Prior experiential learning (APEL): a way to short-cut the university studies in technical degrees?

This paper presents the activity carried out inside a work package (WP7) of the ISEKI_Food 3 Academic Network project (2008-2011) dedicated to the facilitation and promotion of life long learning in higher education. In fact, recognition of prior learning is an essential tool to foster lifelong learning within the European Higher Education Area. Professionals could be more attracted to go back higher education if their competences [were] adequately recognised as credits in the programs they want to study and complete. Within the aims of the cited work package, recognition or accreditation of learning performed in a non academic environment ('prior learning') by means of the network partners was investigated. Owing to the presentation of the aim and objective of the topic, [the authors] present the results of a questionnaire set-up to be filled on-line by ISEKI_Food partners, in order to collect information around the consideration of [whether] prior experiences and/or learning activity, certificated when possible, are recognised by [a] university to obtain [European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System] ECTS in order to facilitate the student's curriculum. Maximum of credits to be recognised, disciplines more frequently subjected to this procedure of recognition, type of agreement between university and other institutions (secondary schools, training agencies, etc.), prior experience/learning, are all items covered by the survey. Many of the partners participating in the survey and/or attending the meetings where the prior experiential learning was explained showed interest in reporting their own experience, [where] results are changing from country to country.

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