 students in 2011) • Between provinces (in progress) • Pan-Canadian Consortium on Admissions and Transfers (www.pccat.ca) • International • International Credential Evaluation Services (www.bcit.ca/ices)

11. Academic Credit Transfer Initially block transfer for “laddering” of diplomas and degrees • 4 year universities “receive” students from 2 yr colleges • 2 year colleges “send” students to 4 year universities • Transfer weighs “academic credibility” of sender + “course outcomes”

12. From ladder to network • Today many colleges also offer degrees, and students from universities also transfer to colleges or take open courses. • “Senders” are also “receivers” in a network of academic nodes, each with capability to send or receive students. • General principles for fair assessment process. http://www.bccat.ca/system/principles/ • Each “node” still determines its local acceptance rules. (about 85% success!)

13. Private Career Trainers • Non-accredited private colleges (language schools, hairdressers, secretarial, health assistants…) have limited transfer options • Private Career Training Institutions Agency (www.pctia.bc.ca) regulates standards • 50,000 students per year!!!

14. The learning triangle Students Academic Reputation Instructors Courses

15. A question of equivalence 1. How reputable is the Academy? Public / Private? Accreditation? History? 2. What has been studied for credit? Content? Duration? Assessment? 3. Standing articulation agreements

16. 3 outcomes of education • Course content skills and knowledge • Social skills and professional network • Building confidence in new roles

17. Alternate credit methods • Challenge exams • Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition • Open Education Resource University The transfer system is slowly evolving to meet the evolving needs of learners.

18. What makes transfer work? • Shared philosophy – transfer is in the best interests of both students and institutions • Shared principles - transfer guidelines are the same for all members of the network • Local autonomy – each institution has the final say on its student requirements

19. Summary 1. Transfer gives students mobility 2. Receiving institutions win when they accept good students with skills & knowledge 3. Sending institutions win when their credits are widely accepted and ladder elsewhere 4. Students who study abroad bring home valuable skills 5. Transfer agreements take time to evolve

20. Questions?

21. Thank-you! http://newsroom.blog.mytru.ca/2011/05/05/coyote-artists-discusses-his-creation/ griff@sfu.ca