What is APEL.Q?

APEL.Q is Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) for Qualification (Q), through comprehensive assessment and evaluation of knowledge and skills acquired from formal, informal, non-formal, corporate training, and practical work experience. This process is widely implemented in Europe and has recently been recognized as an official national recognition procedure in Asian countries.

APEL.Q is regarded as a transparent, fair, accurate, and cost-effective process that offers flexible learning opportunities for workers, promotes liberal education and labor mobility, and supports lifelong learning.

While traditional programs award qualifications based on academic participation, APEL.Q process follows a reverse approach by assessing actual competencies in relation to job positions and converting them into credits that are mapped to the learning outcomes of qualifications. According to this assessment, professional organizations or universities independently conduct the End-Point Assessment and grant qualifications.

APEL.Q Process at Schweizer Institut für Hochschulbildung in Management und Innovation (MI Swiss)

At MI Swiss, the APEL.Q process is implemented through two specific steps:

1. Portfolios – A detailed record of work experience and career history.
2. End Point Assessment – A comprehensive competency evaluation.

Candidates who complete this process can graduate and receive a diploma, saving up to 85% of study time and 80% of costs compared to studying in Switzerland or Europe for a similar program.

Upon successful completion of the APEL.Q process, candidate will receive:

• Level 8 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice from the Ofqual UK.Gov Awarding Body OTHM (Gov Recognition No.603/6996/6)

Applied Competency Framework

The competency framework used for assessing candidates in the APEL.Q process is based on occupational standards, aligning the required job position competencies with the learning outcomes of the academic program.

MI Swiss – The World’s First Independent Institution to Implement APEL.Q

Schweizer Institut für Hochschulbildung in Management und Innovation (hereinafter referred to as MI Swiss) is an official international corporate institute member of the Swiss Information and Management Institute (hereinafter referred to as SIMI Swiss) and operates under the license and accreditation standards of SIMI Swiss.

MI Swiss takes pride in being the first independent institution worldwide to implement APEL.Q process while ensuring that the results are recognized by professional organizations or partner universities. With a transparent, fair, and precise process, the APEL.Q process at MI Swiss strictly adheres to occupational standards, making it an optimal solution for competency recognition. Instead of relying on traditional examinations, APEL.Q process directly assesses actual competencies, making qualification granting more effective and aligned with modern industry requirements.

1. Earn an Executive Bachelor of Business Administration qualification:

Upon successful completion of the process, learners will receive an accredited qualification, widely recognized in the workplace:

• Level 8 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice from the Ofqual UK.Gov Awarding Body OTHM (Gov Recognition No. 603/2181/7)

2. Globally Recognized Assessment Criteria

All assessment criteria in the APEL.Q program are advised by the Senior Leader Bureau United Kingdom and officially published by the UK government. These criteria align with real-world workplace requirements and are developed with contributions from prestigious organizations and corporations, including:

• CMI, Acivico, Agillisys, Anglo Educational, Balfour Beatty, Barclays Bank, BBC, Boots UK Ltd, Santander UK plc, Virgin Media, and many more.

View the assessment criteria [HERE]

3. Significant Time Savings

Learners can complete the program in just 9 – 12 months through two key activities:

1. Submit Portfolios detailing work experience, prior learning, and competencies to MI Swiss.
2. Complete Competency Assessment Assignments submit them to MI Swiss.
3. Undergo Internal Quality Audit (IQA) to validate submitted documents and assessments.
4. Complete the End-Point Assessment (EPA) and submit results to the UK awarding body for qualification recognition.

4. Save Up to 80% on Tuition Costs

Compared to tuition and living expenses for full-time students in the UK, you only need to pay 20% of the total cost.

5. Recognized in Over 180 Countries and Territories

The awarded qualification provides a significant advantage in the international job market, supporting employment opportunities abroad and within foreign enterprises. Additionally, this qualification facilitates labor mobility and international migration, enabling learners to secure jobs quickly and reduce the risk of unemployment, particularly for mid-career professionals.

Key Benefits:

• 100% refund policy ensures a risk-free process.
• Only 20% of the cost compared to studying a similar program in the UK.
• Competency-based assessment eliminates the need for redundant coursework.
• Complete the assessment in 6 months, receive the qualification in 9 months.
• Government-recognized UK qualification, accepted in over 180 countries and territories, including the USA and Canada.
• Advantageous for working abroad or in multinational companies.
• Supports immigration and residency applications.

About the Ofqual UK.Gov awarding body OTHM:

• Recognized as an organization by the educational authority of the United Kingdom, Ofqual (UK.Gov). Recognition Number: RN5284. Refer to the recognition information [HERE]
• OTHM Level 8 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice is accredited with the Ofqual UK.Gov code 603/6996/6. Refer to the accreditation information [HERE].

