A Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) toolkit has been developed for the Irish FET sector by the Further Education and Training (FET) Service of Donegal Education and Training Board and the Further Education and Training (FET) Division of Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board. The launch of the toolkit took place in Donegal on 3 June 2022.
The toolkit was developed as part of the two-year SOLAS funded Validating Competencies of Care Sector Employees (VCCSE) collaborative project. This two-year VCCSE project focused on creating an alternative accelerated route to qualifications, using Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as the process. The approach ensured that the skills and knowledge gained through life and work experience outside formal education and training were assessed and validated. Over 200 people working in the healthcare sector have benefited from the VCCSE project.
The Toolkit includes a variety of resources for the RPL process, which were established through the project. These include publicity material, guidance for participants, assignment briefs and tasks for portfolio building and assessment rubrics to guide the process. ETB staff who developed these resources did so by blending proficiency gained through successful participation in the Level 9 Special Purpose Award in RPL delivered by Letterkenny Institute of Technology (now Atlantic Technological University) with their hands-on experience promoting and implementing the RPL process for applicants. It is envisaged that the toolkit will be beneficial for all ETB personnel considering the RPL process as a provision.
Further information on the toolkit is available by contacting Siobhan Murray, RPL Coordinator, Donegal ETB: siobhanmurray@donegaletb.ie
Photo: Representatives from Donegal ETB, Limerick and Clare ETB, Kildare and Wicklow ETB and SOLAS at the launch of the Recognition of Prior Learning toolkit for the FET sector
