Information for Higher Education Institutions
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RPL adds value to the work of higher education institutions and has a wide range of positive strategic impacts. These impacts align with some of the priorities of higher education, for example:
- RPL is a critical enabler for lifelong learning. As Cedefop has observed, ‘the urgency of lifelong learning has never been clearer’: the speed of change in the labour market and in wider society means that building skills throughout life is more important than ever.
- RPL is a driver for workforce development and helps institutions to respond more efficiently and effectively to the learning and development needs of employers. RPL is a key part of institutions’ relationships with industry and employers and is acknowledged as such in Ireland’s National Skills Strategy 2025.
- RPL supports widening participation in the higher-education sector, including the integration of newcomers, and is identified as an objective in the new National Access Plan, 2022-2028.
RPL can be used by individual applicants for entry to a programme, credit towards an award or module exemption(s) and advanced entry. RPL can also be an important element in the development of customised learning solutions, co-created with employers for cohorts of employees. A number of case studies developed throughout the National Project highlight how workplace competencies, and informal and nonformal learning can be integrated into the content and learning outcomes of new or adapted programmes to support new educational opportunities for employees and organisational development for employers.
It’s also important to note that RPL and micro-credentials complement one another. RPL is relevant to the development of micro-credentials by ensuring that courses are sensitive to learners’ existing skillsets as well as employer/organisational needs. RPL may also be used as an alternative means for suitable applicants to satisfy entry requirements and of course some applicants may be in a position to apply for credit or exemption on a micro-credentials with their relevant prior learning.
Enhancing higher education’s capacity to practice and operate RPL in a manner which is coherent and consistent within and across institutions is a key part of the work of the National RPL in Higher Education Project. Research conducted prior to and during the project indicates a significant appetite across the sector for practical tools, resources and professional development opportunities to support staff to practice quality-assured, learner-centred RPL. The first step in this work was the development and agreement in principle of the Framework for RPL in Higher Education by our fourteen partner institutions. The majority are currently reviewing and updating their RPL policies to align to the framework (during the 22/23 academic year). The next step is to bring forward the practical tools and training opportunities to support the implementation of the revised policies. Keep an eye on our Resources & Tools and News & Events pages, for more on this work and of course, subscribe to our Newsletter!
Benefits for Higher Education Institutions:
- RPL candidates possess skills and experience that drive classroom discussion and class performance forward and are often acknowledged as exemplar students.
- By embedding and enhancing RPL activity, higher education will become more accessible, flexible, and attractive to a wider range of learners.
- By supporting the development of upskilling and reskilling opportunities, RPL strengthens higher education institutions' relationships with enterprise and enhances regional impact.
- The development of customised programmes which recognise the prior learning of employees may create new revenue streams.
- RPL is a useful resource for supporting newcomers, including refugees, people in refugee-like situations and migrants, to access and participate in higher education.
"Recognition of Prior Learning is all about people taking the skills, experience and learning that they already have and being recognised for it."
The RPL Digital Badge
The RPL Digital Badge in partnership with the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning helps staff in the tertiary sector learn about RPL and how it applies to their own work, both at their institution and within the broader education sector. The 6-week course is available to all staff currently working in tertiary education in the Republic of Ireland. Participants from other sectors and those with an interest in RPL are also welcome.
Additional facilitator training is included so that you can become a facilitator of this course and run it in your own institution.
The RPL Digital Badge will be available again in March 2026. Live Webinars will take place every Wednesday from 9:30am – 11:00am over six weeks, with two additional weeks required for the facilitator add on.
To learn more about developments in your institution, visit your institution's RPL webpage.
If you’re volunteering through a participating higher education institution, StudentVolunteer.ie can help you log your activity and, in many cases, download a record or certificate of your experience.
Using Volunteering for RPL
Volunteering and community service can be a strong source of prior learning for RPL, particularly when you can show what you learned and how you developed it in practice. This might include skills gained through unpaid roles or non-profit projects, such as teamwork, leadership, communication, planning, or specialised technical skills, supported by clear documentation. Helpful evidence can include a short summary of your responsibilities and learning, evaluations or feedback on your contribution, letters from the organisation (or people you supported), and any tangible project outcomes that demonstrate what you achieved.
If you’re volunteering (or could volunteer) through a participating higher education institution, StudentVolunteer.ie can help you log your activity and, in many cases, download a certificate or record of your experience. If you’re outside a university programme, you can still build evidence by keeping a simple record of your role, responsibilities, dates/hours, training completed, and key learning or achievements.
