EVALUATION REPORT
On
RPL IN SCOTLAND EVENT
The SCQF Partnership RPL in Scotland Event was held on Thursday 18 November 2010 at the
Apex European Hotel, Haymarket, Edinburgh.
The aims of the event were to bring together stakeholders interested in RPL from across many
sectors to participate in discussions on the future of RPL in Scotland and to launch the SCQF RPL
Toolkit.
Karen Adams, Chair of the SCQF RPL Network chaired the event and she introduced three
keynote presentations. The first keynote was from , Ruth Whittaker who set the scene for the
day’s event by delivering a comprehensive presentation on `Why RPL is Important’. Maggie
Anderson and, Allison Hall then, jointly presented on the experience of the BABE course at
Edinburgh Napier University. Finally Margaret Cameron and Julie Cavanagh launched the SCQF
RPL Toolkit.
After the main presentations delegates attended the workshop sessions which were:
 RPL in the Workplace (Facilitators, Alison Harold and Keith Quinn, Scottish Social
Services Council)

Using the RPL Toolkit – Case Study (Facilitators, Alice Morton and Graham Smith,
Strathclyde University)

RPL in Guidance & Education (Facilitators, Lynda Irvine Skills Development
Scotland and Lea McKay University of West of Scotland)

RPL in Europe: the development of a European Network (Facilitators, Ruth
Whittaker Glasgow Caledonian University and Anthony O’Reilly SCQF Partnership)

RPL in Community Learning (Facilitators, Edith MacQuarrie Learning Teaching
Scotland and Shirley Grieve Learning Link Scotland)
Following the workshops delegates attended a facilitated planning session where they were given
the opportunity to contribute their sector’s case for RPL. The aim of this session was to develop a
plan for introducing and taking forward RPL within each sector.
The information gained from these sessions will be used to develop a strategy/case for RPL in
their sector which will form part of the overarching strategy already developed by the SCQF
Partnership.
The event was attended by over 60 delegates from:
 Colleges and Universities
 Community Learning and Development Sector
 Voluntary Sector
 Employers and Consultants
 Sector Skills Councils
 The Guidance Sector
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16 completed evaluation forms were received and these are summarised in the following charts.
The key within the chart shows the questions that were asked.
Relevance of Workshops and Presentations
10
Information Received Prior to Event
and the Running of Event
or
Fa
ir
d
The inform ation and guidance received
before the event
The organistation and running of the event
The relevance of the main presentaions
The relevance of the workshops you attended
Choice and Quality of Workshop
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Po
Ex
ce
l
or
Po
ir
Fa
oo
d
G
ry
Ve
Ex
ce
lle
nt
G
oo
d
0
G
oo
2
d
4
G
oo
6
Ve
ry
8
le
nt
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Views of the Venue and Catering
10
8
6
4
2
or
Po
Fa
ir
d
G
oo
d
G
oo
Ve
ry
le
nt
Ex
ce
l
or
Po
Fa
ir
d
G
oo
d
G
oo
Ve
ry
Ex
ce
l
le
nt
0
The choice of w orkshops on offer
The conference venue
The quality of the w orkshops you attended
The conference catering
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The Facilitated Planning Session was welcomed and a summary of comments received included
 The sessions were well structured and opened space for reflection on practice and the use
of RPL
 Delivery was interesting and the groups gelled well
 The sessions were interesting and the group gelled well
 The sessions did clearly get the point and were effective
 The participants were widely willing to participate in the event
Further Support
Delegates suggested that further support could include the following:
 Training, workshops for organisations
 Examples of good practice, case studies that are sector specific.
 Raise awareness of RPL
 Create a process of recognition
Three Points
Delegates were asked to outline 3 points that they have taken away from the event in regards to
RPL:
 This event raised awareness around the difficulties around the use of RPL
 The different innovative ways of getting RPL
 The different sectors that can use RPL
 The effectiveness and multiple uses of RPL
 The different activity going on within individual sectors
 The need to raise awareness
 The need for a clearly articulated delivery strategy
Delegates were also asked to outline 3 points that they have taken away from the event in regards
to the SCQF in general.
 There needs to be a greater understanding of SCQF and related activities.
 The SCQF supports RPL and wants to work within all sectors
 The SCQF is dedicated and hardworking
 Identified SCQF as a potential source of support/development for future reference
Other Comments
Delegates were asked for other comments these included:
 A conference that was much more useful than the average
 It was an interesting day that really opened up a lot of food for thought
 Enjoyed sharing view with other partners and hearing development ideas
Overall
Overall delegates commented that this was a good event, well worth attending, informative and an
excellent way to communicate with a diverse range of stakeholders.
Lisa Thomson
December 2010
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