Opening RPL Pathways for Arts Grads!

CAWBL announces a new partnership with the University of King’s College, and together we are developing infrastructure to create a new, self-directed pathway for arts and liberal arts graduates to earn microcredentials in entry-level business communications through recognition of prior learning (RPL). Moreover, this opportunity is available for Arts or Liberal Arts graduates from any institution in Nova Scotia.

The Shift: Talent Exists — It’s Just Not Always Recognized 

Arts graduates develop strong communication, coordination, and leaderships skills. They take on responsibility, navigate complexity, and often grow into what we might call “accidental managers.” For this reason, employers consistently recognize arts graduates as flexible, creative, and adaptable contributors to today’s workforce.

But here’s the challenge: systems rarely capture, articulate, or formally recognize work-based learning that happens through contribution at work.

The Gap: When Learning Through Contribution Goes Unseen

Learning happens every day through work and lived experience — but systems rarely recognize this work-based learning.

• A structural failure renders contribution invisible 
  Real capability develops on the job, but remains hidden without systems to recognize it. 

• Evidence of learning is fragmented or lost 
  Learning happens every day through work and lived experience — but our systems rarely capture or recognize it.

• No clear pathway to convert contribution to credential  
  Without shared infrastructure, work-based learning is difficult to translate into recognizable skills and/or associated credentials. 

• Learning is not portable 
  What people know and can do doesn’t move with them across roles, sectors, or opportunities. 

This partnership will change that.

What We’re Building: Infrastructure That Makes Contribution Visible

As a result of this initiative, arts graduates will be able to:

• Identify and articulate learning gained through contribution at work 

• Translate contextual work experience into recognized skills 

• Earn microcredentials in business communications through RPL 

CAWBL supports this work through our emerging public digital infrastructure — including WBLNS™ and PathLedger™ — to capture, validate, and make work-based learning through contribution visible and portable.

Why It Matters

For individuals, this creates a strong alternative way to achieve upward, workforce mobility — one that recognizes what they already know and can do. 

For employers, it expands access to talent that is already capable but often overlooked. 

For the public it signals a system shift in skill recognition: from assuming skills, to validating them. 

Now Open: Fully Funded Opportunity

With support from the Province of Nova Scotia’s Microcredentials Innovation Fund, we are advancing this project.

A limited training levy is available to fully support eligible participants. 
Eligible applicants will receive automatic approval until the training levy is fully allocated.

Find out more about this specific project at The University of King’s College 

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Interested in learning more about this opportunity or how work-based learning and RPL can support your organization? Reach out to start a conversation!