Ireland

In Ireland, RPL has been integrated into the  National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030, the  FET Strategy, and the  National Skills Strategy, while the  Programme for Government, Our Shared Future commits to ‘develop and implement a standardised system of accreditation of prior learning taking account of previous education, skills, work experience and engagement in society'.  Source.

In Ireland, the foundation for RPL in higher education is established through national policies rather than specific legislation. RPL can be used in Higher Education for Entry, Advanced Entry and Credit/Exemptions.

 
Important Entities on the National Level Working on RPL are:

• Quality and Qualifications Ireland 
  QQI is the central national body responsible for the development and quality assurance of RPL policies and practices. It provides national guidelines and supports higher education institutions in implementing RPL frameworks.
• Irish Universities Association 
  The IUA leads national-level initiatives aimed at mainstreaming RPL across Irish universities. It plays a key role in promoting collaboration and developing shared RPL practices.
• Technological University Association
  TUA represents Ireland’s technological universities and institutes of technology and actively engages in enhancing access to education through RPL.
• Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS)
  This government department supports lifelong learning policies, including RPL, through funding and strategic initiatives.

Relevant Links:

• Quality and Qualifications Ireland: www.qqi.ie
• Department of Further and Higher Education: https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-further-and-higher-education-research-innovation-and-science/
• National Framework of Qualifications: www.nfq.ie
• Irish Universities Association: www.iua.ie
• European Inventory on Validation of Non-formal and Informal Learning: https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en

The National Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in Higher Education Project is a five-year project, funded by the Human Capital Initiative Pillar 3 (Innovation and Agility) and co-sponsored by the Technological University Association (TUA) and the Irish Universities Association (IUA). The project is distinct as it is a government-funded project designed to embed and streamline RLPL in higher education. Specifically, it has three main aims, which are:

1. to continue to embed, streamline and promote RPL, particularly the recognition of non-formal and informal learning, across the sector in a manner that is coherent and consistent;
2. to work with employers to increase access and progression opportunities in areas of skills needs;
3. to enhance the sector’s capacity to operate RPL by developing useful tools, materials, resources and professional development opportunities for staff.

The project is co-ordinated by a Project Management Office based in TUA, with 18 Project Leads leading the roll out of the project across 14 technological universities, universities and institutes of technology.

Strategic guidance is provided by the Project Steering Group which draws its membership from senior sectoral leaders, enterprise and learner representatives, and national and international RPL experts. 

See www.priorlearning.ie for further details.

Ireland has a RPL Practitioner’s Network, which was established in 2015.

The RPL Practitioner Network Ireland is a voluntary group drawn from all sectors of further and higher education. It is organised around four activities - networking, community of practice, contribution to policy and awareness raising. It facilitates practitioners to meet, share experience and build relationships with each other. We share and apply knowledge and experience together as practitioners in diverse fields, We provide a platform for collaboration to inform, engage with and contribute to policy, locally, nationally and internationally. The network aims to raise the awareness of the impact and contribution of RPL personally, socially, in communities, organisations and industries. The network is kindly supported by the Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), the Irish Universities Association (IUA), Institutes of Technology Ireland IOTI), National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE), the National Forum for Teaching & Learning (NFTL), and Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).

Website: https://rpl-ireland.ie/ 

The RPL in Higher Education Project is co-sponsored by the Technological University Association (TUA) and the Irish Universities Association (IUA).

The Technological University Association (TUA) represents Ireland’s technological universities and institutes of technology and actively engages in enhancing access to education through RPL. See www.tua.ie for further details.

​The Irish Universities Association (IUA) serves as the representative body for Ireland's seven universities, advocating for higher education's role in societal and economic development. See www.iua.ie for further information.