Higher Education and Continuing Education. The “pedagogical model” developed by RUIAP - Italian University Network for Lifelong Learning for the integration between cMOOCs and post-graduate course credits

Abstract

This paper presents the experience of a cMOOC (planning, delivery, assessment) about “Competences
identification and validation of prior learning” organised by RUIAP- Italian University Network
for Lifelong Learning, in the academic year 2014-15. The MOOC is also an integral part of the
post graduation programme in “Expert in the support to competences identification and validation
of prior learning”. This course will be contemporarily activated in many Italian universities in the academic
year 2015-2016.
The RUIAP’s model fosters reflection on the need for the Italian Universities, to define, within their
“third mission”, strategies that emphasize lifelong learning as a the right of every person to obtain
academic recognition for their professional experiences and competences acquired in formal, nonformal
and informal learning contexts.
Secondly, the cMOOCs connects university degrees, post-graduate training and workplace professional
development, through a high quality educational and organizational approach. The MOOCs’
modules can be potentially integrated into post-graduate, vocational and training courses.