Page 42 - Open and Distance Education In Asia : Good Practice From AAOU Members

22 OPEN AND DISTANCE EDUCATON IN ASIA
Good Practices from AAOU Members

university lies in its years of experience and In 2006, OUM became the first private
advancement in the development of self- university to implement open entry system
instruction learning modules. The Centre which is known today as Accreditation of
of Instructional Design and Technology Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). The APEL
(CIDT) also produces supportive learning system refers to a systematic process that
materials (technology-enhanced materials) involves the identification, documentation
in addition to the learning modules. The and assessment of prior experiential learning,
once printed modules are now hosted in a i.e. knowledge, skills and attitudes, to
Moodle-based learning platform known as determine the extent to which an individual
myINSPIRE. The platform is managed by the has achieved the desired learning outcomes
Centre for Learning Technology (CLT) who for access to a programme of study and/or
also host the online assessments. One reason for the award of credit (MQA, 2019). Today
for its recognition is due to the university’s OUM’s APEL Centre which function as APEL
investment in its part-time tutors/facilitators assessment centre manages three forms APEL
who are trained at OUM. Many are from mode: APEL A, APEL C, and APEL Q enabling
other higher education institutions. An open access, credit award, and award of
annual colloquium is usually organised academic qualifications respectively. In
enabling tutors/facilitators interact with each January 2022, number of APEL registrations
other and full-time academic staff, and be at OUM is close to 1000. Research have
informed of the recent developments in ODL. shown that the learners who have joined
The management of tutors/facilitators are the programmes through APEL A have
under the purview of the Centre for Teaching equal chances of succeeding as those who
and Learning Management (CTLM). have enrolment by meeting the programme
entry qualification (Cheng and Heng). OUM

Open University Malaysia (OUM)