2022年9月～University of ManchesterのMRes Public Health (Master of Public Healthコースとほぼ同じですが、より研究志向の高いコース) に入学しました。一部face-to-faceのカリキュラムがありますが、完全オンラインで履修可能なコースです。
英国のpostgraduateコースの多くがAccreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning (APEL) をとりいれています。
APELとは、”a process that enables people of all ages, backgrounds and attitudes to receive formal recognition for skills and knowledge they already possess.”と説明されますが、大学院入学前の学習や経験（仕事やボランティアなど）を大学院カリキュラムの正式な単位として認める制度のことです。
日本ではあまりなじみのない制度だと思いますが、人生経験をきちんと評価しようという取り組みはいいですよね。
日本でこの制度を採用している大学があるのか私は知りませんが、社会人の学び直しがすすめられている今日、社会人学生にとっては嬉しい制度です。
私は入学前に同じ英国の大学でMBAプログラムを修了していたことやCourseraでPublic Healthのコースをいくつか履修していたこと、それから学術誌の編集・論文の査読をしていたことが評価され、履修が必要な180 creditsのうち60 creditsがAPELとして認められました。
入学後履修するべき科目が減りますから、大学院修了を早めることが可能です。当然、学費も安くなります。
申請書類を書くときにサンプルがなくて困りました。大学の担当者に問い合わせたところ、
The most important thing is that the credits you want to transfer are a similar field/subject to the module you want to replace. If they are similar enough, it will be more likely to get accepted.
という漠然とした回答のみでした。うーん、どうしたものか…。
インターネット上にあった様々なapplication formを参考にして書いたのが下の文章です。
ネイティブに英文校正してもらっていませんし、これが正しい書き方なのか自信はありませんが、一応認められたので載せておきます。どなたかの参考になれば幸いです。
Dear Programme Administrator,
I am applying for Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning to use in the MRes Public Health programme. As requested, I enclose the following completed application, transcript and certificates.
- Master of Business Administration
I graduated with a distinction in a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Derby (see attached evidence – documents 1 and 2). My dissertation entitled “X” focused on the way to improve healthcare service and management in a rapidly ageing area based on the result of patient satisfaction survey (see attached evidence – document 3). I have learnt essential management theories and skills relevant to the quality and process management of organisations through the MBA programme, and I have also gained a wide range of knowledge to improve the quality of healthcare service and the performance of healthcare organisations in the course of conducting research and writing the dissertation. I believe that this prior learning is equivalent to the learning in A module. - Research activities
I have xx medical or scientific publications, all of which are in peer-reviewed journals (see attached evidence – document 4). I have conducted quantitative research studies including cross-sectional studies, retrospective/prospective cohort studies and intervention studies. I have learnt various statistical analysis methods such as correlation analysis, simple linear regression analysis, multiple regression analysis, logistic regression analysis and survival analysis (e.g. Cox regression analysis). I used these methods to analyse clinical data in my previous studies. Furthermore, I have been active in peer review for years and have participated as a Rater for the McMaster Online Rating of Evidence (MORE) System offered through the Health Information Research Unit of McMaster University since 2017 (see attached evidence – document 5). I have served as an academic editor for several scientific journals such as B, C and D (see attached evidence – documents 6 and 7). I am also now serving as a guest editor for Special Issue “Y” in E (see attached evidence – document 8). Critical appraisal of statistical methods is essential to performing peer reviews and editorial activities for scientific journals. I have developed practical skills in statistics through these activities; therefore, my experience would be applicable for the exemption of F module. - Online course on Coursera
As mentioned above, I have conducted several clinical studies in which I have acquired knowledge and skills regarding study design, data collection, statistical analysis and interpretation of data, and published articles in academic journals (see attached evidence – document 4). I also completed some online courses on Coursera: G (see attached evidence – documents 9, 10, 11 and 12) and H (see attached evidence – document 13). My research activities and basic epidemiological methods, which I learned from online courses, would be applicable for exempting I module.
I appreciate your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing your decision.
Sincerely,
オトナガクモンのすすめ 