Publish at May 13 2013 Updated June 19 2024
A large study by the Council for Adult & Experiential Learning(CAEL ) shows that students who have benefited from Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) services achieve higher graduation rates, have better retention rates and complete their studies more quickly.
The study involved 62,475 PLA students from 48 post-secondary institutions in the U.S. and Canada over a seven-year period (2001 to 2008). Their data were compared with those of students who had not benefited from the scheme.
Within 7 years, 56% of PLA students had graduated, compared with only 21% of non-PLA students. This graduation rate remains higher regardless of institution size, students' academic performance, age, gender or ethnic origin, or whether or not they received financial aid.
What's more, even if we exclude credits obtained by equivalence, PLA students still completed a greater number of institutional training credits than non-PLA students: an average of 53.7 credits for the former versus 43.8 for the latter.
The reasons for this discrepancy are unclear. Quite apart from the fact that, in practice, students who have their credentials recognized obviously progress more quickly, we don't know what impact this has on their motivation and interest, or whether even the decision to have their credentials recognized is a selection criterion from the outset for the most motivated, committed and supported individuals.
Whatever the case, and in view of the results in terms of perseverance and the volume of courses taken, recognition of prior learning, for both distance and classroom courses (Athabaska and Phoenix universities are two distance institutions that took part in this study), is an option that all institutions would benefit from offering to their candidates.
References :
CAEL. "Fueling the Race to Postsecondary Success." The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning. March 2010.
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED524753.pdf
Rock, Geneviève. "U.S. Study Demonstrates Benefits of Recognition of Prior Learning and Competencies." UQAM | L'OBSERVATOIRE COMPETENCES-EMPLOIS. March 2013.
https://oce.uqam.ca/une-etude-americaine-demontre-les-benefices-de-la-reconnaissance-des-acquis-et-des-competences/
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