15 Feb 2011
Learning Base
Everything you needed to know about the Approved Learning Partners - content (ALP-c) programme, its benefits and how you as Learning Providers can get involved
ACCA's new Approved Learning Partners - content programme allows a broad range of providers of ACCA learning materials to be quality assured and approved by ACCA. The framework operates at two levels, Platinum and Gold, with BPP as the sole Platinum Approved Learning Partner - content from the June 2011 to the December 2013 exams. BPP's materials are subject to the most extensive quality assurance process by ACCA - a review by the ACCA examiners.
As of January 2011, ACCA has three Gold Approved Learning Partners - content whose materials are quality assured by ACCA. At present, Get Through Guides and Kaplan Publishing are confirmed as Gold Approved Learning Providers - content, as well as ATC International, whose materials are Gold approved for DipIFR only.
'These changes allow us to maintain the provision of ACCA quality-assured study content, while at the same time improving the breadth and depth of help on offer for our students,' says Alan Hatfield, ACCA director for learning. 'Importantly, these changes will allow us to enhance the availability of approved content in the incredibly varied markets in which we operate across the globe.'
Approval under the programme is only granted to those high-quality content providers whom ACCA is confident to recommend. The quality assurance process is designed to ensure that approved materials cover all syllabus areas in sufficient detail.
Content providers interested in becoming a Gold Approved Learning Partner - content, must either produce materials to support all papers in at least one of ACCA's qualifications (the ACCA Qualification, FIA or DipIFR) or produce study material in support of one or more of ACCA's tax and law variant papers. 'Content' covers resources such as study texts, exam and revision kits, and online materials.
As well as giving formal approval to high-quality content, the Approved Learning Partner - content programme also gives ACCA the opportunity to recommend and promote high-quality learning materials directly to students. To achieve this, ACCA has created the Content Provider Directory which lists all of the approved materials produced by ACCA's Approved Learning Partners - content as well as other materials produced by 'Subscribers' whose materials are not quality assured by ACCA but which may help support study towards ACCA qualifications. The directory also lists 'Additional Reading', which is not quality assured by ACCA but is suggested by the examiner as useful supplementary reading. The resulting list allows students, wherever in the world they may study, to make a fully-informed decision when considering which study materials to use and mirrors ACCA's approach to the approval and signposting of Approved Learning Partners - student tuition.
ACCA is now actively promoting the Content Provider Directory to students through articles in Student Accountant, and the inclusion of new material on the ACCA website which explains the scheme and how to access the Content Provider Directory.
Content providers who would like to know more about the benefits of Gold approval should visit the Learning Providers channel of the ACCA website or contact content@accaglobal.com. ACCA will get in touch with an application pack. You can also visit the ACCA website learn more about the Content Provider Directory and for more information on how to become a Subscriber.
What the Approved Learning Partners - content have to say:
Nicole Edgington, sales and marketing director, BPP Learning Media, Platinum Approved Learning Partner - content
'BPP Learning Media (BPP LM) has publishing study materials for ACCA for nearly 30 years. Being the only Platinum Approved Learning Partner - content means BPP's ACCA materials are the only ones on the market to be examiner reviewed - assuring they are the best for students and tuition providers.
'We were awarded Platinum status after a competitive tender process which scrutinised quality, innovation and global distribution. It means we offer a variety of study and revision resources to suit all learning styles, and are committed to ensuring our materials are easily available at locally-affordable prices. For example, our latest innovations - including eBooks and eLibrary - have been developed to increase the accessibility of our quality publications.'
Kim Smith, managing director, ATC International, Gold Approved Learning Partner - content (DipIFR)
'Gold Approval is like a "clean" audit report. The principle advantage is that Gold Approval (the auditor's opinion) provides candidates (users) with quality assurance that, after rigorous review (the audit), the content (financial statements) provides comprehensive, understandable, relevant and reliable information that is essential to their preparation for professional exams.'
Vandana Saxena Poria OBE, CEO Get Through Guides, Gold Approved Learning Partner - content
'As ACCA has performed an overall review, students can be sure that all learning outcomes have been covered and that they will be well prepared for the final exam. So, they can have a high level of confidence that the material will help them pass the exam.'
Michael Smith, head of Kaplan Publishing, Gold Approved Learning Partner - content
'Being a Gold Approved Learning Partner - content gives students peace of mind that Kaplan's materials are ACCA approved. This validates Kaplan's expertise in writing market-leading exam focused materials, by our expert tutors, in an easy-to-use format and combined with a wide range of free online resources available through Kaplan EN-gage.'