Premium
The Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning in Higher Education: A Discourse on Rationales and Assumptions
Author(s) -
Lueddeke George
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
higher education quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.976
H-Index - 42
eISSN - 1468-2273
pISSN - 0951-5224
DOI - 10.1111/1468-2273.00040
Subject(s) - accreditation , higher education , experiential learning , institution , public relations , political science , sociology , economic growth , pedagogy , economics , social science , law
This paper explores some of the issues and benefits surrounding the process of accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL) as one key institutional ‘building block’ for meeting the needs of adults who wish access to UK higher education institutions (HEIs) course provision. Arguments are advanced whereby APEL could help to ‘unlock doors’ to HEIs for those (mostly part‐time students), who have traditionally been denied access or advanced standing to HE courses because of personal, socio‐economic or institutional constraints. The paper also provides a basis for APEL based on educational grounds. Reference to a three year study/project in a Canadian institution, where criteria were evolved that eventually led to the establishment of APEL policy and procedures along with the evolution of the necessary infrastructure, is also made. APEL is also presented as a human resource/career development process that can gather momentum, gain commitment and support from the private sector.