Validation of Prior Learning in Trinidad and Tobago
Dr Eduardo R. Ali
Regional and National Legislative and Policy Considerations
Legislative and policy frameworks supporting VPL in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago embrace both national and regional systems. At the national level, the T&T government has established legislation and policies for registration, accreditation and qualifications recognition at post-secondary and tertiary education and training levels which include regulation of PL within vocational and tertiary education provisions. A national vocational education and training system is also regulated by means of workforce assessment centres that validate PL of categories of workers in industries leading to the award of Caribbean Vocational Qualifications. These systems are further supported by a National Qualifications and Credit Framework with 10 level qualifications descriptors. At the regional level, a CARICOM Human Resource Development Strategy and a CARICOM Qualifications Framework collectively specify the requirements for design, development, validation and accreditation of qualifications, including VPL, with 10 levels of describing broad expected learning outcomes which impact national qualifications systems.
About Dr Eduardo R. Ali
CountryTrinidad and Tobago
Organisation
American University of Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
Dr Eduardo R. Ali has been an international education policy and development adviser and consultant for the past 10 years. A Trinidad and Tobago national, Dr Ali’s career has spanned the Caribbean, Canada, United States, United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates with near 30 years’ education sector experience focusing on secondary, international, vocational and higher education levels. For 16 years, Dr Ali has managed education and skills sector policy/strategy, institutional development and internationalization projects working in managerial, executive and consulting roles in public organisations, training agencies/centres, universities, churches, for-profit corporations, professional education networks and international organisations. These include national and transnational ODL policy reform, strategic initiatives and programme evaluations. Dr Ali led or supported key regional initiatives with Caribbean professional bodies in accreditation, qualifications frameworks, open and distance learning and tertiary education advancement, as chief executive with the Caribbean Agency for Higher Education Development, evaluators with Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network, manager at the University of the West Indies, and consultant with the IDB, World Bank, EU, UNESCO and Commonwealth of Learning. He is presently working as a director in a university in the United Arab Emirates facilitating institutional competitiveness, planning, policy, development and accreditation. Previously, he was Programme Manager-CARICOM Secretariat developing policies, plans, models and frameworks for education and skills among 20 Caribbean countries.
A Commonwealth and Fulbright Scholar, Dr Ali studied at the Universities of the West Indies, British Columbia, California-San Diego, Sheffield and Leicester and holds a Doctor of Education degree in Education Policy Studies focusing on globalization, regionalism and nationalism in higher education policy making and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership focusing on organizational excellence. He has published over 30 academic peer reviewed and professional papers in educational policy, change, quality assurance, development and leadership.