European RPL Week takes place from 9–13 November 2026, bringing together events and activities across Europe to recognise and celebrate learning gained throughout life.

An initiative of the European RPL Network, the week will showcase how Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can support access to education, progression, career development and lifelong learning.

Through a programme of conferences, workshops, presentations, webinars and awareness activities, participating organisations will share practical experience, explore emerging approaches and strengthen connections across the RPL community. Themes include inclusive and flexible higher education, recognising workplace and lived experience, quality assurance, international collaboration, and the use of digital tools and artificial intelligence.

The programme includes events open to general registration alongside activities for invited participants or specific professional groups. Practitioners, educators, researchers, policymakers, employers and learners are encouraged to explore the listings and identify opportunities relevant to their interests.

Further details and registration links will be added as they become available. Please check the time zone, language and participation arrangements for each event.

UHR Network meeting for RPL and validation in higher education Sweden

Organiser:  Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR)

The meeting will focus on the Swedish Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (SeQF). Anna Kahlson and Marcus Karlsson from MYH will introduce the framework. Participants will also examine how SeQF is applied in the validation process for admission to the Vocational Teacher Education Programme.

• Time: 10:00–12:00 CET | 09:00–11:00 GMT
• Format: Online webinar 
• Participation: Closed - Session not open to general audience

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Digitalisation and the Use of AI in Recognition Procedures

Organiser: University of Applied Sciences Campus Vienna (Hochschule Campus Wien)

This webinar will explore how digital tools and artificial intelligence can support efficient, transparent and accessible recognition processes while maintaining quality and fairness. Four examples from practice will be followed by small-group discussions on implementation, challenges and the responsible use of AI. The session is aimed particularly at colleagues working in recognition, quality assurance and digitalisation in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

• Time: 12:00–15:00 GMT | 13:00–16:00 CET (MEZ) 
• Format: Online webinar
• Language: German
• Participation: Open for registration
• Registration link: Link to follow

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Internal Training for Academic Decision-Makers on Recognition of Prior Learning

Organiser: University of Innsbruck (Austria)

This training supports academic decision-makers in assessing RPL applications, with a focus on non-formal learning outcomes. It promotes an approach centred on whether prior learning is sufficiently evidenced and corresponds to the intended learning outcomes of the relevant course or module.

The session will explore the assessment criteria “quality” and “level”, including why a different learning pathway, such as vocational education or professional experience, does not in itself indicate a different or lower level of learning. The National Qualifications Framework and the Dublin Descriptors will be introduced as frameworks for making judgements about level explicit. Case-based discussion will support well-reasoned, consistent and transparent recognition decisions.

• Time: 14:00–15:30 GMT | 15:00–16:30 CET
• Format: Internal training
• Language: German
• Participation: Closed - Session not open to general audience

Internal Training for Academic Decision-Makers on Recognition of Prior Learning

Organiser: University of Innsbruck (Austria)

This training supports academic decision-makers in assessing RPL applications, with a focus on non-formal learning outcomes. It promotes an approach centred on whether prior learning is sufficiently evidenced and corresponds to the intended learning outcomes of the relevant course or module.

The session will explore the assessment criteria “quality” and “level”, including why a different learning pathway, such as vocational education or professional experience, does not in itself indicate a different or lower level of learning. The National Qualifications Framework and the Dublin Descriptors will be introduced as frameworks for making judgements about level explicit. Case-based discussion will support well-reasoned, consistent and transparent recognition decisions.

• Time: 14:00–15:30 GMT | 15:00–16:30 CET
• Format: Internal training
• Language: German
• Participation: Closed - Session not open to general audience

Workshop for Industry Sector Representatives Providing Validation of Vocational Competence

Organiser: Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education (MYH)

UHR offers support and services in skills provision and lifelong learning, both for the individual and society. We provide information about education and higher education studies, coordinate the admissions process to higher education, are responsible for the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test (SweSAT), promote and support international cooperation and exchange for the entire education sector, present opportunities for continued professional development and employment in a foreign country, make it easier for people with foreign qualifications to begin studies and enter working life, develop digital services together with higher education institutions (for example the website universityadmissions.se), contribute analyses and recommendations that promote Swedish (higher) education, and we promote validation and RPL in higher education.

The main theme of the meeting will be the Swedish Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (SeQF). Anna Kahlson and Marcus Karlsson from the Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education (Myndigheten för Yrkeshögskolan) will present the SeQF, and we will also examine how the framework is applied in the validation process for admission to the Vocational Teacher Education Programme.

