INSCAPE DESIGN COLLEGE

RPL and CAT Policy and Procedures R1.2

2008/07/01

Context

Where a person has acquired knowledge and skills in a part of one of its programmes, whether through formal learning or any other means, Inscape can conduct an assessment to determine the extent of that competency to exempt a person from having to repeat that learning.

DESIGN PROGRAMMES

RPL Policy

In terms of South African legislation, applicants wishing to enrol for an Inscape design programme require a Grade 12 / National Senior Certificate. In addition, Inscape requires art or design as a Grade 12 subject.

A person who has earned a Grade 12 / National Senior Certificate and who has not taken art or design as a Grade 12 subject, but who has a developed artistic talent and problem solving ability, may be admitted to the Design Foundation access programme and thus may subsequently enter a design degree programme of his or her choice.

Alternatively, a person with a Grade 12 / National Senior Certificate who can demonstrate that they have informally acquired a competence in knowledge and skills in aspects of the programme (eg self-taught), may undertake an RPL assessment to establish the extent of the competence insofar as it relates to the learning and the level in an Inscape design programme. They may thus be exempted from a part, up to a maximum of 50%, of the Inscape programme

CAT Policy

Where a person has earned credits in a design programme at a recognised institution and wants this learning recognised for entry into an Inscape programme, Inscape can apply the Credit Accumulation and Transfer procedures to grant exemption for a part, up to a maximum of 50%, of the programme.

RPL and CAT Procedures

Inscape conducts a comprehensive one-on-one interview with every qualifying applicant for a design programme.

The prospective student will make application for an interview and RPL or CAT assessment on the appropriate form. Documents to be attached to the application form will include: grade 12 / National Senior Certificate (or international equivalent), copy of ID document, a certified affidavit stating that the work is their own, and a transcript of academic results from the previous institution (if the student is making a CAT application)

The fee for the RPL or CAT assessment shall be 20% of the current year’s programme fees, pro rata to the number of subjects for which recognition is applied. The fee shall be paid into Inscape’s bank account in advance.

The applicant must prepare an itemised portfolio including work that corresponds with that in the Inscape programme. This may be done by comparing the applicant’s learning with the Inscape programme syllabus to determine which work would demonstrate the necessary learning.

Once the application form has been received and checked by Inscape, the applicant will be invited to an interview with the programme co-ordinator at which s/he will present their portfolio of work to of the relevant programme.

The applicant will present their work to the in a manner similar to that done by students on the programme. The programme co-ordinator will assess the submitted work against the assessment criteria of the briefs in the programme. The same competence shall be expected of the applicant as would be expected of a student on the programme.

Marks will be awarded by the programme co-ordinator to determine the extent to which the applicant meets the minimum requirements for satisfactory completion of each subject for the relevant year. (ie. to ‘pass’ the subject)

Extent of content: There must be an 85% correlation between the subject matter in the Inscape syllabus and the applicant’s body of learning.

Extent of competence: To pass a subject and earn the necessary academic credits, the applicant must obtain a score of 65% in that subject.

Legislation limits the college to awarding a maximum of 50% of possible academic credits for any programme.

If a successful applicant enrols in the programme, exemption from participation in any subject will depend on whether or not the subject matter is integrated in the applied design assignments of the programme.

Should a successful applicant enrol in the programme, the college will grant financial credits for the subjects to which academic credits were granted, in proportion to the weight of those subjects relative to that of the year’s learning. Those financial credits shall be offset against the fees of the programme. The student will then be liable for the balance of the fees for the programme in which they enrol.

After enrolment, the student will undergo an induction period conducted by the relevant Programme Co-ordinator to ensure smooth integration into the college and the programme. This induction will entail weekly meetings during the first term of attendance.

DRAUGHTING AND DECORATING PROGRAMMES

RPL Policy

A person wishing to enrol in an Inscape Architectural Draughting or Interior Decorating programme who has acquired, and can demonstrate a competence in knowledge and skills in aspects of the programme, may undertake an RPL or CAT assessment to establish the extent of the competence insofar as it relates to the learning and the level in that Inscape draughting or decorating programme. They may thus be exempted from part of the programme.

RPL and CAT Procedures

Each applicant must present a portfolio which should include items of work that correlate with work completed in the Inscape programme. This may be done by comparing the applicant’s programme syllabus with that of the Inscape programme to determine which work would demonstrate the necessary learning. Alternatively, if the applicant is self-taught, it may be done by identifying items of work that correlate with work undertaken in the Inscape programme.

The prospective student will make application for an RPL or CAT assessment on the appropriate form. The fee for the RPL or CAT assessment shall be 20% of the current year’s programme fees pro rata to the number of subjects for which exemption is applied. The fee shall be paid in advance.

Once the application form has been received and checked by Inscape, the applicant will be invited to an interview with the programme co-ordinator at which s/he will present their portfolio of work to of the relevant programme.

The applicant will submit their work to the in a manner similar to that done by students on the course. The programme co-ordinator will assess the supplied work against the assessment criteria of the briefs in the Inscape programme. The same competence shall be expected of the applicant as would be expected of a student on the programme.

Marks will be awarded by the programme co-ordinator to determine the extent to which the applicant meets the minimum requirements for satisfactory completion of each subject for the relevant year. (ie. to ‘pass’ the subject)

Extent of content: There must be an 85% correlation between the subject matter in the Inscape syllabus and the applicant’s body of learning.

Extent of competence: The applicant must obtain a score of 65% in each module for which credits are to be awarded.

The applicant shall be granted academic credits for each module so completed. Should a successful applicant enrol in the course, the college will grant financial credits for the modules to which academic credits were granted, in proportion to the weight of those modules relative to that of the course. Those financial credits shall be offset against the fees of the course. The student will then be liable for the balance of the fees for the course in which they enrol.

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proposed amendments in red

changes since previous release in italics