Do you ever feel like the skills and knowledge you have gained throughout your life are of no use, as you don’t have a proof for it?
This happens with people who have been working in a particular field for years but doesn’t have a formal qualification to show for it. And this becomes a hindrance to their career progress.
Well, not anymore.
Recognising prior learning is a means to acknowledge the abilities and information you have acquired through education, training, and other unofficial learning experiences.
Through this recognition, thousands and thousands of people are achieving personal and professional development while enhancing their self-awareness and self-confidence, which is opening up new career opportunities for them.
Keep reading this article because we’re going to explore the importance of recognizing prior learning, different ways to recognize it, and tips for articulating and demonstrating your prior learning.
Why recognizing prior learning is important?
Many professionals feel like their knowledge is not fully utilized or recognized by their employers. They may have acquired some knowledge, experience, and skills out of college and formal education that is not recorded.
By recognizing their prior learning, they can demonstrate to their employer the skills and knowledge they have gained, which will help them advance in their current role or open new career opportunities.
Recognition of your prior learning gives you a sense of confidence that you are not inferior to others and that you have something to show to people. Not only that, but you also develop a better understanding of your strengths, weakness, and areas for improvement. This self-awareness helps you identify potential career paths and personal development goals.
So we can say recognizing prior learning can accelerate your career while developing you personally as well as professionally.
Different ways to recognize prior learning
After understanding the importance, you might be wondering — How can I recognize my prior learning?
There are a few ways to do it, such as Portfolio assessment, recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) assessment, and Credit Transfer.
Portfolio Assessment
In the portfolio assessment, you need to collect all your best projects or evidence of prior learning. This may include work samples, certificates, references, and other documentation that demonstrates your skills and knowledge.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Recognition of prior learning involves evaluating your skills and knowledge against the requirement of a specific qualification or industry standard. You can consult training providers, educational institutes, or professional RPL specialists for these assessments.
Credit Transfer
Credit transfer means transferring credits earned in one course to another course. This method helps you achieve a qualification more quickly by reckoning the skills and information you have already acquired.
Tips for articulating and demonstrating prior learning
Articulating and demonstrating prior learning can be difficult for some people, but you have to do it for your own benefit. Below given are some tips which will make this process a bit easier for you.
- Identify and note down your transferable skills. The skills that may be used in a variety of industries and work responsibilities are known as transferrable skills, such as communication abilities, storytelling, problem-solving, leadership, etc. Some people also refer to these as soft skills. By highlighting these skills, you can demonstrate the value of your prior learning to potential employers and training providers.
- Collect all the proofs of your work or education that show confirm your abilities. Put all these together in a portfolio to present in front of employers or your clients.
- While including skills and experiences in the portfolio to make it stronger, it’s also essential to highlight the relevance and application of your prior learning. By showing how your prior learning can be applied to your current or future career, you can present the value of your skills to your potential employers or clients.
Conclusion
Recognizing prior learning is a powerful method for people’s personal and professional development. You can acknowledge and leverage your previous experiences and skills to build self-confidence, which will facilitate career advancement and bring new opportunities.
There are various ways to recognize prior learning, including portfolio assessment, recognition of prior learning (RPL) assessments, and credit transfer process. Regardless of the method used, it’s important to articulate and demonstrate your prior learning effectively. By identifying your transferable skills, using concrete examples and evidence, and highlighting the relevance and application of your prior learning, you can demonstrate the value of your skills and knowledge to potential employers or clients.
