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In
fact, Universities do have one important model of portfolio assessment whereby
a person is able to be conferred with a qualification and attendant title
without enrolling and completing formal studies. Over the years when I have been told that Universities
don't have the capacity to assess portfolios, experience, or evidence-based
learning as a basis of an award, I point out the model of the Honorary
Doctorate.
The
Honorary Doctorate is an award conferred by Universities on candidates that
meet certain criteria. For example, the University of Southern Queensland
indicates that the "purpose of an honorary doctorate award is to:
·
acknowledge
distinguished and/or significant contribution to the University and
or/community
·
acknowledge
strong advocacy of, and contributions to, the ideals of the University
·
recognise
outstanding scholarship and/or professional practice in one or more disciplines
or professions.
Here are the policies of University of Sydney, University of South Australia, and the University of Victoria for the conferring of awards and other forms of recognition.The
University of Western Australia indicates that the "primary purpose for
conferring honorary degrees is to “give public recognition to individuals for
outstanding achievements, either at the State level or beyond, in any
recognised field of human endeavour, and that "reasons for awarding
honorary degrees would normally include:
·
making
a public statement about the values, positioning and importance of the
University;
·
enlarging
the University’s network of people of influence in the national and
international communities;
·
developing
support for the University in the community”.
The
process for assessing an HD is fairly standard across the sector. As an example,
at the University of New England, the process for awarding an HD is made up of
·
A
proposal that is “first discussed with the Vice-Chancellor”.
·
Validation
of the proposal by at least three Professors of the University.
·
Validation
of proposals made on the grounds of distinguished public service by three
full-time members of the Academic or General Staff of the University or a
member of the Council.
Taken
from an assessment of learning outcomes perspective, this model of assessment
bases the awarding of the Honorary Doctorate on evidence (for example, reputation evidenced in the public domain, validated through nomination and recommendation), certain criteria that is validated (by the VC and senior academic staff). Typically a
portfolio of evidence is not required in the formal sense. Dame Jane Goodall
and former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, for example, would not have been asked
to submit an ePortfolio to evidence their graduate capabilities
in order to be awarded their Honorary Doctorates. However, their life's work (the evidence) would have been packed together in a summative way, as they were considered for the award (the portfolio), then recommended and accepted (the validation).
This process is very recognisable as an RPL process, for example as described by Christine Wihak (2012) when she described portfolio-based assessment for RPL purposes. In principle it varies little from guidelines for portfolio assessment of UG students, such as those developed by UNSW - except that the evidence is developed by the recipient of the award outside formal higher degree research studies.
Universities
clearly have the policy frameworks, model of assessment of evidence, and validation
processes needed to confer a full award, albeit with the restrictions placed on
an Honorary Doctorate, at the elite level of the institution. In terms of
volume of learning, the assumption is made that the recipient of the award has earned
the equivalent of an undergraduate and higher degree research (PhD) qualification,
in order to receive the honorarium. In broad principle, the same head-space and willingness
to value evidence gained outside the institution can be applied to other levels
of qualifications. The issue here isn't whether or not Australian Universities have models of RPL, rather it is a lack of willingness to apply those models to the contexts of UG and PG course work studies.
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