Aligning Academics:Learner Mobility from a Canadian Perspective

Dr. Griff RichardsThompson Rivers University-Open LearningCANADAInvited Talk, TransBorder Accreditation, Moscow, 30 March 2012

Knowledge Capital

Which has the most value?

Knowledge capital

They all have value, but I can’t use them in Canada.

$16.95

$38.93 $150.14

60oN

49oN

Kamloops, British Columbia

Canada has no federal education system. It has 13 regional education authorities.

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.

Student Mobility in BC22,000 changes each year

www.aved.gov.bc.ca/student_transitions/documents/PSM-Newsletter-2011.pdf

Worker mobility

Percent of Oil Sands workers from Eastern Canadahttp://kcorreia.com/2011/fortmac-communities/

When the fishingended 20,000people went westto Alberta to fish for oil.

From Fishing to Oil Sands

4000 kmby air

6500 kmby road

Immigration of skills

• Canada welcomes about 80,000 foreign students, 200 000 temporary workers and 250 000 immigrants each yearhttp://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/statistics/facts2011-preliminary/01.asp

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp

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)

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”

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!)

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!!!

The learning triangle

Students

CoursesInstructors

AcademicReputation

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

3 outcomes of education

• Course content skills and knowledge• Social skills and professional network• Building confidence in new roles

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.

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

Summary

1. Transfer gives students mobility2. Receiving institutions win when they accept

good students with skills & knowledge3. Sending institutions win when their credits

are widely accepted and ladder elsewhere4. Students who study abroad bring home

valuable skills5. Transfer agreements take time to evolve

Questions?

griff@sfu.ca

Thank-you!

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