Ireland’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an initiative aimed at broadening access to higher education and championing lifelong learning. This national project is funded by the Human Capital Initiative, working in partnership with 14 higher education institutions across Ireland.

The project allows learners to gain entry to higher education programmes or receive exemptions based on their prior learning – whether it’s formal, non-formal, or experiential.

By bridging the gap between informal learning and formal qualifications, RPL Ireland supports personal and professional growth, enhancing employability and contributing to a more skilled workforce.

Dr Ciara Staunton is the national project director for RPL and plays an important role in recognising the skills and knowledge individuals acquire outside traditional education systems.

She is empowering workers to seek career advancement, assisting migrants to integrate into the workforce, and working with those re-entering education after long gaps.

Her vision for RPL is to see it embedded as a normal academic activity within Ireland’s higher education sector, ‘promoting lifelong learning and enhancing opportunities for marginalised groups, ensuring a competitive workforce in a globalised economy’.

Economic competitiveness

Recognition of prior learning is vital in Ireland, says Ciara. “It aligns with national policies, enhancing economic competitiveness, supporting migration and mobility, reducing educational redundancy and encouraging cultural and social recognition.

“At the end of the project, it has provided enhanced RPL access to hundreds of learners, established a pilot policy framework for RPL, upskilled over 300 staff across institutions to deliver RPL and has made excellent progress on integrating RPL into student record information systems,” says Ciara.

As they build on these achievements, Ciara is hoping to address what’s needed post-project to ensure RPL is further embedded in higher education institutions.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, James Lawless said it is a vital tool for ensuring Ireland’s education system remains inclusive and flexible and aligned with the needs of the labour market.

“As a country, our greatest asset is our people. It’s critical that every individual, regardless of background, prior experience or particular journey to that point, gets the opportunity to contribute and benefit from the knowledge economy.

“This is where Recognition of Prior Learning plays a vital role, to allow people to contribute to the maximum of their potential. And it’s not just about formal qualifications. It’s about acknowledging the full breadth of knowledge that individuals gain through life experience, work, and through informal learning,” says Minister Lawless.

Closing Ireland’s skills gap

Addressing talent shortages in fast-growing fields such as the green transition, digital technologies, and renewable energies will depend upon more learners accessing higher education through RPL if Ireland is to bridge the gap with the demand for a skilled workforce.

This has opened up access routes for those who might not have completed the Leaving Certificate or have a degree, but nonetheless have a huge amount of experience in their working life – including farmers.

“We had a cohort of farmers take a programme in UCC who not only gained entry to the course through the recognition of our learning, but also gained exemptions on over half of the courses because we recognised the work that they were doing on their farms against the learning outcomes of the modules,” explains Ciara.

These courses are tailored and driven around learner demands for adult education departments.

“When we had those farmers come on to that programme, we designed modules in a way that suited them. We did not run lectures during the busy spring calving period. We waited until the farmers were ready to be able to engage.

“That’s important too, co-constructing curricula and designing programmes that meet our learners’ needs, and that practice is widespread around institutions,” she says.

Application process

To apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), you’ll typically need to identify your prior learning, document it, and then submit an application with supporting evidence to the relevant institution, often including a portfolio or interview.

The opening times are completely dependent on individual institutions and when the courses are open to run and are accepting applications.

From a learner perspective, get in touch with your local institution and programme director if you have identified a course you want to do and enquire about RPL as a potential entry route.