Reference:

To enroll in the APEL.Q competency assessment program, learners must meet the following requirements:

English Language Requirements

• Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) Level B2 certificate or an equivalent qualification
• IELTS 5.5, with a minimum score of 5.5 in Reading and Writing, or an equivalent qualification

Note: MI Swiss reserves the right to make admissions decisions based on the requirements of recognized agencies and the global quotas of the program.

Upon completion of the program, learners will receive a qualification recognized in over 180 countries and territories:

• Level 8 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice from the Ofqual UK.Gov Awarding Body OTHM (Gov Recognition No. 603/6996/6)

The APEL.Q process consists of the following steps:

1. Submit the APEL.Q Application

• Submit the application form provided.
• Provide supporting evidence of work experience, prior qualifications, and accumulated certificates.

2. Competency Evidence:

• Candidates receive study materials and detailed guidelines to complete the competency assessment assignments.
• Candidates complete all assessment assignments according to the provided instructions.
• Candidates submit the final assessment to MI Swiss.

3. Pre-End Point Assessment

• MI Swiss will conduct a preliminary assessment through the Internal Quality Audit (IQA) process to verify the following factors:

  • Compliance of the document format with regulations;
  • Evaluation of tests/assignments;
  • Authenticity of the submitted documents.

• If candidates fulfill all the required criteria, they will be recognized as eligible for the End-Point Assessment and advance to Step 4.

• If candidates do not meet the required standards, they will receive guidance on the retake process. In cases of policy or regulatory violations, the application may be immediately rejected.

4. End Point Assessment (EPA)

• The competency portfolio and documents are submitted to Ofqual UK.Gov Awarding Bodies for evaluation.
• If approved, candidates receive qualification from the Ofqual UK.Gov Awarding Bodies.
• If not approved, candidates receive guidance for resubmission or additional evidence if required.

• During the APEL.Q process, if learners do not meet the requirements, they will have the opportunity to retake the assessment (“Retake”) with support from local partners.
• The retake option allows learners additional time and opportunities to refine their competencies or enroll in supplementary courses to meet the assessment criteria.
• Learners are allowed one retake at no additional cost.

APEL.Q is a unique and humanitarian program designed to support individuals affected by pandemics, wars, and crises—situations that force many to migrate or lose their educational and competency documents. Given its nature, the program aims to provide the best possible opportunities for disadvantaged individuals and those directly impacted by war and crises.

Scope of Application:

Disadvantaged individuals are those facing life challenges. According to UNESCO, vulnerable groups include:

• People with disabilities;
• Individuals in extremely difficult circumstances;
• Pregnant women;
• Individuals over 60 years old;
• People with mobility limitations.

Support Policy for Vulnerable Groups:

• 50% financial support for the entire APEL.Q End-Point Assessment stage.
• In case of an unsuccessful End-Point Assessment, vulnerable individuals receive a 100% fee refund.

The Schweizer Institut für Hochschulbildung in Management und Innovation (MI Swiss) is committed to supporting vulnerable communities through a globally inclusive policy applicable to all programs.

Learners participating in the APEL.Q process at MI Swiss will receive their qualification and attend the graduation ceremony in Asia alongside MI Swiss students and partner institutions.

If a learner is unable to attend the graduation ceremony, the diploma and certifications from MI Swiss and its partners will be sent to the local partner. Learners can visit the local partner’s office to sign and collect their diploma.

Graduation ceremony costs (if applicable) are not included in the tuition fees.

As APEL.Q is not a traditional academic program, candidates are not granted access to visit the campus, nor are they eligible for invitation letters for tourist or student visas to Switzerland, as is the case with full-time international students.

The entire competency framework used to assess APEL.Q for the Level 8 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice is advised by the Senior Leader Bureau, based on the professional competency framework for the Chartered Manager position, published and recognized by the UK government.

The competency criteria were developed with contributions from advisory councils representing organizations such as Serco (employer chair), Civil Service (employer chair), Acivico (Birmingham City Council), Anglo Educational, Barclays, BT, Balfour Beatty, Barchester Healthcare, Boots UK Ltd, British Army, BBC, CMI, Co-op, DFS, Grant Thornton, Interserve, JRV Associates, KPMG, Morgan Sindell, NHS (Dept of Health), Nestlé, Opus Building Services, Pearson, Pendragon plc, Ricoh, Sainsbury’s, Santander UK plc, Speedy Services, umi Digital, Unipart, United Utilities plc, Virgin Media, Wincanton, and XPO Logistics.

APEL.Q for the Executive Doctoral of Business Administration Program corresponds to Level 8 (Doctoral) under the UK’s national qualification framework (RQF), recognized by Ofqual (UK Gov), equivalent to:

Detailed Competency Framework: