A bachelor's degree in 12 months
This article was originally published in Getba (Greater East Tamaki Business Association Inc.) Magazine, Winter 2016.
To prepare for the next stage of her career as a Group Manager or Director, Karyn Beattie wanted a Master’s level qualification. But she needed a bachelor’s degree to enter post-graduate study.
Currently the General Manager of Health and Safety for Fonterra Brands, Farm Source and NZ AgBiz, Karyn already has a wealth of industry experience as a Safety Professional.
“I’ve worked for multi-national companies, and I’ve been on courses overseas where my colleagues have asked what my degree is in,” says Karyn. “As a credible Safety Professional, it’s important to be accepted on a global playing field, in terms of knowledge as well as experience.”
“A bachelor degree adds a certain amount of acceptance, especially when working with my Asian colleagues, because education is held in high esteem in their countries. It means that experiences are shared from a place of trust.”
Armed with a numerous industry qualifications, certificates, diplomas and extensive work experience, Karyn completed a Bachelor of Applied Management at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) in just two semesters of part-time study, through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process.
“I’d vaguely heard of RPL, but I didn’t realise how easy it was,” she says. “I thought it was more about cross-crediting papers rather than actual workplace experience. I thought it would be significantly harder to prove that I had met the course objectives.”
Karyn received personal coaching from Nuddy Pillay, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Business and IT, to knock two and a half years off her degree programme. “He said ‘you know this stuff, you’ve already done it.’ He coached me through the process,” she says.
Being able to select papers to fill gaps in her experience was an advantage, she says.
“I really rate MIT’s classes,” says Karyn. “I enjoy adult learning significantly more because the learning is applied and a lot easier to relate to the workplace and industry. The style is much better suited to adult learning than the traditional teaching.”
“I’m now doing a Master of Occupational Health and Safety, through the University of Newcastle in Australia.”
For others considering study to progress to the next stage of their career, Karyn’s advice is: “go and have a chat. Being coached through the RPL process can save you a significant amount of time; it was certainly worth my while!”
“I recommend seeking RPL to all those experienced professionals who want to move on to the next level or take their career overseas,” she says.
“Having your industry experience validated in academic terms can open more doors.”
Everyone who applies for the RPL process is assigned a mentor, like Nuddy, who will host a series of professional conversations to help you demonstrate the ability to meet course outcomes.
Nuddy says “Karyn had impressive overseas training, plus extensive and intensive experience, so we were able to reduce the amount of study time significantly.”
“It’s a very accessible process,” says Nuddy. “All someone wanting to study has to do is call us, and we’ll do a pre-assessment and assign a mentor to help them the application process and to fast-track their study.”
Evidence to fulfil the Recognition of Prior Learning applications could include portfolio work, a challenge test (where an applicant completes a previous year’s exam), work samples, testimonials from employers and colleagues, or professional conversations with the assessors.
The MIT Faculty of Business and Information Technology offers industry-recognised programmes that are designed to meet job-market needs. For more information, visit qualifyfaster.co.nz or call 0800 62 62 52 to make an appointment to speak with one of our RPL facilitators.
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