Professional curricula on-line: the RAPID and NURAPID progress file

This Chapter considers the logistics required when implementing an e-portfolio that aligns the multifarious requirements of universities, disciplines and accrediting professional institutions. To do this, the Chapter reviews the experiences of Built Environment and Nursing staff from University of Newcastle who piloted an innovative on-line tool for the nursing and construction management disciplines. In 2002, these disciplines adopted NURAPID (Newcastle University Recording Achievement for Professional and Individual Development) for first year students to use in both the Bachelor of Construction Management (BCM) and the Bachelor of Nursing (BN) programs. NURAPID had been developed from the existing RAPID (Recording Achievement for Professional and Individual Development) system, sourced from Loughborough University, United Kingdom (UK). The RAPID system was redesigned from the Loughborough version to align with the Australian and, more specifically, the Newcastle context. The following sections describe how this innovative e-portfolio from the UK was adapted in Australia, the rationale for the on-line tool and the challenges the implementers faced in progressing from its pilot stage to a full implementation of the system.