Adoption of Comprehensive Learning and Employment Record (CLER): A Literature Review

• Published in: Studies in Systems, Decision and Control
• Main Author: Khairuddin I.E.; Safian N.A.; Zaini M.K.; Uzir N.’A.
• Format: Book chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH 2024
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85182490350&doi=10.1007%2f978-3-031-42085-6_17&partnerID=40&md5=fba4ae5aab0f39d43f9b0bfc3b32606e

Access to learning and employment data is critical to meet the demands of the skills-based economy. A fragmented data ecosystem has created a gap in the supply and demand for skills. There are many ways to store data and document student education and experiences, from manual or old forms to new and more systematic ways. The Comprehensive Learning and Employment Record (CLER) is one of the best ways to keep records safely and systematically. CLER is a new generation of secure and verifiable learning records supporting all academic recognition and achievements, including courses, competencies, skills, and academic-based accomplishments and milestones [30]. However, the exploration of CLER is still limited. Hence, this paper focuses on CLER practices in several countries: the United States, Canada, and Australia. The United States developed CLERs to provide a more comprehensive picture of learners’ competencies and skills, including those gained through work experience and extracurricular activities (Lumina Foundation in Comprehensive learner record (CLR) exchange, 2021. https://www.luminafoundation.org/grants-and-strategy/comprehensive-learner-record-exchange [20]). Meanwhile, in Canada, Canadian institutions are exploring CLERs to create secure, verifiable records of learners’ achievements that can be easily shared with employers and other stakeholders, focusing on skills development and workforce readiness (Parchment in Comprehensive learner record: a shared vision for lifelong learning, n.d. https://www.parchment.com/blog/comprehensive-learner-record-a-shared-vision-for-lifelong-learning/ [27]). In contrast, CLERs are often part of broader micro-credentialing initiatives in Australia, which aim to provide learners with more targeted, flexible learning opportunities that can be customised to their specific needs and interests (RMIT University in Micro-credentials and comprehensive learner records, n.d. https://www.rmit.edu.au/study-with-us/credentials-overview/micro-credentials-and-clr [28]). The deployment of CLER in other nations has prompted interest in the potential advantages of this strategy, even though it has yet to be widely embraced in Malaysia. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.