Accreditation of Prior Learning
Accreditation of Prior Learning
Accreditation of Prior Learning
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<strong>Accreditation</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Prior</strong> <strong>Learning</strong><br />
Roisín Curran<br />
Staff Development
Terms<br />
• APL - <strong>Accreditation</strong> <strong>of</strong> prior learning<br />
• APCL - <strong>Accreditation</strong> <strong>of</strong> prior certificated<br />
learning<br />
• APEL - <strong>Accreditation</strong> <strong>of</strong> prior experiential<br />
learning<br />
• Advanced Standing - admission where<br />
applicants commence programme at an
Guiding Principles <strong>of</strong> APC/EL<br />
1. <strong>Learning</strong> should be recognised<br />
irrespective <strong>of</strong> the context<br />
2. It is achievement <strong>of</strong> learning not just<br />
the experience <strong>of</strong> the activities that<br />
should be accredited<br />
3. <strong>Learning</strong> must be evidenced<br />
4. Claims for APC/EL should be open to<br />
the same rigour…<br />
5. Decisions regarding APL are a matter<br />
<strong>of</strong> academic judgement
6. The entire APC/EL process should be<br />
transparent<br />
7. All staff associated with APL should be<br />
trained<br />
8. Policy and procedures for APL should<br />
be subject to regular review<br />
9. Limitations should be clearly defined.
Policy for APL<br />
• APL boards at the level <strong>of</strong> school or<br />
faculty<br />
• Due regard for core elements <strong>of</strong><br />
programme…<br />
• Programmes <strong>of</strong> 180 or more credit points<br />
– students must register for the final third<br />
<strong>of</strong> the credit value<br />
– Exemptions not permitted for these modules<br />
• Programmes <strong>of</strong> up to 120 credit points -
• Subject/course teams must make explicit any<br />
modules where an APL claim cannot be<br />
considered<br />
• APL Board should have due regard for<br />
authenticity, currency, validity, reliability and<br />
sufficiency <strong>of</strong> evidence provided<br />
• APEL Adviser(s)<br />
• Claims must be evidenced by certification or<br />
in writing<br />
• Exemptions shall be granted for whole
•APCL<br />
– For advanced standing<br />
– For exemptions<br />
•APEL<br />
– For admission<br />
– For advanced standing<br />
– For exemptions/part <strong>of</strong> a course
Recommendations for implementation<br />
• Faculties/schools should have a duly constituted APL Board<br />
• Appropriate arrangements for training and support <strong>of</strong> staff<br />
• Procedures to ensure equitable and consistent treatment <strong>of</strong><br />
claims<br />
• A process to record activity<br />
• Outcome <strong>of</strong> claims<br />
• Fees<br />
• Timely<br />
• Wording <strong>of</strong> programme regulation for admission to<br />
postgraduate courses should be changed…<br />
• Notification <strong>of</strong> APEL applications at faculty boards
Some examples<br />
• BSc (Hons) Community Development<br />
• BSc (Hons) Nursing
Resources<br />
• Academic Office – APL policy<br />
http://www.ulster.ac.uk/academic<strong>of</strong>fice/Policies.html#A<br />
• QAA – <strong>Accreditation</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Prior</strong> <strong>Learning</strong><br />
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/apl/default.asp<br />
• Staff Development – Database <strong>of</strong> Good<br />
Practice<br />
http://www.ulster.ac.uk/staffdev/database_<strong>of</strong>_good_practice.phtml
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