Recognition and validation of prior learning – RAVPL (AHOT)
The student has a possibility to apply for recognition and validation of prior learning, irrespective of how, where and when the learning has taken place. When recognizing the learning, the student’s skills and knowledge are compared with the learning outcomes described in the curricula of VAMK (see VAMK’s online study guide). Recognition and validation of learning is possible only students who are studying for a degree and have enrolled present.
What and for who?
This is a process that enables you to receive formal recognition for skills and knowledge you already possess and that have not been previously assessed or awarded credit. As a result there is no need to study again the topic areas that you already know well.
- RVPL is possible only for attending Bachelor’s or Master’s degree students.
- RVPL can be applied to both obligatory and optional studies and practical training.
When?
An application can be summited at any time in the study process, but applying in an early phase is helpful in drawing up a personal study plan.
How?
The application should be filled on student desktop (PAKKI) through ERPL service.
Options
1) Credit Transfer
- The course that is transferred must correspond the contents of a course included in your study programme at VAMK. The student can transfer credits from studies that have been completed in a university, open university ora summer university abroad or in Finland. Studies in VAMK Open University are transferred directly, but credit transfer for studies completed in other universities has to be applied for.
- The transferred course can be completed before studying at VAMK (usually not more than ten years ago) or while studying at VAMK. As many free choice courses as are included in the current study progamme can be transferred at the most. Having served in the Finnish Defense Forces as an under officer makes it possible to apply for 3 credit units and having served as an officer allows you apply for to 5 credit units in the elective courses. The student can include in optional studies 6 cr for VAMOK board activities as of 2017, 3 cr for tutoring, 1 cr for responsible tutoring and 2 cr for international tutoring.
- Studies or thesis older than 10 years cannot usually be transferred.
- Credit transfers are marked as completed elsewhere into the study register.
- Credit Transfers Included in ISP: When marking credits in the register, the original evaluation scale and the name of the study attainment is used. This means that the grades or evaluation criteria from the previous courses are noted in the register.
- Credit Transfers Replacing Mandatory Courses: When marking credits in the register, the grading scale defined in the curriculum of the current program is used.
- If the student has not studied Swedish or English before, he will take same amount of other studies instead.
2) Demonstration of Skills and Knowledge
- It is possible to demonstrate skills that have been acquired elsewhere than in your current studies. The knowledge and skills can be acquired for example in working life, free time activities or in secondary education. The teacher of the topic area and the student agree on how the student will demonstrate the acquired skills and knowledge. There are different ways to demonstrate the acquired skills and knowledge including portfolios, written and spoken tasks, problem solving situations etc. The same scale of assessment is used as on the corresponding course. The student can attend the corresponding course if the grade given for the demonstration was not satisfactory. The demonstration can only be done once and the grade cannot be raised.
Credit transfer of studies completed in formal education
Higher education level studies that the student has completed elsewhere can be accepted as part of the student’s degree. Degrees taken at universities and summer universities, folk high schools, study centres or elsewhere, representing higher education entities, can replace studies, in case they as to the degree requirements correspond to the study entities, or their parts, included in the polytechnic degree. The replacing study means that studies completed elsewhere replace the compulsory study unit belonging to the student’s degree.
Also other higher education studies completed elsewhere can be accredited as free-choice studies. The amount of studies that can be transferred cannot exceed the amount of free-choice prescribed in the curriculum.
- Student shall carefully and completely fill in the application for Credit Transfer on student desktop (PAKKI)
- The study counsellor takes the decision on the credit transfer based on the written application and a proposal included.
- The credit transfers are entered into the study records. Status of the application can be seen on eRPL service on student desktop.
- The student can apply for rectification of the decision from the Board of Examiners within 14 days after having informed of the decision. The claim for rectification is submitted to the study affairs office which will forward it to the Board of Examiners.
Studies completed more than 10 years ago cannot as a rule be transferred. Theses are not transferable either because the purpose of the thesis is to develop and demonstrate the student’s readiness to apply his/her skills and knowledge in an expert job related to the professional studies.
Instructions for ERPL service
Campusonline studies
Credit transfer must be applied through eRPL service. Please select study services assistant as a handler to your application: Siru Suominen (Business) or Susan Sunqvist (Technology).
Attach transcript of records to your application, which includes the the following: name of study unit, credits, grade, accomplishment place and your own personal information. Alternatively you can share a link to your study attainments from My studyinfo portal. Include link to Studyinfo into Word-file and then attach the file into your application.
By default, choose Campusonline studies to be included in free-choice studies in your personal study plan (ISP) structure. If you want to replace a course in your ISP with Campusonline study, please apply for replacement from your School study counsellor.
Please notice that as a rule, student can include curriculum specific amount of optional studies into His/Her degree studies.
From Open UAS study role to degree studies
Studies completed at VAMK will be copied to your degree right, it is not necessary to apply for credit transfer
Replacement of individual course implementation on the basis of prior learning
Discuss with course teacher before applying replacement through eRPL service on student desktop.
Replacement of compulsory study unit in ISP
Study counsellor makes the decision on basis of application made through eRPL service
Studies completed in Student Exchange
- Choose: “New application”
- Add Place of performance type: Ulkomainen oppilaitos (foreign institution)
- Add Place of Performance. Choose “The place of performance cannot be found in the menu” and write the name of the host institution
- Upload transcript of records of studies completed in VAMK partner school into your application in Place of study performance
- Add every course /study completed in student exchange on eRPL service in “Add previously completed study”
- Choose “Inclusion”
- By default, choose studies to be included in your optional studies in your personal study plan (ISP) structure
- Choose specialist Hannele Välipakka from International services as a processor/handler to your application
- Don’t translate the course names in Finnish
- For grade: write HYV (accepted)
- International services will check the study attainments and credits on the basis of attachments, after which application is forwarded to study counsellor for processing
- Study counsellor handles the application
Transfer student
Discuss with study counsellor before making the credit transfer application
Exemption (language studies)
Discuss with study counsellor before submitting an application
- 6cr for VAMOK board activities
The student can include in free-choice studies
- 3 cr. for student tutoring work
- 2 cr. for responsible tutoring
- 1 cr. for international student tutoring in accordance with a separate decision.
Secondary education studies only give the eligibility to apply, credit transfer does not apply to them, since they are not higher education studies, unless they have been provided by the higher education institute.
In case a person that has completed Open polytechnic studies is granted admission to the degree programme education at a University of Applied Sciences, the studies completed at the Open polytechnic are accredited for according to the subject content in each degree programme. The credit transfer has to be applied for.
Recognition and validation of prior learning – RAVPL
Skills acquired elsewhere than in formal education can develop in context of informal learning (complementary training, short-term training at workplace, training provided by adult education institutes) or everyday learning (work experience, positions of trust, hobbies). The learnt skills and knowledge are in focus. The student has to demonstrate his/her skills so that they can be assessed. Besides written documents, also shown demonstrations can be required of the student. It is recommended that the student gives the demonstrations at an early stage if studies.
The student submits the RVPL application on student desktop and the account to the teacher in charge of the study unit. The teacher will define the demonstrations.
The student will give the required demonstrations within one month and will receive a grade. The grade will be determined according to the scale of grades and assessment criteria of the study unit. The demonstrations cannot be retaken.