• Format: In-person event
• Participation: Closed event for higher education staff and practitioners 

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Recognition and Transfer of Credits in Higher Education Practice: Cases, Challenges, and Solutions

Anerkennung und Anrechnung in der Hochschulpraxis: Fälle, Herausforderungen und Lösungsansätze

Organiser: German Higher Education Network for Recognition and Credit Transfer / Goethe University Frankfurt

This workshop will introduce the German network for recognition and credit transfer and explore practical challenges facing higher education institutions. Case discussions will address recognition of study completed abroad, learning gained through work and outside higher education, and the relationship between recognition procedures and examination administration.

• Time: 10:00–11:30 GMT | 11:00–12:30 CET
• Format: Online workshop via Zoom
• Language: German
• Participation: Open for registration
• Registration: Email qrirou@em.uni-frankfurt.de by 10 November 2026
  
  

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Recognition of Prior Learning: Jour Fixe

Organiser: AQ Austria

This internal workshop will introduce RPL in the context of quality assurance and explore its relevance to the work of AQ Austria. Through a short presentation and interactive activities, participants will build a shared understanding of RPL, consider common questions and strengthen their confidence in discussing recognition within institutional and European contexts.

• Time: 10:30–11:30 GMT | 11:30–12:30 CET
• Format: In-person workshop
• Participation: Closed event; invitation or restricted registration only

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Recognition of Prior Learning: Closing the Skills Gap

Organiser: RPL Practitioner Network Ireland

The Network’s national event will focus on recognising work-based learning to meet labour market needs. It will bring together colleagues interested in RPL practice, education and training, enterprise engagement and skills development to explore how recognition can help address skills gaps.

• Time: on-site registration from 09:30 GMT (Irish time)
• Format: In-person event
• Venue: Tullamore Court Hotel, Co. Offaly, Ireland, R35 D406
• Participation: Open for registration
• Registration: Register for the national event
  
  
  

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Connecting RPL and Curriculum Development – From Principles to Practice

RPL und Curriculumentwicklung zusammendenken – Von grundlegenden Überlegungen zur praktischen Umsetzung

Organiser: University for Continuing Education Krems (Austria)

This webinar explores how Recognition of Prior Learning can be considered from the outset of curriculum development, particularly in continuing higher education programmes. It examines the role of learning outcomes and how curriculum design decisions can facilitate or create barriers to recognising previously acquired competences.

A practical example from the University for Continuing Education Krems will illustrate how recognition opportunities for individuals with specific prior qualifications were incorporated into the development of a bachelor’s programme in continuing education. The webinar will discuss the underlying considerations, curriculum design decisions and practical implementation.

• Time: TBA
• Format: Webinar
• Language: German
• Participation: Open for Registration
• Registration: TBA

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Mechanics to Engineers using RPL

Organiser: Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Partnership

This presentation will explore the Clyde Maritime Skills Acceleration Programme and how RPL supports experienced automotive engineers to move into mechanical engineering roles. Drawing on collaboration between the SCQF Partnership, Babcock Engineering and West College Scotland, it will consider how micro-credentials, an employer-designed curriculum and work-based assessment can reduce repeated learning and address skills shortages.

• Time: 14:00–15:00 GMT | 15:00–16:00 CET
• Format: Online presentation
• Language: English
• Participation: Open for registration
• Registration link: Register Here on Eventbrite

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Internal Training for Academic Decision-Makers on Recognition of Prior Learning

Organiser: University of Innsbruck (Austria)

This training supports academic decision-makers in assessing RPL applications, with a focus on non-formal learning outcomes. It promotes an approach centred on whether prior learning is sufficiently evidenced and corresponds to the intended learning outcomes of the relevant course or module.

The session will explore the assessment criteria “quality” and “level”, including why a different learning pathway, such as vocational education or professional experience, does not in itself indicate a different or lower level of learning. The National Qualifications Framework and the Dublin Descriptors will be introduced as frameworks for making judgements about level explicit. Case-based discussion will support well-reasoned, consistent and transparent recognition decisions.

• Time: 14:00–15:30 GMT | 15:00–16:30 CET
• Format: Internal training
• Language: German
• Participation: Closed - Session not open to general audience

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Learning Beyond Borders: European Peer Exchange in RPL

Organisers: Rannís / Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR)

The webinar is organised by the Committee for Cooperation and Learning within the European RPL Network, more specifically by the member organisations Rannís (Iceland) and UHR (Sweden). The European RPL Network is the association of national networks at European level working on the subject of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Practitioners working in the field of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), often work independently and sometimes alone, which can be difficult, particularly for practitioners seeking new ideas, perspectives, and solutions to common challenges. The Committee for Cooperation of Learning within the European RPL Network invites participants to explore how international peer exchange can support both professional development and personal growth. 

