GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING
THE LEARNING AGREEMENT
THE ROLE OF THE LEARNING AGREEMENT
Commonwealth University College places considerable importance on the Learning Agreement. This is a document initiated by the degree candidate stating how he or she intends to undertake the components of the degree course. At the Commonwealth University College , the emphasis is on learning. The candidate is guided to learn and acquire new and up-to-date knowledge in his or her field of specialization.
PURPOSE OF THE LEARNING AGREEMENT
It is a contract of what you will do before you graduate. It is a means to objective setting for your programme.
COMPONENTS OF THE LEARNING AGREEEMENT
• The Goals of the Commonwealth University College Degree Programmes.
Degree candidates enrolling in Commonwealth University College programmes participate in designing, with faculty assistance, a comprehensive programme of study encompassing a number of important components. All programme dimensions are intended to maximize each person's creativity and scholarship at the postgraduate level. Therefore, the Commonwealth University College programme requires:
• Motivating and guiding the candidate to study independently on his or her own to achieve his or her degree objective.
• Acquiring of a coherent and sophisticated body of knowledge achieved both through work in the programme and/or by building upon skills and knowledge attained in previous academic and experiential preparation.
• Thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the theory, practice, research methods and bibliography in the field(s) of study.
• Evidence of the ability to formulate research questions, develop hypotheses, assemble data and weigh evidence.
• Evidence of the ability to identify the social implications of academic aspects of programme and/or the theoretical implications of the practical aspects of the programmes.
• Evidence of the capacity for sustained and worthwhile intellectual endeavour, normally through production of a research project or creative work.
• Regular and frequent meetings with faculty counselors so that learners do not confuse independent learning with isolation.
• Time, from inception to completion, for careful reflection, absorption, and independent thought.
• Regular evaluation by informed response from faculty counselors both formally and informally.
• Evidence of personal development.
• A sophisticated understanding of the relationship between the generation of knowledge and the social cultural worlds.
• Recognition and understanding of the interaction between theory and practice.
• Candidates Expectations- (Please list your expectations)
• Candidate's Background- The candidate gives full information regarding his or her past educational achievements and working experience. Candidates are advised to state the responsibilities/functions of each career post held.
4. Setting of Your Life Goals • What are you doing now career wise?
• What do you expect to be doing in the near future? (In 3 to 5 years time?)
• What do you expect to be doing in the long-term? (In 6 to 10 years time?)
• What course units have you selected in the Commonwealth University College programme to account for your medium and long-term life goals?
• What community activities or services are you currently involved in?
• What community activities or services do you plan to incorporate in your life goals?
5. Critical Skills/Spheres of Knowledge
• What critical skills or spheres of knowledge do you think can contribute significantly to your achievement of career goals or life goals?
• How do you intend to acquire the skills and/or competence in the spheres of knowledge?
6. Courses Studied – The candidate lists the degree, diploma, and certificate courses attended in the past including dates. The subjects studied for each course are listed in detail. In-service courses and on-the-job training programmes should be listed separately. Details on subjects covered during such courses should also be listed.
7. Courses Selected for the Commonwealth University College Degree- The candidate will list courses, which he or she has selected for the degree programme in view.
8. Method of Acquiring Knowledge- The candidate will state how he or she intends to study each course to be offered for the degree programme. Most candidates study privately for their degree programmes. In such a case, you are expected to list the books you intend to use for each course. At least three books should be listed for each course unit. The more learning sources, the better. Information on author, title of the book, the publisher and year of publication for each book listed should be provided. Some candidates attend seminars and part-time courses offered by institutions in their locality. If this is the case, full details must be provided.
9 Research Topic- The candidate should state the topic for his intended dissertation. In exceptional cases, if this is not yet certain, a general statement regarding the area of research should be made.
10. Research Proposal- If the candidate has made up his or her mind on research the topic, he or she can proceed to provide a 3 to 5 page Research Proposal outlining the following.
