Online Course: Recognition of Prior Learning (March 2026)
The National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education are delighted to announce that the fully online Open Course, Recognition of Prior Learning, will run from 25th March 2026. This course has been developed in partnership with the Recognition of Prior Learning in Higher Education Project, a HCI Pillar 3 initiative, see www.priorlearning.ie for more details.
This free 6 week course is available to all staff currently working in tertiary education in the Republic of Ireland. Additional facilitator training is included so that you can become a facilitator of this course and run it in your own institution. A further commitment of five learner hours will be required for the facilitator add-on, in addition to attendance at two extra webinars over 2 weeks.
Course Schedule
| RPL Digital Badge | ||||
| Week | Date | Time | Facilitator | |
| Week 1 | 25.03.2026 | 9.30am – 11.00am | Dr Ciara Staunton | |
| Week 2 | 01.04.2026 | 9.30am – 11.00am | Dr Ciara Staunton | |
| EASTER BREAK | ||||
| Week 3 | 15.04.2026 | 9.30am – 11.00am | Dr Ciara Staunton | |
| Week 4 | 22.04.2026 | 9.30am – 11.00am | Dr Ciara Staunton | |
| Week 5 | 29.04.2026 | 9.30am – 11.00am | Dr Ciara Staunton | |
| Week 6 | 06.05.2026 | 9.30am – 11.00am | Dr Ciara Staunton | |
| Week 7 (Facilitator Badge) | 13.05.2026 | 9.30am – 10.30am | Dr Ciara Staunton | |
| Week 8 (Facilitator Badge) | 20.05.2026 | 9.30am – 10.30am | Dr Ciara Staunton | |
Learning Outcomes
- Explain the concept of RPL and reflect on its application within their own setting;
- Reflect on the potential impact of RPL for an institution, its staff and students;
- Identify existing policies and consider their alignment with practice;
- Analyse the relationship between programme and module learning outcomes and the RPL candidate.
Learning Activities
| Activity | Per week | Six Weeks |
| Live Webinar | 90 min | 9 hours |
| Triad meeting | 60 min | 6 hours |
| Independent learning | 100 min | 10 hours |
| Total | 250 min | 25 hours |
Content
| Indicative content | Facilitator/Guest speaker |
| RPL – Setting the Scene
RPL – Enabling Success RPL – Conceptual Frameworks RPL – The Learner Voice RPL – Practical Approaches RPL – The Irish Context/Policies |
Dr Ciara Staunton; guest speakers (TBC) |
| Facilitator’s Badge | Dr Ciara Staunton
Purpose: Develop capacity for delivery of Digital Badge by institution staff for institution staff |
Registration
For more information, email facilitators Dr. Clare Walsh (clare.walsh@tua.ie) or Dr Ciara Staunton (Ciara.staunton@tua.ie) See www.priorlearning.ie for more information.
Registration closes Friday 20th March 2026. All applicants are guaranteed a place. Please note the login credentials for OpenCourses will be distributed on Monday, March 23rd 2026, and the course will also become accessible on that date.