This 60-minute webinar will showcase opportunities for RPL practitioners to connect with colleagues across Europe, exchange experiences, learn from different approaches, and gain fresh inspiration for their work. Participants will discover how European collaboration can strengthen professional networks, broaden perspectives, and contribute to innovation in the field of validation and recognition. It will feature practitioners who stepped beyond their national context to learn from colleagues abroad. They will share their experiences, reflect on the impact these learning journeys had on them personally and professionally, and discuss how the insights gained have influenced their practice. They will also offer practical advice for others interested in engaging in European learning and cooperation within the RPL community.

• Time: 14:30–15:30 CET / 13:30–14:30 GMT (Irish time)
• Format: Online webinar
• Language: English
• Participation: Open for registration - link to follow

European RPL Network Conference:

Why RPL Matters More Than Ever: Recognition of Prior Learning and the Future of Inclusive, Flexible Higher Education

Organiser: European RPL Network

The conference will bring together colleagues from across Europe to explore how recognising prior learning can create more inclusive and flexible pathways into and through higher education. Participants will share perspectives on RPL’s value for learners and institutions and its place in the future of higher education.

Practitioners, educators, researchers, policymakers and institutional leaders are invited to attend, alongside anyone interested in recognising and valuing learning gained throughout life.

• Time: 10:00–13:00 GMT (Irish time) | 11:00–14:00 CET
• Format: Online conference via Microsoft Teams
• Language: English
• Participation: Open for registration
• Registration: Find out more and register for the conference

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From Lived Experience to Degree

Organiser: Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Partnership

Staff and students from the University of Dundee, alongside SCQF staff, will present how the flexibility of the SCQF has been used to facilitate RPL claims for students who have between 2 and 20 years lived experience to gain advanced standing to the Community Learning degree at Dundee. The presentation will highlight how the SCQF has increased the confidence and self-esteem of students who bring rich engagement through personal and professional experience to this practice-based degree. The support and guidance which is a crucial part of the RPL process will be discussed. The Quality Assurance arrangements will be discussed to reassure stakeholders of the parity of esteem between an RPL claim opposed to repeating learning through teaching.

• Time: 10:00–11:00 GMT | 11:00–12:00 CET
• Format: Online presentation
• Language: English
• Participation: Open for registration
• Registration link: Register Here on Eventbrite

Bringing RPL to Life: Using the Defence Forces Recognition Project to Explore RPL Policy and Practice in KCETB

Organiser: Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board (KCETB)

This Lunch & Learn session will use KCETB’s Defence Forces Recognition Project to illustrate how RPL policy is put into practice. Educators will explore the learner journey, including identifying prior learning, gathering evidence, assessment, quality assurance and certification opportunities. The session will also consider the roles of coordinators, mentors and assessors in supporting learners.

• Date: 13/11/2026
• Time: 12:30 - 1:30 (Irish Time)
• Format: Online Lunch & Learn session
• Language: English
• Participation: Open Event
• Registration/joining details: Link to follow

Workshop for Validation within Sectors

Organiser: Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education (MYH)

This workshop will bring together industry sector representatives involved in validating vocational competence. Participants will discuss findings from MYH’s interviews with sectors offering validation, including the quality criteria used to assess sectoral models, qualifications, assessment arrangements and the information available to learners.

• Participation: Closed event; invitation or restricted registration only
  
   
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From Fragmented Excellence to Connected RPL Systems: The Role of Meso-Level Structures

Organiser: University of Agriculture in Krakow

Across Europe, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is supported by mature policy frameworks at European and national levels. At the same time, institutions, projects, and practitioners have developed approaches. However, the space between policy and practice remains insufficiently structured. This presentation focuses on the meso level: regional authorities, sectoral organisations, professional associations, institutional networks, and other intermediaries capable of connecting strategic frameworks with implementation. The presentation will map this systemic gap and explore how meso-level structures can enable knowledge brokerage, capacity building, common standards, peer learning, and adaptation across contexts. It argues that stronger intermediary ecosystems are essential for turning fragmented excellence into collective capability and ensuring that RPL becomes accessible, consistent, scalable, and sustainable across Europe for learners, employers, providers, and communities.

• Date: TBC
• Time: TBC
• Format: Presentation; online/in-person arrangements TBC
• Language: English
• Participation: TBC
• Registration/joining details: TBC
  
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Social media campaign: RPL for Admission and Progression in the Study Programme

RPL za upis i napredovanje na studiju

Organiser: University of Zadar

The University of Zadar’s campaign will highlight how recognition of previous study can support admission and progression. It will raise awareness among people who have not completed their studies of opportunities to have previous learning considered, subject to the University’s regulations and the requirements of the relevant programme.

• Format: Social media campaign