Credit Transfer in Ireland and the Netherlands: a United Kingdom perspective.

The paper presents the results of a study of advanced standing practices in higher education in two European countries-Ireland and the Netherlands. A description is given of practices currently undertaken in the two countries, from the standpoint of educational institutions (both university and non-university) and other relevant bodies-validating bodies, equivalence centres, government ministries. These practices are then discussed in the context of developments in the United Kingdom. It is concluded that in all three countries the perceived need for overall course coherence forms a formidable barrier against significant growth in the number of individuals granted advanced standing. Nevertheless wider policy considerations seem to be providing an impetus which may well ensure that advanced standing will become a much more common feature of European higher education admissions policies over the next decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]