Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) recognises competences acquired in any context whether formal, informal or non-formal and the accreditation of such competences opens up possibilities for further learning and employability.

I recently represented the Malta Qualifications Council (MQC) at a study visit on the APL held in Utrecht, The Netherlands, organised by the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) and hosted by the Centre for Innovation of Education and Training (CINOP), an independent Dutch expertise centre specialised in the development of curricula and the establishment of framework qualification structures.

The study visit focused on the combination of work and learning, which is a major theme in the Netherlands. Such a combination improves the competitiveness of a knowledge economy. The visit also dealt with co-operation between the labour market and education, and creating public-private partnerships.

APL offers a number of benefits such as workforce flexibility, job mobility (internal and external) and higher efficiency. The study visit incorporated a number of visits to various stakeholders involved in APL. These included knowledge centres, companies and employers and employees' organisations. Two such organisations were Philips Health Care and Zalco, one of the leading producers of primary aluminium in Europe.

Participants also toured ROC Zeeland, an institution for adult and vocational education which offers courses in nine educational areas including engineering, ICT, nautical and logistics, business, catering and leisure, health, social work, sport and adult education. It employs close to 1,000 employees including teachers and support staff and caters for 8,000 students, the vast majority of which are aged between 16 and 20.

The study visit also included a visit to the Ministry of Education Culture and Science during which a presentation on the Dutch education system, the framework and actors in the field of VET were given.

APL took off in the Netherlands in the early 1990s. By 2004, a first model for quality assurance was presented, and by 2006 national stakeholders signed the quality code for APL which is an agreement to promote APL and quality assurance. Stakeholders included the State Secretary of Education, Culture and Science, the Labour Foundation, the Public Employment Service, the Netherlands Association of Universities of Applied Sciences, the Dutch Association of VET centres, the Council for Agricultural Education Centres, the Open University and the Platform of Accredited Private Educational Institutions in the Netherlands (PAEPON).

So far there are 80 accredited APL organisations following the principles of the APL code in the Netherlands.

Eight other participants from Italy, Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Austria, Spain and Germany, also took part in the study visit and the participants exchanged views on good practices related to APL which were practised in their home countries.

Ms Attard is communications manager, Malta Qualifications Council.