Recognition of prior learning (RPL) policy in Australian higher education: the dynamics of position-taking

The Bourdieuian concept of ‘position-taking’ is applied in this analysis of recognitionof prior learning (RPL) policy and practice in Australian higher education.Data from institutional documents and participant interviews indicate that,within RPL policy, the universities selectively employ prevaili...

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Main Authors: Pitman, Tim, Vidovich, L.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Routledge 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/18561
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author Pitman, Tim
Vidovich, L.
author_facet Pitman, Tim
Vidovich, L.
author_sort Pitman, Tim
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The Bourdieuian concept of ‘position-taking’ is applied in this analysis of recognitionof prior learning (RPL) policy and practice in Australian higher education.Data from institutional documents and participant interviews indicate that,within RPL policy, the universities selectively employ prevailing discourses of‘quality’ and ‘equity’ to reinforce or potentially improve their reputation andsymbolic power in the !eld of higher education. There is no common consensusabout either equity or quality across the sector, as each university interprets thetwo concepts for its own bene!t. The evidence suggests that, despite rhetoric ingovernment policy implying that both are equally important, quality is a farstronger discourse and policy imperative than equity in RPL policy and practice.Also, RPL policies and practices provide an insight into how the key policy prioritiesof equity and quality are addressed by universities, when applied to aspeci!c educational process or practice.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-185612017-09-13T16:03:16Z Recognition of prior learning (RPL) policy in Australian higher education: the dynamics of position-taking Pitman, Tim Vidovich, L. equity in education quality in education recognition of prior learning higher education policy The Bourdieuian concept of ‘position-taking’ is applied in this analysis of recognitionof prior learning (RPL) policy and practice in Australian higher education.Data from institutional documents and participant interviews indicate that,within RPL policy, the universities selectively employ prevailing discourses of‘quality’ and ‘equity’ to reinforce or potentially improve their reputation andsymbolic power in the !eld of higher education. There is no common consensusabout either equity or quality across the sector, as each university interprets thetwo concepts for its own bene!t. The evidence suggests that, despite rhetoric ingovernment policy implying that both are equally important, quality is a farstronger discourse and policy imperative than equity in RPL policy and practice.Also, RPL policies and practices provide an insight into how the key policy prioritiesof equity and quality are addressed by universities, when applied to aspeci!c educational process or practice. 2012 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/18561 10.1080/02680939.2011.652192 Routledge restricted
spellingShingle equity in education
quality in education
recognition of prior learning
higher education policy
Pitman, Tim
Vidovich, L.
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) policy in Australian higher education: the dynamics of position-taking
title Recognition of prior learning (RPL) policy in Australian higher education: the dynamics of position-taking
title_full Recognition of prior learning (RPL) policy in Australian higher education: the dynamics of position-taking
title_fullStr Recognition of prior learning (RPL) policy in Australian higher education: the dynamics of position-taking
title_full_unstemmed Recognition of prior learning (RPL) policy in Australian higher education: the dynamics of position-taking
title_short Recognition of prior learning (RPL) policy in Australian higher education: the dynamics of position-taking
title_sort recognition of prior learning (rpl) policy in australian higher education: the dynamics of position-taking
topic equity in education
quality in education
recognition of prior learning
higher education policy
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/18561