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Accreditation of Prior Learning

The University is committed to international education and there is a process in place designed to evaluate academic and professional qualifications, as well as practical experience possessed by applicants. Applicants who can demonstrate evidence of extensive and relevant work experience may be accepted to study at the most appropriate level.

The APEL-Procedure applied by the University allows students and adult learners of all ages with significant prior learning experiences gained either through incomplete or sub-degree studies as well as through informal routes, to earn advanced credit towards a Bachelor’s degree (up to a maximum of 160 ECTS) through the presentation and assessment of a documented portfolio of prior experiential learning. Upon assessment a University Certificate will be released.

Accreditation of Prior Learning
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) defines APL, APCL and APEL as follows:

APL
Accreditation of Prior Learning is a process for accessing and, as appropriate, recognising prior experiential learning or prior certificated learning for academic purposes. This recognition may give the learning a credit-value in a credit-based structure and allow it to be counted towards the completion of a programme of study and the award(s) or qualifications associated with it.

The term 'accreditation of prior learning' is used in these Guidelines to encapsulate the range of activity and approaches used formally to acknowledge and establish publicly that some reasonably substantial and significant element of learning has taken place. Such learning may have been recognised previously by an education provider; described as 'prior certificated learning' or it may have been achieved by reflecting upon experiences outside the formal education and training systems; described as 'prior experiential learning'.

APCL
Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning is a process, through which previously assessed and certificated learning is considered and, as appropriate, recognised for academic purposes.

APEL
Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning is a process through which learning achieved outside education or training systems is assessed and, as appropriate, recognised for academic purposes.

APEL-Procedure at ENU
The APL-Procedure in the Netherlands known under the term “EVC”, (erkennen van verworven competenties) has become a valuable tool in the Dutch education and labour market system. Applicants of European New University may apply for the APL-procedure and may receive a recognised evaluation document.




Advantages of the APEL-Procedure


Beyond the standard University student, APEL-Procedure address-es the needs of a variety of people:

  • Immigrants and Migrant workers in an educational system unknown to them may be highly qualified in their country of origin, but are unable to prove this where they are now.

  • Those in part-time employment, who generally suffer reduced training and development benefits, will be able to capitalise fully the APEL programme benefits.

  • The self-employed, who certainly cannot take the time off to undertake full residential studies, will be able to enrol in a programme which allows him to earn credit for what he/she has already covered as a matter of course in running their business.

  • The unemployed, for whom the flexibility of APEL plus part-time or distance learning means that he/she would still be able to pursue a career whilst working towards a university qualification.

 
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