SupportingawarenessandengagementwithRPL acrosshighereducation
INTHIS
ISSUE
Latestprojectupdates
Newresources (includinganewstafffacingopen-access resource)
RPLLinkedInSeries Articles
Datesforyourdiary: upcomingRPLevents &opportunities
Welcome
from Dr Ciara Staunton, Director, RPL in Higher Education Project
Hello and welcome to this update from the National RPL in Higher Education Project. Our goal is simple: to make Recognition of Prior Learning clearer, more consistent, and easier to access for learners while supporting staff with practical tools and shared approaches. In this issue, you’ll find key project updates, new resources to support staff and learners, and upcoming opportunities to build RPL capability through professional development.
Whether you ’ re already involved in RPL practice or you ’ re encountering it for the first time, I hope this newsletter helps you feel informed and supported.
Thank you for the work you do to enable access, progression and lifelong learning.
LatestUpdates
NewResourceforStaff UnderstandingRPL: ExemplarsfoPractice
Anewpractical,open-access resourceshowcasingrealRPL examplesacrossIrishhigher educationdesignedtosupport consistent,learner-centreddecisionmaking.ViewResourcehere
Staffdevelopmentsessions,assessor conversations,template/guidance design,andpolicyreviewdiscussions. Howyoumightuseit:
AbouttheExemplars
Atotalof18programmeexemplarsfrompartnerHEIsareincludedinthis collection.WrittenbyRPLprojectleadsinconjunctionwithHEIcolleagues fromacademicdepartmentsandfaculties,thepurposeofthese exemplarsistohighlightandshareexamplesofRPLpractice,asguidance forcurrentandfutureRPLpractitioners.Eachprogrammeexemplar includesadescriptionoftheRPLfivestageprocessasitisappliedineach HEI.i.e.information,identification(oflearning),documentation, assessment,recognition/certification.
TheyshowhowRPLworksinpractice,fromthefirststageoffinding informationthroughtothefinaloutcome;howapplicantsidentifytheirprior learning,whatsupportisavailable,howlearningisassessed,whattoolsmay beusedbyassessorsandhowdecisionsarereached.
TheRPL DigitalBadge
OpenCourse:SupportingSector-WideRecognitionandPracticeofRPL
TheNationalForumfortheEnhancementofTeaching&LearningRPLDigital Badgeisafree,six-weekprofessionaldevelopmentcoursedesignedfor staffintertiaryeducationwhowishtobuildtheirunderstandingand practicalapplicationofRecognitionofPriorLearning.
Sinceitsinception,theRPLDigitalBadgehasestablisheditselfasagrowing communityofpractice,helpingtoadvanceprofessionaldevelopmentand sectoralengagementwithRecognitionofPriorLearningacrossIreland’s tertiaryeducationsector.
Thebadgeequipsindividualswiththeknowledgeandconfidencetoapply RPLintheirowncontextsandhelpstosupportinclusive,learner-centred education.Herearesomeofthekeyoutcomesofthebadgedeliveriesthus far:
923staffregisteredfortheRPLDigitalBadge,with436badgesissuedtodate 59facilitatorbadgesissued,empoweringparticipantstodeliverthebadge andsupportRPLdevelopmentwithintheirowninstitutions
66%ofbadgeearnersarebasedinHigherEducationInstitutions(HEIs);of these,morethanhalfholdacademicroles
96%satisfactionratereportedamongsurveyedparticipants
Strongcross-sectorengagement,withhighlevelsofcollaborationand participationfrombothacademicandprofessionalservicesstaff
Theseoutcomesreflectagrowingsector-widerecognitionofRPLasa criticalelementincreatingflexible,accessiblepathwaysforlearners. ThenextiterationoftheRPLDigitalBadgeisexpectedtotakeplacein Autumn2026,withdatestobeconfirmed.
This was a really great programme. The content was excellent and it really enhanced my understanding of RPL both in the Further Education and Higher Education sectors. I would highly recommend it to others.
TheRPLDigitalBadgewasoriginallydevelopedbytheNationalForumfortheEnhancementofTeaching andLearninginHigherEducation,inpartnershipwith:DrDeirdreGoggin,MunsterTechnological University(MTU),DrCathaldePaor,MaryImmaculateCollege(MIC),withupdatesandongoingdelivery facilitatedbyDrClareWalshandDrCiaraStaunton,RPLinHigherEducationProject
Opportunityfor BespokeRPL Training
TheRPLresourcesdevelopedthrough theprojectcontinuetogeneratevery positiveengagementacrossIrishhigher educationinstitutions,aswellasfrom Europeanandinternationalcolleagues seekingpracticalexemplarsand implementationsupportsintheareaof RecognitionofPriorLearning(RPL).
Collectively,theseresourcesrepresentasignificantnationalassetto supportinstitutionalcapacity-building,learneraccess,staffdevelopment, qualityenhancement,andemployerengagement.
AsinstitutionscontinuetoembedandoperationaliseRPLpolicyand practice,theProjectTeamisnowofferingbespokeengagementsessions andtailoredtrainingopportunitiesdesignedaroundindividualinstitutional needsandpriorities.
