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Encyclopedia of International Higher Education Systems and Institutions pp 1–8Cite as

Alternative Higher Education

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Synonyms

Alternative credentials; Alternative pathways to academic degree; Experimental higher education

Definition

Alternative higher education refers to alternative pathways to academic degree be that through alternative forms of higher education institutions or alternative programs leading to an academic degree or recognition of prior learning or of acquired competences. Alternative higher education also refers to alternative credentials such as industry-recognized certificates, badges, licenses, and nanodegrees as alternatives to academic degrees.

Introduction

This chapter reviews the history and the more recent developments in the alternative higher education and discusses the emerging forms of alternative higher education provision. The emergence of alternative higher education institutions implies innovations in how higher education is organized and delivered, to what purposes or credentials it serves, and what pathways lead to a credential. Alternative higher education is...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Manja Klemenčič

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  1. Manja Klemenčič
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Correspondence to Manja Klemenčič .

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  1. Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Manja Klemenčič

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Klemenčič, M. (2020). Alternative Higher Education. In: Encyclopedia of International Higher Education Systems and Institutions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9553-1_27-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9553-1_27-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-017-9553-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-9553-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference EducationReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Education

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