University of Technology, Jamaica 11 Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Twenty-three (23) PLA applicants were registered in undergraduate courses of study. Thirteen (13) graduate applicants were engaged in Graduate Portfolio Development Seminars while two workshops were held to train Graduate Programme Directors to assess Portfolios for Graduate Matriculation (PGM). A total of six (6) PD’s were trained. Another workshop is scheduled for April 2020. UTech, JA. Programme Directors participate in a Graduate Portfolio Assessment Workshop. The Unit continues to track the academic performance of PLA students through their respective courses of study. Office of Distance Learning During the reporting period, the Office of Distance Learning (ODL) continued its focus on the strategic approach for increasing flexible opportunities for learning in terms of the following priorities: a) expanding the development and delivery of online modules to the region; b) deployment of human and technical resources to support online-distance learning; c) implementing an integrated distance learner support service strategy; and d) establishing a quality assurance framework for distance learning to align with national standards and international best practices. These priority targets were pursued within the wider context of the institutional accreditation status granted to the University in February 2018. During the last month of the period, there was a rapid pivot to emergency remote teaching by the University, to cope with the emerging global health pandemic (COVID-19). This pivot was part of the urgent mitigation strategies to comply with the national directives for reduced movements, quarantines and physical distancing (no face-to-face classes), while completing the remaining three weeks of the second semester including final examinations, through technology-mediated delivery systems. Academic Collaboration & Online Course Development There was the facilitation of over 220 modules to approximately 6,000 students by 250 lecturers per Dr. Jeanette Bartley-Bryan Associate Vice President
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