• Topic of the dissertation
• Background information on the subject
• Statement of the Problem
• Objectives of the Research
• The Research Problem (What will be studied)
• The Research Methodology (How it will be studied)
• Rationale for the Research (i.e. its importance, who will benefit from the research, etc)
• Hypothesis (What will the research try to show or prove?)
• Expected Findings (i.e. what you expect may be the outcome)
11. Internship- The candidate is expected to spend some time (about one to three months) in a different work setting to have a first hand knowledge of how peers in other organisations are tackling similar problems. At the end of the internship, the candidate is expected to write a report on the operations he or she has experienced, making observations on areas where things are done correctly (areas of strength), what needs to be improved (areas of weakness), opportunities open to the enterprise, and threats that the enterprise may be facing. The candidate is expected to document his conclusions and then make recommendations. The enterprise where the internship is carried out is to be given a copy of the internship report. A director or manager of the organisation in which internship is carried out will sign the report.
At the stage of preparing the Learning Agreement, the candidate is expected to state the name and location of the organisation where he or she intends to do the internship, with a brief explanation on why that organisation is chosen.
12. Time Table of Degree Programme- Commonwealth University College degrees are self-paced. The candidate specifies when he or she expects to complete each segment. While preparing the Learning Agreement, candidates are expected to state when each segment or part of the programme will be completed. Segments may include:
• Preparation of the Learning Agreement including Research Proposal
• Examinations for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
• Acquisition of initial Learning Resources. This aspect will continue throughout and after completion of the course
• Taking Examinations
• Submission of Essays
• Research Design including Questionnaires
• Administration of Questionnaires
• Collation and Analysis of Research Results
• Writing the Project
• Oral Defence
13 Method of Communication with the University- The candidate should state the methods he or she would adopt in communicating with his or her academic mentors, the frequency of communication, Telephone numbers at home, work place and mobile should be provided, emails etc.
14 Tuition Payment Schedule- The candidate is expected to specify how the tuition will be paid and at specific times during the programme.
15 Approval and Signatures- When the University vets the Learning Agreement, the candidate and the Academic Adviser will sign it.
SUMMARY OF THE LEARNING AGREEMENT
This Learning Agreement (the Personal Learning Plan) has been written following discussion and/or communication with my Academic Adviser
It outlines what I have learned about the study programme I have embarked upon, that is, what I shall be learning, the learning processes and styles that I will employ and what I have learned about myself regarding my progress in life so far. This process has enabled me to set my present and future goals, as well as my targets to help me achieve the goals.
Personal Statement
1. Summary of my past Academic Achievements
2. Summary of my past personal achievements in my career and/or in the society up to the present
3. Special skills that I possess
4. Special qualities that I have
5. My Likes (the things I particularly like)
6. The things I particularly dislike
7. My strengths (Things that I do very well)
8. Areas where I need to improve about (The things I don't do very well and would like to improve).
Goals For My Personal Progress
The following are the things I want to change, improve and achieve in my life.
In my learning activities and habits, I want to change, improve and achieve the following:
1. In my personal life, right now, I want to change, improve and achieve the following:
2. In my personal family life, I want to change, improve and achieve the following:
3. In my career life, right now, I want to change, improve and achieve the following:
4. In my future life, I want to do and achieve the following:
5. In my community where I reside and/or where I come from (that is to say, my home town) I want to change, improve and achieve the following:
Targets For Progress
1. To help me to change, improve and achieve my personal learning activities and habits, I need to:
2. To help me progress and achieve in my current personal career life right now, I need to:
3. To help me change, improve and achieve my personal family goals, I need to:
4. To help me change, improve and achieve my present career goals, I need to:
5. To help me achieve my future life goals, I need to:
6. To help me achieve my community life or community involvement goals, I need to:
Learning and Information Sources
(e.g. books, journals, libraries, on-the-job sources, seminars, workshops and conferences, etc).
Payment of Tuition
Outline how and when you will be making payments during the programme.
Communication
State your physical contacts, office and home telephones, mobile telephones and email contacts.
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