Policies
Attempts to improve the divide between VET and University sectors have focused on relationships between them and establishing recognition of the importance of prior learning or life experience, hence, the development and implementation of the Qualifications Pathways and the Qualifications Issuance policies by the AQF.
AQF Qualification Pathway Policy
The AQF developed the Qualifications Pathway Policy (see Appendix 1) with a view to support student’s aspirations for lifelong learning. Lifelong learning can be described as the pursuit for knowledge professionally or personally, it is voluntary, self-motivated and ongoing throughout a person’s life (infed.org).
The policy enhances opportunities for students to progress seamlessly between and through AQF qualifications, whilst recognising flexible pathways which students take in order to gain AQF qualifications. The policy aims to provide a way of crossing the divide between the various educational sectors, with a key component of this policy being recognition and maximising the amount of credit students can gain for previous experiences whether, formal, informal or non-formal.
AQF Qualifications Issuance Policy
…show more content…
The policy ensures that AQF certification is non fraudulent, consistent across all jurisdictions and provides peace of mind for students regarding legitimacy in their national qualification. The policy also enables recognition of attainment of units of competence or study and contributes to the ability of students to achieve lifelong learning goals and transference between educational sectors (AQF 2013). Lifelong learning and pathways bridging the educational divide assist in meeting the challenges faced by societies today (Beddie, 2014; Cornford, Athanasou and Pithers