How the university of life can lead to serious academic credentials Irish Times feature
Recognition of prior learning acknowledges the skills people have gained outside formal education settings – be it through work experiences, training, volunteering or in daily life
The first of two articles on RPL, sponsored by the Enterprise Academy and the National Recognition of Prior Learning in Higher Education Project, has appeared in the Irish Times.
These two HCI Pillar 3 projects supporting innovative and agile solutions across the higher education system collaborated closely on these articles bringing multiple perspectives together to highlight to a wider audience the benefits of RPL. The series outlines the positive impact RPL can on the learner seeking to advance their career goals; enterprise and industries trying to attract, develop and retain the best talent; and universities who are evolving to ensure fair and equitable pathways to education for all.
The context on RPL for this first article was provided by Grace Edge, Director, National Recognition of Prior Learning in Higher Education Project. Grace states that learning can happen anywhere and how RPL can offer a unique pathway for professionals to convert their extensive life and work experiences into recognised academic qualifications.
Speaking to the Irish Times about his RPL experience is Sean Nixon, general manager of Spanish natural stone company Cosentino’s Irish warehouse, who graduated with first class honours from the masters in professional design practice programme at Technological University Dublin. Sean’s journey is a compelling example of how the RPL process facilitated him gaining access to a programme and subsequent qualification at Technological University Dublin, significantly enhancing his professional trajectory.
Sean’s story demonstrates the impact of lifelong learning and the practical value of leveraging real-world experience in academia. His success through RPL exemplifies how non-traditional educational routes can lead to substantial professional advancements and recognition of all types of learning.
Read the full article here.
Our thanks to Jan Cairns, and Barry Sheehan for supporting this work.
About TU Dublin Enterprise Academy:
The Enterprise Academy is a multidisciplinary business unit at Technological University Dublin taking an innovative approach to collaborative talent development for workplace learners. The Enterprise Academy works with enterprises across all sectors and business types to create flexible, scalable, accredited solutions that address sector-specific, cross-sector and transversal skill needs.
The TU Dublin Enterprise Academy is funded by the Higher Education Authority's HCI Pillar 3, a government of Ireland programme designed to meet priority skills needs, by increasing collaboration between higher education and enterprise with a focus on innovations in teaching and learning.