Thesesessionscanbedevelopedforarangeofinternalaudiences, including:
Academicandteachingstaff
Admissionsandregistryteams
Adulteducationandlifelonglearningunits
Accessandwideningparticipationteams
Qualityassuranceandgovernancestaff
Employerengagementandprofessionallearningteams
Seniorleadershipandstrategicplanninggroups
Theaimoftheseengagementsistosupportthecontinuedembedding, sustainability,andenhancementofRPLpracticeacrossthesector throughpractical,institution-specificdialogueandimplementation support.
Institutionsinterestedinexploringtailoredengagementortraining opportunitiesareencouragedtocontacttheProjectTeamforfurther discussion ContactUs
RPLResourcesOne-Pager
WearepleasedtosharethenewlydevelopedRPLResourcesOnePager, createdaspartoftheRecognitionofPriorLearninginHigherEducation Project.
Thisresourcehighlightspriorlearning.ieasahubforlearners,higher educationstaff,institutions,andindustrypartnersseekinginformation, guidance,tools,practicalresources,news,andsectorupdatesrelating toRPL.
Italsoshowcasesarangeofkeysupportsdevelopedthroughthe project,includingframeworks,theRPLToolkitforStaff,RPLlearnerguides, explainervideos,testimonials,andindustry-focusedmaterials.Together, theseresourcesaredesignedtosupportgreaterunderstanding, consistency,andengagementwithRPLacrossthehighereducation sector.
TheRPLResourcesOnePagerisavailabletoreadordownloadhere.
RPLinHigherEducationPoster AcceptedforHEAOpen EducationEvent
WearepleasedtosharethattheRecognitionofPriorLearninginHigher EducationProjecthashadapostersubmissionacceptedforthe upcomingHEAOpenEducation:SupportingPolicyandPractice nationalevent.
Theeventwillbringtogethercolleaguesandstudentsfromacross Ireland’shighereducationsectortoshowcaseopeneducationprojects, initiatives,research,scholarship,policydevelopmentsandexamplesof practice.Thepostersessionwillprovideanopportunitytosharelearning andevidencewithpeersfromacrossthesector.Theposterwillbe presentedattheeventinMunsterTechnologicalUniversity(MTU)on Wednesday20thMay.
UpcomingEvents
Monday18 May th
Webinar:BenefitsofRPLandStudentVolunteering
ThiswebinarwillexploretherelationshipbetweenRecognitionofPrior Learning(RPL)andStudentVolunteering,andwillhighlighthow volunteeringcansupportlearnersinidentifying,demonstratingand valuingtheknowledge,skillsandcompetenciestheydevelopthrough experience.ThesessionwillalsointroducetheworkoftheRPLinHigher EducationProjectandconsiderhowstudentvolunteeringcancontribute tobroaderconversationsaroundaccess,participationandlifelong learninginhighereducation.RegisterHere. inpartnershipwithStudentVolunteerIreland
RPLSectorEventsandOpportunities
ThefollowingRPL-relatedeventsmaybeofinteresttocolleaguesacross thehighereducationsector.Whilenotproject-led,theyprovidevaluable opportunitiestoengagewithcurrentpractice,policyanddiscussion relatingtoRPL.
Friday22 May nd
Webinar:RPLPractitionerNetwork‘FromExperiencetoOpportunity: TheRoleofRPLinSupportingMigrantCommunities.'Registerhere.
Thursday21 May st
Tuesday9 June th
PLAIOWebinar:FromPriorLearningAssessmenttoOpen Recognition.Registerhere. CAPLA’sInternationalDayofRecognition.Findoutmore..
‘RPLInsights’
LinkedInNewsletter
AnewsletterdedicatedtoexploringRPLinpracticeandshared learningacrosstheRPLcommunity:practitioners,policy-makers, educationproviders,highereducationstaff,andlearners. Subscribehere.
‘RecognitionofPriorLearninginUniversityStrategy andLeadership.’
RecognitionofPriorLearning(RPL) hasmovedfromthemarginstothe mainstreamofhighereducation policyandpracticeacrossEurope. Onceregardedprimarilyasan admissionsmechanismfor exceptionalornon‑traditional applicants,RPLisnowincreasingly understoodasastrategicleadership issue,centraltohowuniversitiesfulfil theirpublicmissioninacontextof lifelonglearning,skillstransformation, demographicchange,andinclusion. Readmore..
DavidDenieffe,SeniorVice President,Operations (ChiefOperationsOfficer,SETU.
‘WhatMakesRPLWork?Enablers,Models,andthe CaseforGettingtheFoundationsRight.’
RecognitionofPriorLearning(RPL)is gainingwell-deservedmomentum acrossIreland’sfurtherandhigher educationlandscape.Conversations acrossourinstitutionsarebecoming richerandmorenuanced,andasRPL scales,onequestionbecomes increasinglyimportant:whatactually makesitwork?Readmore..
MarinJohnson,Deanof EducationatChevron College,Ireland.
‘UsingMicro-credentialstoSupporttheRecognition ofPriorLearning.’
NualaMcGuinn,Directorof theCentreforAdultLearning andProfessional DevelopmentattheUniversity ofGalway.
ThefinalreportoftheMicrocredentialsproject,fundedthrough theHumanCapitalInitiative,outlined thestrategicimpactofmicrocredentialsinIrelandthroughaseries ofimpactcasesstudies.Thereport highlightshowmicro-credentialsare transforminglifelonglearningin Irelandbyprovidingtargeted,flexible, shortcourseswhicharedesignedto meetworkforcedevelopmentand societalneedswhilesupporting economicdevelopment.Readmore..
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