The Reservist Re-Entry Program : an alternative approach prior learning assessment and advanced placement in academic and vocational programs for Canadian Soldiers

Wainwright, Kevin (Kevin Wainwright (Kevin_Wainwright)) (author)
Dhaliwal, Sonia (author)
(editor)
(translator)

© 2012 Kevin Wainwright and Sonia Dhaliwal

Prepared for the Atlantic Canada Economic Association Conference, October 19-20, 2012, Halifax Nova Scotia. Both the Canada and United States invest a great deal of resources in the training of their military personal. Many of the skills and experiences accumulated by soldiers are those that are highly valued by civilian employers. Further, these skills are often embodied in academic programs, suggesting soldiers would have a comparative advantage in such programs; however, despite the efforts of government agencies, many soldiers are unable to convert their skills and training into meaningful careers. This paper presents the findings from a pilot program at the BC institute of Technology 2009-2012. The program uses an alternative approach to assessing military training for advanced placement into post-secondary programs. By mapping learning outcomes rather than course equivalences, those from non-traditional education backgrounds are given advanced placement into post-secondary programs. During the pilot period, a cohort of reservists and veterans who have been given advanced placement are tracked and benchmarked against regular students in the same programs over time, measuring academic scores and testing for the development of skills, abilities, and qualities considered important for workplace success.

http://faculty.bcitbusiness.ca/kevinw/documents/ACEA2012_Paper-Wainwrigh...