Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 March 2022
569. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the timetable for the development and implementation of a standardised system of accreditation of prior learning taking account of previous education, skills, work experience and engagement in society as outlined in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11755/22]
View answerQuality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is the national Agency with responsibility for the external quality assurance of further and higher education and training in Ireland.
QQI’s role in relation to the recognition of prior learning (RPL), as set out in Section 56 of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 as amended, is derived from the Agency’s statutory obligation to establish and publish policies and criteria for Access, Transfer and Progression (ATP) for education providers. QQI’s core statutory quality assurance guidelines require that provider policies and procedures for learner admission, progression and recognition enable:
- the fair recognition of education and training qualifications and periods of study, and
- the fair recognition of prior learning, including non-formal and informal learning.
QQI does not conduct RPL processes itself but relies upon education and training providers of relevant programmes who have the necessary expertise and experienced RPL assessors. A University, Technological University or Institute of Technology can, in line with their own ATP procedures, make awards based on the assessment of previously acquired learning. Education providers who do not have their own award making powers can ask QQI for an award for a learner who has met the required standards of that award, based on the assessment of previously acquired learning.
RPL is currently being offered by further and higher education and training providers who have the capacity and capability to do so. It is being used to support learners to achieve entry to a programme, to gain exemptions within a programme and/or gain credit towards an award or attain a full award. These providers use the tools of the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and related QQI policies as key supports for the operation of RPL. The awards made as a result of RPL use the same standards as formal qualifications.
QQI’s Statement of Strategy 2022-2024 contains a commitment to conducting an evaluation of provider adherence to a national approach to access, transfer and progression and the appropriate recognition of prior learning. During the timeframe for this Strategy QQI plans to develop a discussion paper on Ireland’s approach to RPL which will comprise a review of current RPL policy and practice and encompass a series of engagements with key national and European stakeholders. The objective of this work is to develop updated guidelines for RPL for education providers.
The Deputy may be interested to note that there is currently an RPL in Higher Education Project underway which is being funded through the Human Capital Initiative Pillar 3 to the amount of €6.9 million. This project is a collaboration between the Universities, the Technological Universities and the Institutes of Technology. Its aim is to build a consistent and coherent approach to RPL within and across the entire public higher education sector. The project is running from 2020 to 2025. Further information is available at: RPL Landing Page (priorlearning.ie).
