Assessment of Prior Experiential Learning in Focus During International Study Visit

From 22 to 25 September 2026, staff at the University of Akureyri welcomed visitors from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Albania and Estonia for a four-day study visit focused on the Assessment of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).

The visit formed part of the international Erasmus+ project Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning Capacity-Building in the Western Balkans and marked the first activity of its third work package. Led by Tallinn University, this work package aims to establish and institutionalise APEL assessment units at partner universities in the Western Balkans. This will involve developing policies, procedures, assessment criteria and digital tools, alongside staff training.

Practical training a key element of the visit

The programme combined lectures, discussions and interactive workshops. During the workshops, participants explored APEL practices, legal frameworks, assessment procedures and quality assurance. They also gained practical experience by analysing mock candidate portfolios and practising assessment interviews through role-play, while planning the next steps of the project.

To enrich the programme with perspectives from Icelandic education and professional practice, the University invited several guest speakers to contribute. These included Aníta Jónsdóttir from Grenivíkurskóli and Rúna Vigdís Guðmarsdóttir from Rannís, as well as Georg Atli Hallsson, an education student at the University of Akureyri. Íris Hrönn Kristinsdóttir, a specialist at the Centre or School Development, and Dr. Ólafur Örn Bragason, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Police Science Research and in Police Studies at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Director of the Education and Career Development Centre, also contributed.

Valuable insights into Icelandic educational practice

University of Akureyri staff also played a key role in the study visit. Heiða Jónsdóttir, Office Manager at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Anna Karen Úlfarsdóttir, Project Manager at the Faculty of Education, led several sessions on APEL. Stéphanie Barillé, Research Project Manager at the Faculty of Social Sciences, coordinated the practical preparations and logistics. Markus Meckl, Dean and Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences, oversaw the visit, leading the development and delivery of the programme and ensuring that it aligned with the project’s objectives.

Their contributions gave participants valuable insights into Icelandic educational practice and different approaches to assessing and recognising prior learning and professional experience. The visit also provided a platform for international exchange, bringing together participants from the Western Balkans, Estonia and Iceland to share experiences, strengthen collaboration and discuss the implementation of APEL at their institutions.